Grease pencils are used as waterproof markers for plant identification tags. These pencils, made of opaque colored wax encased in rolled paper, have actually been around for decades, used by lithographers and artists to mark corrections on printing plates, hard-surfaced papers and porcelain. Removing grease pencil from smooth shiny garden markers is fairly simple but flat, satiny surfaces may require more effort. If your grease marker won't wipe off easily, there are a number of different methods you can try.
Instructions
1. Wipe the grease marker hard with a paper towel or optical tissue (sold for cleaning glasses) to remove as much marker as possible. This should remove all of the marker from smooth-surfaced garden tags and most of it from glazed surfaces.
2. If the grease pencil is on a rough surface, dampen a paper towel with an oil-based cleaner and rub. Use orange-oil-based preparations or the hydrocarbon-based oil used to loosen car locks as a solvent.
3. Try rubbing grease marks with stain remover "sticks," sold by household cleaning manufacturers like Tide and Mr. Clean. Use cleaners that are known for cutting grease and do not dilute with water.
4. Alternatively, make a paste of powdered dishwasher detergent or scouring powder with very little water. Use a cloth to scrub the grease marks on the tags.
5. For really tough-to-remove marks, rub with a soft cloth dipped in mineral spirits or turpentine. Turn the cloth as it soaks up the pencil marks so that a clean area is always on the surface.
