I had to giggle when I looked over this page and saw the tip on how to remove permanent marker from a whiteboard. Because this morning, I am faced with a new ‘stain’ challenge! 

The kids have been doing a reading contest for the past couple months. I have a goody box full of (dollar store) prizes that the weekly winner can choose from. Yesterday, Trevor chose “silly putty”. I do not believe it is the actual BRAND, but a knock-off. No biggie, I figure, he’s 10 years old and will be responsible, right?

First thing I saw this morning, 2 blobs of BRIGHT BLUE silly putty on the sofa in the front room. I know this is going to be a HUGE challenge, so I start online (as usual) researching tips on how to remove silly putty from upholstery. The winning trick: squirt hand sanitizer onto the putty, then use a toothbrush to scrub/lift the silly putty. Had the SP been the normal pink color, we would have been OK. But now I have BIG BLUE smears all over my couch! AAAARRRRGGGHHH. I scrubbed and I scrubbed and I scrubbed….then I used my favorite carpet & uphostery stain remover (Folex) and THAT didn’t work.

Do I try Shout laundry stain remover? Do I try straight rubbing alcohol? The SP is gone, it’s just the blue stain that remains.

I’ll update this with the final result, when there is one! I’m tired of messing with it for now.

(OH, the cushion and pillow cover ARE removable, but I’m afraid they would shrink in the washing machine, and I’m also afraid the cushion will be VERY difficult to get back into the sleeve. That will be my final solution.)

Updates:
Same Day- 8/26/09. I kept trying the hand sanitizer method, then went to Folex again, then tried Spot Shot, then tried Shout Laundry stain remover.  The blue spots are lighter, but still highly visible and blue.  Friday night I will take the covers off the couch (all of them) and throw them in the wash.  HOPEFULLY that helps….otherwise we might be purchasing a slipcover!!  (Probably should have done that a long time ago, right?)

Next Day- 8/27/09.  Well, I decided to strip the couch this morning and try putting them in the washing machine.  I tried the Shout again, then washed the cushion and pillow covers.  Nothing.  So then I used a Clorox Bleach Pen and saturated just the blue area with bleach, left on for 10 minutes, then washed it, nothing.  Tried again and let it sit for 30 minutes this time, nothing.  Tomorrow I will take straight bleach and give that a shot! 

Day Three- 8/28/09.  This morning I decided to apply straight bleach.  It was hard to apply it to JUST the blue area, as it’s liquid and spreads outside the area applied.  I let it sit for 10 minutes, fearing any longer and I might end up with holes!   Once again, threw it in the washing machine with more detergent….and…..wait for it……it’s……..still blue.   Guess the cushions and pillows will be flipped!   Curse the dollar store Silly Putty!  Forever banned from my house!

Blue spots