Here is How to remove sublimation inks from your mugs as Sublimation inks are used to imprint designs on mugs and other coffee cup-like items, but you may find yourself with another type of stain to deal with later – one that won’t come off so easily. Sublimation inks will permanently stain your cups unless you take steps to remove them before they have time to set.
If you’re ready to learn how to remove sublimation inks from your mugs, just follow these simple steps!
How To Remove Sublimation Inks From Your Mugs
Step 1: take a hot shower
The first step is to take a hot shower. This will warm up both you and your mug so that if ink comes out, it’s easier to clean off your skin. You should also make sure that you have access to a sink or tub for cleaning off ink if any comes out.
Step 2: De-Sublimate The Mugs
De-Sublimate The Mugs: Grab a spray bottle and fill it with a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part ammonia. Put on a pair of protective gloves so you don’t irritate your skin. Next, shake off any excess water from your mug. Then spray down both sides of each mug with the ammonia-water solution. Let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing it clean.
Step 3: Use oven cleaner
Use oven cleaner. First, open a window, then preheat your oven at its highest temperature setting. While you wait for it to heat up, spray each of your mugs with a generous amount of oven cleaner and allow them all to sit until they are coated evenly on both sides.
Next, place them in your preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn off your oven and allow everything to cool completely inside before handling it again.
Step 4: Disinfect
(Disinfect and Rinse out)
Tips & Warnings
The material of your mug will have a major impact on how easily it can be cleaned. That means ceramic, stainless steel, and glass mugs tend to be easier to clean than plastic ones. Sublimation printing is notorious for being difficult to get off surfaces.
You should test any cleaning agent on a small patch before moving on to other parts of your mug. Make sure you allow enough time for a proper drying time—sublimation ink takes longer than normal water-based ink to dry. You can also check an article on Sublimation on Cotton.
Can you re-sublimate the mug?
If you really want to, you can try re-sublimating your mug. Some people have had success with repeating a full freeze-dry process without physically scrubbing away any ink. But you have to know that it’s going to be very difficult—you may also end up with an off-color product as a result of all that extra ink.
The one advantage of re-sublimating is that it doesn’t require nearly as much elbow grease—but if you aren’t worried about color and just want something new, then go ahead and give it a shot!
Conclusion
You can use hydrogen peroxide and salt to clean ceramic coffee mugs. Fill a container with a 50/50 mix of water and hydrogen peroxide, then add a teaspoon of salt. Place your mug in the mixture for five minutes, then wipe it down with soapy water. If any color remains on your mug, fill it with another batch of the mixture and soak it for an additional five minutes.
After you’ve soaked both sides of your mug, scrub it down with some soap and hot water until all the ink is removed.
Last Updated on October 11, 2022
