<p>DH managed to leave a ballpoint pen in a pocket I didn’t check when I threw his pants into the wash. In addition to ruining several blouses/shirts, the pen left ink on the drum on the inside of the dryer.</p>
<p>Anybody know how to clean it off the drum before I ruin any more clothes?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I’ve had ink in my dryer for a number of years now. 
It hasn’t ruined anything since that first load. And nothing I have tried has budged it.</p>
<p>You might have luck with Goop, and it might work to remove the ink on the clothes as well. Baking soda and lemon juice might work too.</p>
<p>Also, this site has some good tips for removing ink from all kinds of things.
<a href=“http://www.mrscleannw.com/tips/removing-ink-stain.html[/url]”>http://www.mrscleannw.com/tips/removing-ink-stain.html</a></p>
<p>At your own risk: I have used lighter fluid on toweling to get the majority of ink off of my dryer. Obviously you have to rinse this very well and the fumes can be overpowering but it works. Do not use in a hot dryer or turn the dryer on until you have rinsed this very well.</p>
<p>How about one of those Mr. Clean scrubbing bar thingees?</p>
<p>“Magic Eraser”
Works on so many things that I tried everything else on.
I had gum in my dryer last week. You have my sympathy.</p>
<p>I’d try denatured alcohol in lieu of goop, goof-off, lighter fluid, mineral spirits or turpentine. Those have a longer evaporation time as opposed to denatured alcohol, or a solvent like lacquer thinner, or a painter’s deglosser like Imperial’s wil-bond. </p>
<p>It’s imperative that if it is a gas dryer with a standing pilot light that you might want to call a pro unless you are “handy”. The pilot light should be out, and the gas valve closed before attempting to use any of these petroleum based solvents. These are all extremely flammable, and may easily ignite in the confined space of a dryer drum.</p>
<p>An electric dryer or a newer gas dryer with electronic ignition can be done safely by yourself. Try the solvents (denatured alcohol, lacquer thinner, or wil-bond, whichever works… my basic experience is if wil-bond doesn’t remove it, it’s probably not going to come off). </p>
<p>After you clean it, leave the dryer door open at least an hour. Then run a cycle or two on the air only (NO HEAT) setting to evacuate any remaining vapors.</p>
<p>I’m a building trades pro, and the son of firefighter with 40+ years in the service… this is potentially a disaster in the making… please heed my precautions.</p>
<p>Additionally, the solvent may dissolve some of the drum paint. No permanent harm there, just don’t be surprised if it happens.</p>
<p>My son REGULARLY leaves stuff like pens in his pockets, and he wears those cargo shorts with a dozen pockets, so I fail to find the stuff, often. There is a lot of permanent ink in my dryer. It doesn’t bother the laundry.</p>
<p>violadad - thanks for the warnings! It’s easy to forget that dryers are fire hazards!</p>
<p>And thanks to the rest of you, too! I knew I’d get help here!</p>
<p>I’m going to try the Goop and maybe some of the other suggestions on the ruined clothes. We did a sheets & towel wash, stuff that I didn’t care about getting some stains on, and didn’t have any ink transfer from the dryer. I think I’ll just leave it alone!</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>Have pens coming out of the dryer regularly at our home! I have never bothered trying to remove the light bluish haze, and I have never had it transfer onto my clothes. </p>
<p>We have also had a bluetooth ear piece go through more than once, sunglass shades, and one cellular phone go through our wash (this one made me angry). My favorite is cash, b/c I keep that!</p>
<p>Cheap hairspray is excellent at removing ink stains from clothes.
Good Luck.</p>
<p>1 800 GE CARES has the answer to all kinds of things like this. My personal experience with calling them was 1. washing and drying a disposable diaper and 2. melting <em>all</em> of my tupperware all over the electric oven. Both in the same day!</p>
<p>I’ve blotted several shirts with the uncapped-pen-in-the-pocket trick but never a pen in the washer/dryer. I think TheMom would have some brisk and chafing words with me. Don’t know that it would lead to an annulment…quite…she’s annoyed enough by the ruined shirts.</p>
<p>I second the suggestion of hairspray. I’ve taken ink out of white clothing with it (as long as the ink spot isn’t too saturated.)</p>
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<p>We’ve had more than one cell phone go through wash and dry, and come out just as good as new. Did yours die?</p>
<p>In our family, the laundry maid (that would be me) gets to keep all cash. This has made the boys slightly more energetic about cleaning out their pockets.</p>
<p>Lesstoil is worth a try if the other ideas don’t work. Stronger than hairspray, not as scary as lighter fluid. </p>
<p>I use lighter fluid to get the pricetags off of the glass when I buy picture frames - I like lighter fluid - but I’m not sure I’d want to use it in a dryer that will be hot after I am done.</p>