How to Remove an Ink Stain from a Dryer Drum

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 References

If a pen or marker explodes in your dryer, you may be dealing with more than just stained clothing. The ink can stain the inside of your dryer, too. Wipe it out with soap and water first to remove the ink stains. If this doesn’t work, move on to tougher cleaning products. Remember to use caution when you clean a dryer since it is an electrical appliance. Always unplug your dryer before you use any cleaning strategy.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Dish Soap

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Unplug the dryer to protect yourself from electrical shock. You can get electrocuted if you clean a dryer with water while it is still plugged in. Unplug the dryer before you begin to stay safe.^{[1]
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Tip: Without the light on the inside of the dryer, it might be difficult to see the stains. Turn a light on in the room or ask someone to hold a flashlight for you and aim it inside of the dryer.
2
Wipe out the inside of the dryer with a rag soaked in soapy water. Fill a small bowl or bucket with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. You can use any type of dish soap that you have on hand. Then, dip a clean dish rag into the soapy water and wring it out. Use the rag to wipe the inside of the dryer wherever it is stained. Apply medium to hard pressure to scrub the stains.^{[2]
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- Check after a few seconds to see if the stain is coming up. If it is, keep scrubbing. If not, you might need to try a different option.
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3
Rinse the rag and wipe out the dryer again. After you finish scrubbing the stains in the dryer, hold the rag under warm, running water. Then, wring it out and wipe out the inside of the dryer again to remove the soap residue.^{[3]
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- Your dryer is safe to use again after you finish wiping it out. Plug it back in after you finish cleaning it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Removing Stubborn Ink Stains

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Unplug the dryer if you’ll be cleaning out the inside by hand. Cleaning the inside of a dryer while it is still plugged in puts you at risk of electric shock. Unplug the dryer before you start cleaning it if you’ll be cleaning it out by hand.^{[4]
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2
Scrub the dryer with a Magic Eraser for a chemical-free option. A Magic Eraser is a special sponge made of melamine foam. Wet the Magic Eraser sponge with water and wring it out. Wipe the inside of the dryer with the sponge to remove the ink stains. Keep scrubbing until all of the stains are gone.^{[5]
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- Rinse and wring out the sponge as needed.
- You may have to apply medium to hard pressure depending on how bad the stains are. For example, if the stains are from a permanent marker, you might need to scrub them harder than if they’re from a pen.
3
Spray fabric stain remover on the ink spots if there's time to let the product sit. Spray the product on the ink stains inside of your dryer. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then, wipe the dryer clean with a damp paper towel.^{[6]
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- You can purchase stain pre-treatment sprays in the laundry department of a grocery store.
4
Use Goo Gone to easily clean ink from the inside of the dryer. This product is alcohol-free, so it’s safe to use on the inside of a dryer. Apply the product to a rag and then wipe the inside of the dryer with the damp rag. The ink should come off of the dryer drum easily. Then, use a wet rag with a few drops of dish soap to wipe away the remaining Goo Gone. Follow that by wiping out the dryer with a wet rag to remove the soap.^{[7]
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- Do not use “Goof Off” as this product is flammable. Only use the product “Goo Gone” if you try this option.
5
Dry a bleach-soaked towel to clean the dryer while it's running. Fill a small bucket with 1 US gal (3.8 L) of water and 8 fl oz (240 mL) of bleach. Then, place a towel into the solution and allow it to get soaked. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and pull the towel out. Wring it out as much as possible and then put it in the dryer without any other items. Turn the dryer on high and run it until the towel is dry.^{[8]
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- When you remove the towel from the dryer, the ink stains should be gone. However, make sure to run a couple of loads of whites through the dryer next to ensure that all of the bleach residue is gone.
- You may also want to wipe out the inside of the dryer with a damp rag to ensure that there is no bleach residue left. Make sure to unplug the dryer before you wipe it out.
- It's best to toss the towel after using it so the ink stains don't transfer to other items the next time you wash it.
6
Treat stubborn ink stains with nail polish remover and a damp cloth. Moisten a cotton ball with nail polish remover and dab it on the ink stains in the dryer. Repeat until all of the ink stains are gone. Then, wipe out the inside of the dryer with a damp cloth to remove the nail polish residue.^{[9]
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- Make sure to wipe the inside of the dryer thoroughly with the wet rag to get all of the nail polish remover residue off of it.
- Avoid inhaling the fumes if you use this option. Open a window and run a fan to help ventilate the room while you wipe out the dryer and don’t stick your head into the dryer.
Warning: Only use this option if other options have failed. Using nail polish remover on the inside of a dryer is not recommended since it is flammable.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I remove a lip gloss stain from my dryer?

Community Answer

I just had the same problem and nothing worked until I tried Comet. It worked great. Just wipe it down with a wet rag after.
Question

Could Comet work to get ink stains out of the dryer?

Community Answer

Yes, try it with a smooth sponge.
Question

I used nail polish to remove the ink stains, now I'm afraid to use the dryer because the nail polish is flammable. Is it safe?

The Four Trust Company

Community Answer

The nail polish remover will dissipate because it naturally dissipates when exposed to the air. Take a cold, clean cloth and rub down the entire area affected, repeat if you are unsure, wait 15 minutes, and it should be okay.

Warnings

Always make sure that you unplug the dryer before cleaning it with anything to protect yourself from electrical shock.

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Alcohol is flammable and using it to clean your dryer can create a fire hazard, so avoid things like rubbing alcohol, WD-40, and carburetor cleaner.

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Remember to be extra careful if you clean out a dryer with nail polish remover because it is flammable! Don’t inhale the fumes and make sure that all of the nail polish is off the dryer before you turn it on again.

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If you use a bleach-soaked towel, make sure to run a couple of loads of white clothing through the dryer to get rid of the bleach residue.

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