Accidentally Whited-Out Something? Here's How to Remove It

If you accidentally got white out on something you didn't mean to, don't panic. It's possible to remove white-out from surfaces, even from paper (depending on the type of whiteout you used), and we compiled all of the best removal methods below. Plus, we spoke with Cleaning Expert Nat Ismaeil to get his top tips for removing white-out from skin and other surfaces.

Removing White-Out from Paper: Quick Tips

Use the rubber eraser from an erasable ink pen to gently rub back and forth across the white-out tape. As the white-out tape flakes off, brush it away with your hand. Touch up any ink that came off with the white-out using a pen with the same color ink.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Removing White-Out Tape from Paper

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Use a rubber eraser designed to remove ink. Look for an erasable pen that has a rubber eraser attached to one end. If you can't find one, use a classic pink rubber eraser.^{[1]
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- Kneaded erasers or gum erasers that you find at art supply stores don't work very well to remove white-out. Gum erasers crumble too easily, and kneaded erasers are designed to lift pencil or graphite marks.
- Note that this method works only for white-out tape. Unfortunately, if you use liquid white-out on paper, you won't be able to remove it.
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Rub the eraser back and forth across the white-out tape. Push gently so you don't accidentally tear the paper. Keep erasing until the white-out flakes off, and you can brush it away.^{[2]
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- If you don’t have an ink eraser, try to scrape the white-out correction tape or fluid using your fingernail or a butter knife. However, it's really easy to accidentally damage the paper, so scrape gently.
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Touch up the writing with fresh ink. When you erased the white-out, the eraser might have lifted some of the ink, too. If that’s the case, go back with the same color ink you used to write with and write over the words you'd like to be visible.
- Let the fresh ink dry completely before you handle the paper. This way, you won't accidentally smear the ink.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Removing White-Out from Skin

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Squirt a little liquid dish soap on a dry paper towel. You just need enough soap to cover the surface of the white-out stain on your skin. For a smaller stain, just a squirt should be enough, although if you spilled a whole bottle, you might need to use a little more.^{[3]
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- Do not wet the paper towel before adding the soap, as it will dilute the soap, making it less effective.
- Any liquid soap will work for this, but dish soap is especially good at breaking down stains like white-out.
EXPERT TIP

Chloe Goldman
Board-certified Dermatologist
Dr. Chloe Goldman, MD is a Dermatologist based in Miami, Florida, who currently works at Baumann Cosmetic & Research Institute and Upper East Side Dermatology. She specializes in cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatology. She earned a Doctor of Medicine from New York University and a BA in Biology, Neurobiology, and Behavior from Cornell University. She completed her dermatology training at University of Miami, where she was awarded the prestigious position of Chief Resident. She has won grants from the American Skin Foundation and the Melanoma Research Foundation.

Chloe Goldman
Board-certified Dermatologist

Try using an oil-based soap and then a water-based soap. First, use an oil-based cleanser to break up the white-out. Follow that up with a water-soluble cleanser to remove the residue. That way, if you aren't sure what type of white-out you have, you can still clean your skin safely.
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Rub the soapy paper towel over the white-out stain on your skin. The dish soap should dissolve the white-out in just a few seconds. You will start to see white streaks or flakes mixed in with the soap residue left behind from the paper towel.^{[4]
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- If you spilled a lot of white-out, you might have to scrub the area a little harder, and it might take longer.
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Wipe away the soapy stain with a clean, damp paper towel. You should see the white-out stain remnants coming off your skin onto the second paper towel. If any white-out remains, repeat the process.^{[5]
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- If you have a large stain, it may be easier to work in small sections rather than trying to tackle the whole thing at once.
Once you have completely gotten rid of the stain, rinse the area with fresh water to ensure there is no soap or white-out residue left behind, says Ismaeil. Otherwise, these substances may irritate your skin.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Removing White-Out from Clothes

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Allow the white-out to dry before you attempt to remove the stain. If you try to clean the white-out before it’s dried, it will smear and make a bigger mess. Instead, allow the stain to dry completely, which should only take about 5 minutes, depending on the size of the spill. However, the time it takes to dry depends on the specific white-out formula^{[6]
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- If you’re in a hurry, rub the area with an ice cube to help it harden more quickly.^{[7]
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Use a butter knife to scrape away as much of the white-out as possible. Once the white-out has completely hardened, try scraping it away with a dull, flat tool like a butter knife. Try to push the flat edge of the knife under the edge of the stain until the white-out flakes away. While some residue will probably remain on the fabric, this should remove the bulk of the white-out buildup on your clothes.^{[8]
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- You could also use a paint scraper, a credit card, or any other dull, flat surface.
- Don’t use anything sharp like a butcher’s knife or scissors, which could tear the garment.
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Read the label on the white-out to see if it’s water-based or oil-based. Some brands of white-out are water-based, which means they’ll come out easily with normal washing, while you'll have to treat oil-based stains with a stain remover.^{[9]
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- If the product is water-based, it will usually say so in the product name or be clearly advertised on the label. If the label doesn’t specify which one it is, it’s probably oil-based.
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Place the garment in the washing machine if the stain is water-based. Wash the garment according to its care label, as you usually would. If the garment is made of a durable fabric, wash it in warm water to help dissolve the stain. However, the stain may come out in cold water as well.^{[10]
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- Check to ensure the stain is gone before you put the clothes in the dryer. Otherwise, the stain could set in and may become permanent.
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Treat oil-based stains with a stain remover made for laundry. Saturate the stained area and let the stain remover sit for about a minute. After the minute is up, rub the white-out spot with a clean cloth to see if the stain has dissolved. If it has, wipe away as much as possible, then launder your garment as usual, says Ismaeil.
- If the stain is still present, apply more stain remover and wipe it off after 1 minute.
- You can also sponge amyl acetate, a powerful stain remover used by dry cleaners, onto the stain. Amyl acetate is very strong, so test it on an inconspicuous area first and work in a ventilated area.^{[11]
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Apply laundry detergent to the spot if the stain is still present. If you've already treated an oil-based white-out stain but it's still present, coat the whole area with the detergent and let it soak in for about 5 minutes. When the time is up, blot the white-out stain with a clean cloth until the stain is completely removed.
- If using powdered laundry detergent, wet the clothes before treating the stain. This helps the powdered detergent dissolve and soak into the fabric.
- If you prefer liquid detergent, there is no need to wet the garment first.
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Wash the garment as usual once the stain is removed. Once you've successfully removed an oil-based white-out stain, you can wash your clothing the way you normally do. If you’re not already sure, read your garment’s care tag to determine exactly how it should be washed. Depending on the type of material, either place the clothes in the washing machine or wash them by hand.^{[12]
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- This method works for black clothing as well as light and dark fabrics.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Removing White-Out from Carpet

