A stain by any other name is a stain…or is it? Let’s face it – children are delightfully messy creatures. Even when you find yourself removing pen stains from the couch.

In the early days and months you’re cleaning up spit up, urine, and poop from clothes (theirs and yours). Next, you get to experience the joy of washing your baby’s first thoroughly squished foods out of bibs, clothes, hair, and sometimes walls.

Of course, there is also the potty training phase – which is a whole different can of worms I won’t even go into…and then THIS happens…

I like to refer to it as the “creative” phase. Thankfully my little Picasso decided to redecorate her Minnie Mouse chair instead of our couch, but still…Not wanting to waste a perfect blog opportunity I snapped pictures and brought out the new cleaning product my mother had been bragging about just a few days prior to the “remodel”:)

So here’s the skinny on cleaning Minnie by removing pen stains and what has become one of my go to products: Carbona!

Pour the product directly onto the stain.

Use a clean rag and start rubbing.

I immediately saw the pen marks coming off the furniture – just keep going until you’ve got it all.

Last but not least go over the area with a damp clean cloth and let it dry!

I noticed that Carbona carries a lot of different cleaning solutions that address various stains, i.e. one product that tackles oils, another for coffee and wine, blood, dirt, and hey – let’s not forget pen 🙂 I haven’t tried them all, but as our life messes change I just might give them a try. From this mom to all of y’all – just thought I’d share 🙂

What are some of your super awesome cleaning remedies for tasks like removing pen stains?