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How to Clean Ink off the Inside of a Dryer Download ArticleExplore this Article methods 1 Using Commercial Products 2 Using Household Products 3 Avoiding Common Mistakes Other Sections Expert Q&A Related Articles References Co-authored by Bridgett Price
Last Updated: June 10, 2025
Download Article X
This article was co-authored by Bridgett Price. Bridgett Price is a House Cleaning Professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has over 8 years of experience in the industry and is the Co-Owner of Maid Easy, a maid service company servicing the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area witih over 17k professional cleanings under its belt. Maid Easy was featured on CNBC's 'Made It!' program and was voted as The Best of The Desert - Residential Cleaning Service by AZCentral. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing. This article has been viewed 68,570 times.
When ink gets stuck on the inside of a dryer, it can be a real hassle. As you don't want to dry clothes in an ink-stained dryer, there are several ways to clean it. Commercial products can easily remove ink from a dryer, such as rubbing alcohol and bug spray. You can also try household products, like nail polish. Make sure to read manufacturer's instructions first and unplug the dryer prior to cleaning.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Using Commercial Products
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1 Wipe off ink with rubbing alcohol.[1]X Expert Source Bridgett PriceHouse Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview Take a soft cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol. Gently blot the ink. It should come out fairly easily.[2]XResearch source
If there is more than one ink stain in the dryer, use a separate cloth for each section.
It is important to blot the stain instead of rubbing it.[3]X Expert Source Bridgett PriceHouse Cleaning ProfessionalExpert Interview
2 Use magic eraser. Magic eraser is an eraser sold by Mr. Clean that helps remove stubborn stains from various surfaces. Using magic eraser is simple. You simply dampen the eraser and gently swab it over the ink stain to remove the unwanted stain.[4]XResearch source
If the stain is a little tough to get out, do not hesitate to scrub a little harder to remove it.
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3 Try a bug spray. Commercial bug spray can actually help remove ink stains. The brand Off works particularly well at eliminating ink stains. All you have to do is spray the repellent directly on the stain and proceed to wipe it away using paper towels.[5]XResearch source
4 Run bleach-soaked towels through a dry cycle. After using any cleaning method described above, you should always run bleach-soaked towels through a dry cycle to ensure any lingering stains are removed. Soak some old towels in bleach. Wring the towels out so they're not dripping wet and place them in the dryer. Run them through a complete cycle.[6]XResearch source
If you still notice ink stains in the dryer, run them through another cycle.
Always wear gloves when handling bleach.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Using Household Products
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1 Try vegetable shortening. Let the dryer run empty for a few minutes. Smear plain vegetable shortening onto the ink. Let it sit on a few minutes before wiping off the shortening. If successful, the ink should come off as well.
2 Use nail polish remover. If you have any nail polish remover, rub it into the stain with a soft cloth or rag. If you apply a little pressure, the ink should eventually come off.
3 Try a strong shampoo. If you have a strong shampoo on hand, you can rub this into the ink to remove it. This works best with a shampoo labeled as full-strength.
4 Run bleach-soaked towels through the dryer. With household products, it's important ensure any stains are completely removed. Soak a few old towels with bleach. Wring them out to make sure they're not dripping wet and then toss them in the dryer. Run a full cycle to finish the cleaning process.[7]XResearch source
Repeat if necessary.
Make sure to wear gloves when handling bleach.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Avoiding Common Mistakes
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1 Check with the manufacturer. Before attempting to treat ink stains, check manufacturing instructions or call the manufacturer. You want to make sure that the product you're using is safe for your dryer. The manufacturer may also have specific tips for getting ink out of your brand of dryer.
2 Unplug the dryer before cleaning. It's dangerous to clean the dryer when it's plugged in. Before applying any cleaning product to the drum, unplug your dryer from the wall. You can plug it back in before adding the bleach soaked towels to complete the cleaning process.
