How to Remove Ink from Concrete

The chemical composition matters

When dealing with ink stains, the type and composition of ink plays a major role in determining which method is most suitable. In this article, we will address different methods for the removal of the common types of ink including ordinary blue, Prussian blue, ink containing indelible dyes, ink containing silver salt, and India ink.

How to remove ordinary blue ink from concrete

Ordinary ink mainly includes writing ink, which is somewhat easy to remove from concrete surfaces.

Things you will need

• Safety gear.
• Sodium perborate.
• Hot water.
• Plastic sheet.
• Bristle brush.
• Clean water.

Notes

• Sodium Perborate: Other names include Perboric acid, Perborax, or Sodium salt.
  Appearance: White crystalline odorless powder.
  Availability: It is available at the supermarkets and chemical supply centers. It is used in some dishwashing powders and laundry detergents.
  Hazards: This compound is a strong oxidizer, irritant.

Steps

1. Put on your safety gear.
2. Mix sodium perborate and hot water to form a thick paste.
3. Apply the paste to the ink spot, and cover it with a plastic sheet.
4. After the poultice dries, remove the cover and scrape off the residue using a bristle brush.
5. Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water.
6. Repeat as needed.
7. If a brown or reddish brown stain remains, follow the methods for the removal of iron stains from concrete.

Explanation

After putting on your safety gear, prepare the poultice by mixing sodium perborate and hot water to form a thick paste. Then, apply the poultice with about 1/4 to 1/2 inches (~6-13 mm) thick, while warm, to the dry ink stain, cover it with a plastic sheet, and leave it till it dries out. During this time, the poultice will help loosening up the ink stain and absorbing it. Next, remove the plastic sheet and scrub the residue with a bristle brush. And finally, rinse and flush with clean water.

You can repeat this process if a light stain remains. However, such inks may include a form of iron, which can leave a brown or reddish brown stain. In this case, you should treat the remaining stains as iron stains, and thus you should follow one of the iron stain removal methods.

Prussian blue ink removal methods from concrete

In general, the method for the removal of ordinary blue writing ink is not effective for the removal of Prussian blue ink from concrete. Instead, a different technique and different chemicals are necessary.

Things you will need

• Safety gear.
• Cotton ball or pad / clean absorptive cloth.
• Ammonium hydroxide / strong detergent.
• Clean water.

Notes

• Ammonium Hydroxide or household ammonia.
  Appearance: Colorless liquid.
  Availability: It is available at the supermarkets and hardware stores.
  Hazards: Toxic.

Steps

1. Wear your safety gear.
2. Dip a cotton ball, pad, or a clean absorptive cloth in ammonium hydroxide or strong detergent to saturate it.
3. Place the bandage over the ink spot covering a slightly larger area. You can use a weight or tape to hold the bandage in place.
4. After the bandage dries, remove it and rinse the surface with clean water.
5. Repeat as needed.

Explanation

One of the most effective methods for the removal of Prussian blue inks from concrete is to apply an ammonia or a strong detergent bandage. First, you have to put on your safety gear. Then, place a bandage saturated with either ammonium hydroxide or strong detergent, not both, right on the ink spot. This bandage should cover an area slightly larger than that of the ink stain. Besides, you can use any weight or a tape to hold it in place and exert some pressure. After the bandage dries, generally in few hours, remove it and rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water.

How to remove ink which contains indelible dyes from concrete

Two of the most effective methods for the removal of inks which contain indelible dyes from concrete surfaces include poultices and bandages saturated with certain chemicals.

Method #1: Poultice

Things you will need

• Safety gear.
• Talc / cat litter / sawdust*.
• Sodium perborate / calcium hypochlorite / sodium hypochlorite.
• Bristle brush.
• Hot water**.
• Clean water.

* Depends on the materials – used with sodium hypochlorite to form a poultice.
** Depends on the materials – used with sodium perborate poultice.

Notes

• Sodium Perborate: Other names include Perboric acid, Perborax, or Sodium salt.
  Appearance: White crystalline odorless powder.
  Availability: It is available at the supermarkets and chemical supply centers. It is used in some dishwashing powders and laundry detergents.
  Hazards: This compound is a strong oxidizer, irritant.
• Sodium hypochlorite or household bleach.
  Appearance: Colorless or slightly yellowish liquid.
  Availability: It is available at supermarkets.
  Hazards: This compound is corrosive to flesh, and can react with other chemicals to produce a toxic gas.
• Calcium hypochlorite or pool chlorine.
  Appearance: White powder.
  Availability: It is available at pool and garden supply stores.
  Hazards: This compound is corrosive to flesh, and can be flammable when in contact with solvents.

Steps

1. Wear your safety gear.
2. Prepare a poultice with one of the following to form a thick paste:
   • Mix sodium perborate and hot water.
   • Mix calcium hypochlorite and water.
   • Blend household bleach with sawdust, talc, or cat litter.
3. Apply the poultice to the ink stains with a thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inches (~6-13 mm).
4. After the poultice dries, remove the cover, and scrape off the residue using a bristle brush.
5. Rinse with clean water.

Explanation

In this method, you should first wear your protective gear. Then, prepare a thick paste by mixing sodium perborate with hot water, calcium hypochlorite with water, or household bleach with talc. Usually, these poultices are effective in breaking down the ink and absorbing it for a complete removal from concrete. However, it is important to test these poultices on a small area first since some can impact the color of the surface, especially bleach. Next, apply the poultice to the spot with a thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inches (~6-13 mm), while covering an area slightly larger than that of the stain. After few hours, when the poultice dries, remove it and scrape off any residue with a bristle brush and water. And finally, rinse and flush the surface thoroughly.

Method #2: Bandage

Things you will need

• Safety gear.
• Cotton ball or pad / clean absorptive cloth.
• Ammonium hydroxide.
• Clean water.

Notes

• Ammonium Hydroxide or household ammonia.
  Appearance: Colorless liquid.
  Availability: It is available at the supermarkets and hardware stores.
  Hazards: Toxic.

Steps

1. Wear your safety gear.
2. Saturate a cotton ball, pad, or a piece of clean cloth in ammonium hydroxide.
3. Apply the bandage to the ink spot and hold it in place with a weight or tape if necessary.
4. After few hours, when the bandage dries, remove it and rinse the surface with clean water.
5. Repeat as needed.

Explanation

Ammonium hydroxide is one of the most effective chemicals for the removal of ink which contains indelible dyes. In addition, for such inks which also contain silver salt, this ammonium hydroxide poultice method is also applicable.

How to remove India black ink 

India black ink is a type of ink which is widely used in writing, printing, drawing, and outlining. Mainly, this type of ink contains carbon, and is fairly easy to remove from concrete surfaces; it does not require the use of harsh chemicals, but simply some elbow grease.

Things you will need

• Gloves.
• Scouring / abrasive powder / strong soap.
• Scouring pad / bristle brush.
• Clean water.

Steps

1. Put on your gloves.
2. Scrub the surface vigorously with scouring powder or strong soap using a bristle brush or a scouring pad.
3. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Explanation

Usually, India ink stains on concrete only require some scrubbing with a scouring powder for a complete removal. However, it is important not apply too much pressure while scrubbing the surface, as this may cause damage.

Final thoughts

Based on this article, it is important to follow the ideal removal approach according to the type of ink. For example, some ink stains may only require some mechanical action, whereas others may require specific chemicals to loosen them up.