Can you remove ink stains from leather sofas?
September 22, 2001 | 12:00am
Q. I have a deep-red leather couch with two armchairs to match. Last night, I found black pen ink on the couch. We tried rubbing off a small portion with a damp cloth; the ink came off a little but the leather became a bit lighter, so I stopped. Please tell me what to do. I don’t want the red leather to fade and I want those darn spots off! Thanks so much. Glad you have a website. - Gina Godinez
A. I’m not sure why the red dye of the leather would come off with just water, but maybe it’s because of the harsh rubbing of the ink into the leather is causing its own dye to lighten. Ink can usually be removed with a solvent like acetone or the main ingredients in hairspray. You might want to test the chemical first on an inconspicuous area of the couch before proceeding to work on the affected areas. Use a cotton ball and apply the solvent very lightly, as if you were airbrushing. See how that works...
Q. Hi, Molly! I’ve always been a regular reader of your column in the STAR and your website! I’m 32 years old, a mother of two boys and an owner of a small furniture company. I graduated from the Ateneo in 1989. My question is about organizing a reunion. My high school reunion is coming up this December and I’m in charge of preparing the program. I have some ideas but I thought I’d ask you how to make the reunion fun and memorable.
This is going to be our first reunion in 16 years so it’s eagerly anticipated. Some of our classmates are now based abroad and will be flying in just for the event. I wouldn’t want them to be disappointed. Just to give you a backgrounder of the class members: we’re around 32 to33 years of age, most of us are probably married with young kids, male and female, and middle-class status. Hope you can give suggestions to make this event memorable. - Ruth Dizon
A. A high school reunion is a great time to re-establish ties with old chums and build on more fond memories for posterity! You can start off by thinking of a period theme wherein everyone can come dressed-up accordingly. Anything from the hippy ’60s to the groovy ’70s to the disco ’80s will surely stir laughter and good fun. Prizes should go to the best-dressed or "most appropriately costumed" couple or family. Depending on how big the group is, breaking up hundreds of people into smaller core groups is probably the more manageable thing to do. Classifying each group by a color code (or pre-assigning a group color by asking them to come dressed in a certain color) will also help facilitate the formation of teams for group games.
Games such as timed relays (of course, the venue will also determine how much you can move around!) wherein each member of a team picks out a random piece of paper with certain instructions to find something in the audience and bring it forward; dress-up or going-to-the-market relays for the men who have to don blouses, skirts, wooden clogs and umbrellas, run across the room and remove their garments, singing contests that are judged by the audience, dance marathons or musical chairs are all welcome routines for get-togethers. If there is time, a slide show of old pictures will surely be enjoyed by everyone. Don’t forget the food (everyone who donates a dish gets their names posted on a flag planted on the dish itself!), drinks, balloons, and souvenir giveaways (ie, framed class photos – then and now)! Have fun!
Q. How do you remove corrosion from aluminum mag wheels? Our neighbor has a dog that keeps on wetting my wheels. I used to ignore it, but not anymore. I realized lately that this has caused corrosion on my wheels. Metal cleaners just don’t work. - Froilan Villegas
A. A neighbor’s dog looking to relieve itself can certainly do just that – corrode aluminum. I don’t think corrosion is reversible (a metal cleaner brings back the shine of metal, but it doesn’t eradicate the rust and corrosion), so the best you can do is to prevent further damage by making sure that the dog stays away. Can you cover up your car or give the wheels a fresh spray of greasy lubricant like WD40? Perhaps the odor of the chemical lubricant will help keep the dog at bay.
Q. I usually buy gerbera cut flowers and put them in vases. But I notice that they wither easily. Unlike other cut flowers, my gerberas only last for two or three days. How can I make them last? They are a bit expensive compared to other flowers and it’s such a waste to see them wilt so soon. - Marissa Licaros
A. Once you buy your gerberas, cut their stems at a diagonal angle and place in clean water. The vase should be located in a cool, dry place, not in direct sunlight. Drop in 1/2 cup of a clear soft drink or two tablespoons of sugar. Make sure that there are no fillers or leaves that are touching or beneath the water level because this causes contamination leading to a quicker wilt in your flowers.
Visit our website at http://www.whollymollytips.com. Click on "Library" for easy recipes and cool products. Click on "Ask Molly" for all queries.
A. I’m not sure why the red dye of the leather would come off with just water, but maybe it’s because of the harsh rubbing of the ink into the leather is causing its own dye to lighten. Ink can usually be removed with a solvent like acetone or the main ingredients in hairspray. You might want to test the chemical first on an inconspicuous area of the couch before proceeding to work on the affected areas. Use a cotton ball and apply the solvent very lightly, as if you were airbrushing. See how that works...
Planning a reunion |
This is going to be our first reunion in 16 years so it’s eagerly anticipated. Some of our classmates are now based abroad and will be flying in just for the event. I wouldn’t want them to be disappointed. Just to give you a backgrounder of the class members: we’re around 32 to33 years of age, most of us are probably married with young kids, male and female, and middle-class status. Hope you can give suggestions to make this event memorable. - Ruth Dizon
A. A high school reunion is a great time to re-establish ties with old chums and build on more fond memories for posterity! You can start off by thinking of a period theme wherein everyone can come dressed-up accordingly. Anything from the hippy ’60s to the groovy ’70s to the disco ’80s will surely stir laughter and good fun. Prizes should go to the best-dressed or "most appropriately costumed" couple or family. Depending on how big the group is, breaking up hundreds of people into smaller core groups is probably the more manageable thing to do. Classifying each group by a color code (or pre-assigning a group color by asking them to come dressed in a certain color) will also help facilitate the formation of teams for group games.
Games such as timed relays (of course, the venue will also determine how much you can move around!) wherein each member of a team picks out a random piece of paper with certain instructions to find something in the audience and bring it forward; dress-up or going-to-the-market relays for the men who have to don blouses, skirts, wooden clogs and umbrellas, run across the room and remove their garments, singing contests that are judged by the audience, dance marathons or musical chairs are all welcome routines for get-togethers. If there is time, a slide show of old pictures will surely be enjoyed by everyone. Don’t forget the food (everyone who donates a dish gets their names posted on a flag planted on the dish itself!), drinks, balloons, and souvenir giveaways (ie, framed class photos – then and now)! Have fun!
Corrosion On Wheels |
A. A neighbor’s dog looking to relieve itself can certainly do just that – corrode aluminum. I don’t think corrosion is reversible (a metal cleaner brings back the shine of metal, but it doesn’t eradicate the rust and corrosion), so the best you can do is to prevent further damage by making sure that the dog stays away. Can you cover up your car or give the wheels a fresh spray of greasy lubricant like WD40? Perhaps the odor of the chemical lubricant will help keep the dog at bay.
Extending The Life Of Flowers |
A. Once you buy your gerberas, cut their stems at a diagonal angle and place in clean water. The vase should be located in a cool, dry place, not in direct sunlight. Drop in 1/2 cup of a clear soft drink or two tablespoons of sugar. Make sure that there are no fillers or leaves that are touching or beneath the water level because this causes contamination leading to a quicker wilt in your flowers.
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