How To Make Invisible Ink For Secret Notes [Chart]

When I was in high school, my friends and I used to pass notes during class all the time. They were usually about something silly like which boys we had a crush on or the booger in the teacher’s nose. There is an acquired skill for passing notes in class successfully. There are several methods, but my favorite was always the fake yawn technique where you lift your arms (with the note folded and hidden in your hand) and act like you’re stretching. Then you drop the note to the person behind you. It’s a classic maneuver that works every time.

However, what if suddenly the teacher busted us and confiscated our note? That would be a huge fail. If that happened, the only way to keep her from reading it would be if it was written in invisible ink. I used to sit in class and wonder if invisible ink really existed and how it worked. It’s the only surefire way to pass secret notes.

When I found this little chart created by Yumi over at WonderHowTo, I was so happy. It turns out there is a way to make invisible ink! There is good news and bad news about it though. The good news is that it works. The bad news is that it looks like a pain-in-the-butt to make. If you are looking for a fun weekend project, this could definitely be it. Also, if you are in school and hunting for the perfect science project that won’t put you to sleep, here you go. This is science project gold! It’s got a whole Mission Impossible and James Bond feel to it. I love it.