3 Be careful not to smear the ink. Always use separate rags to clean different ink stains in your dryer. If you simply wipe the same rag around in your dryer, this can result in you smearing the stain around.[8]XResearch source
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Expert Q&A
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Question How do I get ink off the inside of my dryer? Bridgett Price House Cleaning Professional Bridgett Price is a House Cleaning Professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has over 8 years of experience in the industry and is the Co-Owner of Maid Easy, a maid service company servicing the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area witih over 17k professional cleanings under its belt. Maid Easy was featured on CNBC's 'Made It!' program and was voted as The Best of The Desert - Residential Cleaning Service by AZCentral. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing. Bridgett Price House Cleaning Professional Expert Answer If you get ink inside your dryer, blot the stain with rubbing alcohol. However, avoid rubbing the alcohol over the ink, as that can spread the stain. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
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↑ Bridgett Price. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Bridgett Price House Cleaning Professional This article was co-authored by Bridgett Price. Bridgett Price is a House Cleaning Professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has over 8 years of experience in the industry and is the Co-Owner of Maid Easy, a maid service company servicing the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area witih over 17k professional cleanings under its belt. Maid Easy was featured on CNBC's 'Made It!' program and was voted as The Best of The Desert - Residential Cleaning Service by AZCentral. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing. This article has been viewed 68,570 times. 2 votes - 100% Co-authors: 18Updated: June 10, 2025 Views: 68,570 Categories: Laundry
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Reader Success Stories
Trish Ball
May 27, 2020
"I actually had to combine 2 but it cleaned my dryer to like new. I do have a gas dryer and using alcohol I let it air dry for about 30 minutes. I used a magic eraser with 70% rubbing alcohol, cleaned it right up."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Bridgett Price House Cleaning Professional Co-authors: 18Updated: June 10, 2025 Views: 68,570100% of readers found this article helpful. 2 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
Trish Ball
May 27, 2020
"I actually had to combine 2 but it cleaned my dryer to like new. I do have a gas dryer and using alcohol I let it air dry for about 30 minutes. I used a magic eraser with 70% rubbing alcohol, cleaned it right up."..." more Share yours!
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Download Article Explore this Article methods 1 Using Commercial Products 2 Using Household Products 3 Avoiding Common Mistakes Other Sections Expert Q&A Related Articles References Co-authored by Bridgett Price 
The 10 Best Solutions to Get Any Ink Out of Your Carpet 
How toRemove a Ballpoint Pen Stain 
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Co-authored by: Bridgett Price House Cleaning Professional This article was co-authored by Bridgett Price. Bridgett Price is a House Cleaning Professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has over 8 years of experience in the industry and is the Co-Owner of Maid Easy, a maid service company servicing the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area witih over 17k professional cleanings under its belt. Maid Easy was featured on CNBC's 'Made It!' program and was voted as The Best of The Desert - Residential Cleaning Service by AZCentral. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing. This article has been viewed 68,570 times. 2 votes - 100% Co-authors: 18 Updated: June 10, 2025 Views: 68,570 Categories: Laundry 
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1 Wipe off ink with rubbing alcohol.[1] Take a soft cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol. Gently blot the ink. It should come out fairly easily.[2] 
2 Use magic eraser. Magic eraser is an eraser sold by Mr. Clean that helps remove stubborn stains from various surfaces. Using magic eraser is simple. You simply dampen the eraser and gently swab it over the ink stain to remove the unwanted stain.[4] 
3 Try a bug spray. Commercial bug spray can actually help remove ink stains. The brand Off works particularly well at eliminating ink stains. All you have to do is spray the repellent directly on the stain and proceed to wipe it away using paper towels.[5] 
4 Run bleach-soaked towels through a dry cycle. After using any cleaning method described above, you should always run bleach-soaked towels through a dry cycle to ensure any lingering stains are removed. Soak some old towels in bleach. Wring the towels out so they're not dripping wet and place them in the dryer. Run them through a complete cycle.[6] 
1 Try vegetable shortening. Let the dryer run empty for a few minutes. Smear plain vegetable shortening onto the ink. Let it sit on a few minutes before wiping off the shortening. If successful, the ink should come off as well. 
2 Use nail polish remover. If you have any nail polish remover, rub it into the stain with a soft cloth or rag. If you apply a little pressure, the ink should eventually come off. 
3 Try a strong shampoo. If you have a strong shampoo on hand, you can rub this into the ink to remove it. This works best with a shampoo labeled as full-strength. 
4 Run bleach-soaked towels through the dryer. With household products, it's important ensure any stains are completely removed. Soak a few old towels with bleach. Wring them out to make sure they're not dripping wet and then toss them in the dryer. Run a full cycle to finish the cleaning process.[7] 
1 Check with the manufacturer. Before attempting to treat ink stains, check manufacturing instructions or call the manufacturer. You want to make sure that the product you're using is safe for your dryer. The manufacturer may also have specific tips for getting ink out of your brand of dryer. 
2 Unplug the dryer before cleaning. It's dangerous to clean the dryer when it's plugged in. Before applying any cleaning product to the drum, unplug your dryer from the wall. You can plug it back in before adding the bleach soaked towels to complete the cleaning process. 
3 Be careful not to smear the ink. Always use separate rags to clean different ink stains in your dryer. If you simply wipe the same rag around in your dryer, this can result in you smearing the stain around.[8] Advertisement 
Bridgett Price House Cleaning Professional Bridgett Price is a House Cleaning Professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has over 8 years of experience in the industry and is the Co-Owner of Maid Easy, a maid service company servicing the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area witih over 17k professional cleanings under its belt. Maid Easy was featured on CNBC's 'Made It!' program and was voted as The Best of The Desert - Residential Cleaning Service by AZCentral. She holds a Master of Management from the University of Phoenix, specializing in digital and traditional marketing. 
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