How to get pen ink out of a microfiber couch

A little over a year ago I posted on how to clean a mircofiber couch using a spray bottle, rubbing alcohol, a sponge and a bristle brush. 

You can read the full tutorial HERE. 

By far this is my most pinned post, and probably one of my favorite cleaning tips for our home. 

If you go back and read the original post, you remember that I really dislike this couch.

It's not my design style, not super comfortable and although I know how to clean it now, it still kind of drives me nuts how easily it gets dirty. 

So when I came down stairs a few weeks ago to find my 3 year old drawing on the arm of the couch with blue PEN...I hate to say it, but my first response wasn't to get mad. It was to do a happy dance. 

I really thought the couch was RUINED. I mean, blue pen. ALL over the arm.

There was no hope.

Right? 

I felt like this might be just the right reason to start looking for a new couch (and hide all the pens).

But then I figured I might as well try cleaning it off,  just to prove it really was ruined. 

So I got out my supplies and started spraying and scrubbing. 

And wouldn't you know, the pen started coming right OFF!

What the....?!?!

I was so sure it wasn't going to come off that I didn't even think of taking a before picture of the whole arm, but when I saw it was coming off I snapped this picture.

Just picture this all over the whole arm. 

I scrubbed pretty hard to get it all off, and used a decent amount of rubbing alcohol, so now there is a little discoloration on the arm (it's a little darker than the rest of the couch in a few spots) but I think if I had used a little less rubbing alcohol it wouldn't be a problem.

Either way, a little discoloration is better than pen art. 

Here's the after.*

You can see the light discoloration I was talking about best in these two pictures.

I hope this is helpful! 

I was so surprised that this technique worked on pen of all things. 

I think I'm stuck with this couch for a very long time. :) 

Click HERE for the full tutorial again.

*These pictures have NOT been photoshopped in anyway.