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Dab the spot with rubbing alcohol if you spill white-out on carpet. Pour some rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth and quickly blot the spot from the outside, which will help keep it from spreading around. If you need to, switch to a new cloth once you have gotten the bulk of the stain up so you don’t keep transferring it back to the carpet.
- Rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly. This makes it an ideal solvent to use for spot-cleaning carpets since most other cleaners have to be washed away.^{[13]
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- Try to treat the stain as quickly as possible. Once it sets in, it can be very difficult to remove.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Removing White-Out from Hard Surfaces

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Treat stains on hard, color-safe surfaces with paint remover. Certain plastics, metals, or tiles may be durable enough to withstand paint remover or turpentine, but you’ll need to test a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure you don’t ruin the surface. Pour the paint remover onto a clean rag, then wipe away the spot, working from the outside in.^{[14]
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- Flush the area with water when you’re finished.
- If using paint remover or turpentine, work in a well-ventilated area, avoid prolonged skin exposure, and do not allow the chemicals to splash into your eyes.

Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Removing White-Out from Wood

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Treat stains on wood with WD-40 or a cleaner for sticky substances. Spray a little WD-40 onto the white-out stain and allow it to sit for 1 minute. Then, use a credit card or other flat surface to gently scrape away the white-out. Use a clean cloth to wipe away the residue as you work so the white-out doesn’t smear. Repeat with another spray of W-40 if necessary.^{[15]
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- Several commercial products are made to remove glue or other sticky materials from wood.
- If you spill white-out on a wood floor or a piece of wood furniture, dampen a cloth with one of these cleaners and blot the white-out from the wooden surface.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Removing White-Out from Upholstery

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Check the care tag on your furniture before starting. The tag is usually under the cushions or on the bottom of the furniture. Look for the code to tell you the best way to clean the upholstery.^{[16]
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- W - clean with a water-based cleaning solution.
- S - use a dry-cleaning or water-free solvent.
- WS - clean with water-based or solvent cleaners.
- X - Vacuum or have the furniture professionally cleaned.
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Apply the upholstery cleaner to water-based stains with a damp cloth. Wring out the cloth before applying it to the stain to make sure you don’t get the fabric too wet. Use different sections of the cloth and rinse it regularly to avoid transferring the stain to other spots on the upholstery.^{[17]
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- Work from the outside in, applying more cleaner as needed.
- Lightly spray a cloth with a citrus-based stain remover and dab at oil-based stains.
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Blot with a clean, damp microfiber cloth and air dry. Wet the microfiber cloth with clean water and wring it out so it’s only damp. Use it to wipe away any remaining residue from the cleaner. Once the residue is gone, allow the upholstery to air dry.^{[18]
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- If the upholstery is very damp, press a clean, dry towel into the spot to absorb some of the moisture.

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How do you get white out off of walls?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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You may be able to gently scrape the white out away with sandpaper or the edge of a coin. If the wall isn’t painted, try a solvent, such as acetone. Unfortunately, any method you use could potentially damage the paint on your wall, so you might need to patch the area with a little fresh paint.

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Is white out toxic on skin?

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Most forms of correction fluid aren’t toxic, and it won’t hurt you to get a little on your skin. However, it can be stubborn and hard to remove, so avoid getting it on your skin as much as possible. In case of a spill, it will typically come off your skin if you scrub it with a little soap and water.

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How do you remove correction fluid from metal?

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Typically, a little acetone-based nail polish remover will do the trick. However, be cautious using acetone if the metal surface is painted, since it could wipe away the paint. In this case, you can try a gentler solvent, like rubbing alcohol, but test it in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t damage the paint.

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Tips

Pens containing white-out lead to less mess than a bottle and brush, so you're less likely to have fewer stains to clean up if you use them. ^{[19]
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Unfortunately, attempting to remove white-out from paper will damage the document permanently.

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Always test the stain remover you're using on an inconspicuous area to make sure it won't lead to discoloration, says Ismaeil.

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Warnings

If you're using amyl acetate or paint remover, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area.^{[20]
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Amyl acetate is highly flammable, so do not allow the garment to be exposed to flames or high heat.^{[21]
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