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Sheila asked: How do I get an exploded gell pack off my wooden walls (not panel)? My daughter broke a gel ice pack, and it went on her knotty pine walls. I have used Mr. Clean and hot water. I also tried Pledge. No luck! Please help!
Because gel ice pack ingredients can vary, there’s no single solution to this problem. However, most gel packs contain some type of alcohol to keep the contents from freezing solid, so that’s a good place to start when considering stain removal alternatives. The following method will take care of that and most other messes from knotty pine walls.
You Will Need:
- Liquid TSP Substitute
- Clean cloth, scrubbing pad, or sponge
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- Begin by wiping the area with a soft cloth to remove as much dirt and debris as possible.
- Spray the liquid TSP substitute on the stain.
- Allow it to sit according to label directions, if necessary, then wipe off. Unlike regular TSP, this product does not require a clean water rinse.
- Repeat if necessary until all of the stains are removed.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Alcohol tends to fade wood, so if the “stain” is a pale or light spot against the rest of the wall, you may need to re-stain and/or refinish the area.
- Make sure you don’t let moisture run down the wall. It may leak marks that are hard to remove.
- You may opt to clean the wall with regular TSP powder (available in most home improvement or hardware stores) and water. This product is stronger than the substitute and should be used carefully. Follow label instructions and precautions.
- If you are still having difficulty, check the label of the gel pack to find out the ingredients that you are trying to remove. If there is oil present, it will require a degreaser to remove the stain. If there are dyes, those will have to be removed as well. For this, the information in our guide How to Remove Dyes from Finished Wood may be helpful.
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