HELP MUMSNET!! How do you get biro off a painted wall - staying at Mum's house!!

[misspollysdolly]

Mum and Dad due back from holiday tomorrow - we are leaving this evening and DS has just drawn on a newly painted (matt emulsion) wall with biro!! ARGGHH! What will take the mark off without smudging??!!

DS on naughty chair wailing as I type...

[Chillee]

The answer is WD40!
It will dissolve the ink whilst preserving the paint, then evaporate off leaving no residue.
If the Ink is prominent (i.e. Your little angel used pressure) then spray directly on and leave for around 20-30 seconds, then scrub gently with a cloth or paper towel.
If more is needed then spray a little directly onto the towel.

If in doubt, try WD40 for just about anything, check their website for a list of various uses: wd40.com/

[soozmct]

Toothpaste works! I just tried the member called Belgo's mmethod- i used toothpaste and an old toothbrush (only a 'medium' toothbrush- so it didn't scratch the paintwork)- and it worked!! had to scrub up and down for a minute-but the biro is gone. Thank You

[Hopeoverexperience]

I always use Cif/Jiff cream cleaner - just use a little blob and rub gently - usually works wonders!

[amidaiwish]

this website saved me when dd2 used her new pack of crayons to redesign our new limestone fireplace

here

[belgo]

while I was on this thread yesterday, my wonderful dd1 draw on our new leather sofa with a biro.(well actually she was drawing on a piece of paper and the biro went through the paper). I managed to get most of it off with a combination of wet wipes, toothpaste and a bit of Jif, and lots of elbow grease! Dh hasn't noticed!

Biros are just evil. I usually keep them locked away.

Good luck misspollydolly.

[misspollysdolly]

Mum and Dad arrive back tomorrow midday - think positive thoughts...

[solo]

They are very abrasive, that's why you have to be gentle. They do work really well though, I've used them for all kinds of marks.

[shelleylou]

its ok glad it helped

[SoupDragon]

(baby wipes sh*te on the remaining matt walls in my house, hence I've repainted in silk)

[SoupDragon]

I was about to make the observation that, since it's matt paint, you're probably b*ggered. But I see you've found that out

[snowboo]

I know from experience that baby wipes work wonders.
On anything! Thank god for baby wipes otherwise i'd have to run! (Dh very houseproud )

[SlightlyMadSweet]

Baby wipes are fab.

The flash sponges pulled the paint of SILswall so be careful.

[maidamess]

I've used 'Bounce' tumble dryer sheets to get marks off walls before, they worked a treat.

[solo]

DAMN!

[misspollysdolly]

Weeeeell...bit of a saga really. 'Helpful' FIL came round (can sense you all wincing at this point...!) with some magic chemical that he has previously used - but it would seem NOT on a matt emulsion wall. ARRRGH! Dabs a bit on and it leaves a huge greasy mark - NIGHTMARE!

So DH finds spare paint (a la shellylou - thanks and sorry for being a bit dim earlier!!) and paints over the biro and now awful mark. Looks fine head-on but from the side you can still see that something untoward has occurred - so will have to seriously 'fess up and offer to pay for wall being repainted in necessary. What a nightmare!

Mum and Dad have just had house totaly re-furb'd after massive flood a year ago (six months living in temporary accommodation) so a bit sensitive re house issues. Will probably notice straight away once home from hols.

Now wishing I'd just left the (relatively small) biro marks and shown them there and then. Much less stress that way. Ho hum...! Thanks for all the suggestions - only sorry FIL got there first...

[belgo]

Any success misspollysdolly?

[pofaced]

I don't mean to be unhelpful but whatever else you do, don't paint over it.... our decorator says you can never paint over biro... Hope the removal suggestions work!

[blinkingthreetimes]

An eraser worked for me last week .
Good luck x

[foxythesnowfox]

Jif/cif cream cleaner
a paste of bicarb of soda?

Of course when you do one patch you then have to wash down the whole wall ...

[mybrainaches]

Hairspray.

[NotABanana]

Make up some warm water with detergent and scrub off.

[lucykate]

try wet wipes, when dd was little we visited some friends and she drew on their antique leather topped table with a biro, dh distracted them in the kitchen while i desperately tried to clean the mess, it all came off with a wet wipe.

we never told them it happened

[belgo]

really, toothpaste has gotton biro off a painted wall in my house.

[shelleylou]

yes i did mean to paint over it

[purpleflower]

Do you think any of these will work on wallpaper? my kitchen has stripes