---
title: "Goulet Pen Flush: What's in It and How to Use It"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/goulet-pen-flush/"
description: "Goulet Pen Flush explained: an 8 oz fountain pen cleaner of water, ammonia and surfactants, the 4 ml dose, soaking, which pens to keep out, and water vs flush."
category: "Accessories"
type: "Pen cleaning solution"
published: 2026-10-22
updated: 2026-10-22
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 3
products:
  - name: "Goulet Pen Flush, 8 oz bottle"
    brand: "Goulet"
    brand_origin: "United States"
    made_in: "Not stated"
    material: "Distilled water, ammonium hydroxide and biodegradable surfactants, in a plastic bottle"
    price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Goulet Pens (The Goulet Pen Company), near Richmond, Virginia"
    model: "Goulet Pen Flush (8oz Bottle), GP-10003"
    mpn: "GP-10003"
    gtin: "658294305075"
    url: "https://www.gouletpens.com/products/goulet-pen-flush-8oz-bottle"
---

# Goulet Pen Flush: What's in It and How to Use It

> Goulet Pen Flush is a fountain pen cleaning solution sold by Goulet Pens of Virginia in an 8 oz (237 ml) bottle with an empty sample vial. Goulet lists its ingredients as distilled water, ammonium hydroxide and biodegradable surfactants. You flush with water first, then about 4 ml of Pen Flush, then rinse with water.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/goulet-pen-flush/
- Category: Accessories
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-22
- Updated: 2026-10-22

![Goulet Pen Flush blue 8 oz bottle and the empty sample vial that comes with it, drawn in proportion](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/goulet-pen-flush-16x9.png)

*Goulet publishes no bottle size, so the bottle is drawn in proportion.* Original drawing (SVG): <https://stationerytimes.com/images/goulet-pen-flush-cover.svg>. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Product facts

| Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goulet Pen Flush, 8 oz bottle | Goulet (by Goulet Pens (The Goulet Pen Company), near Richmond, Virginia) | United States | Not stated | Distilled water, ammonium hydroxide and biodegradable surfactants, in a plastic bottle | – | $$: $5–20 per item |

- Made in (Goulet Pen Flush, 8 oz bottle): Not stated. Goulet says it formulated Pen Flush, and Goulet Pens is based near Richmond, Virginia, but its product page doesn't say where the solution is made or bottled. Source: https://www.gouletpens.com/products/goulet-pen-flush-8oz-bottle

## Key takeaways

- Goulet sells Pen Flush in an 8 oz (237 ml) blue plastic bottle with a twist cap and 1 empty ink vial.
- Its 3 listed ingredients are distilled water, ammonium hydroxide and biodegradable surfactants.
- Goulet suggests pouring about 4 ml into the vial for one cleaning, so a bottle covers dozens of cleans.
- Goulet warns not to soak aluminum or casein pens in it, and not to mix it with bleach.
- The 8 oz bottle had 188 reviews on Goulet's site on October 22, 2026, 94% of them five stars.

## What is Goulet Pen Flush?

**It is a cleaning solution for fountain pens, made to loosen ink that plain water won't shift.** Goulet says it formulated a gentle yet effective solution for a thorough clean.

Goulet Pens is the Virginia retailer founded in 2009 by Brian and Rachel Goulet, and Pen Flush is one of its own-brand basics. Its 8 oz bottle had 188 reviews on Goulet's site on October 22, 2026, 94% of them five stars.

## Goulet Pen Flush specs

| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Goulet Pens, near Richmond, Virginia (US) |
| Size | 8 oz (237 ml) bottle |
| Bottle | Blue plastic, twist cap |
| In the box | One empty ink sample vial |
| Ingredients | Distilled water, ammonium hydroxide, biodegradable surfactants |
| Dose | About 4 ml per cleaning (Goulet) |
| SKU / UPC | GP-10003 / 658294305075 |
| Price band | $$ ($5–20 per bottle) |

Goulet also sells a small sample of Pen Flush if you want to try it first.

## How do you use Goulet Pen Flush?

**Water first, then flush, then water again.** Goulet's instructions:

![Three steps for using Goulet Pen Flush: flush with water, flush with about 4 ml of Pen Flush, rinse with water](https://stationerytimes.com/images/goulet-pen-flush-steps.svg)

*Always finish with clean water so no flush stays in the pen.*

1. Flush the pen with distilled or tap water until it runs clear.
2. Pour about 4 ml of Pen Flush into the vial, then fill and flush the pen from it.
3. Fill and flush with clean water to remove the flush.

For a badly dried pen, Goulet says to soak it overnight or longer, then flush with water. You can reuse the flush a few times before you throw it out.


## When should you use pen flush instead of water?

**When water alone isn't clearing the ink.** Our [how to clean a fountain pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/how-to-clean-a-fountain-pen/) guide explains that most cleanings need only water.

Reach for the flush with dried ink, a pen bought used, or saturated inks that stain, such as [Noodler's Baystate Blue](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/noodlers-baystate-blue/). It also helps before switching between very different inks.

## What do the ingredients do?

**The ammonia loosens dried ink, and the surfactants help water reach into the feed and carry the ink out.** Goulet lists only three ingredients: distilled water, ammonium hydroxide and biodegradable surfactants.

Ammonium hydroxide is ammonia dissolved in water, which is why the flush smells of ammonia and why Goulet warns you not to drink it, not to get it in your eyes and never to mix it with bleach. Keep it away from children and pets, as Goulet's label says.

The surfactants are detergents. They lower the surface tension of water so it flows through the narrow channels of a feed more easily. That's also why Goulet ends with a rinse in plain water: the detergent should come out before you ink the pen again.

## Which pens should you keep out of it?

**Goulet warns not to soak aluminum or casein pens, and never to mix the flush with bleach.**

| Pen material | Flush through it? | Soak in it? |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic, resin, demonstrators | Yes | Yes (Goulet) |
| Aluminum bodies | Ask the maker | No (Goulet) |
| Casein | Ask the maker | No (Goulet) |

Goulet's warning is about soaking. Whatever the pen, finish every clean with plain water, as Goulet's instructions say.

## Is Goulet Pen Flush worth buying?

**Yes, if you use saturated inks or own several pens.** At about 4 ml a clean, an 8 oz bottle lasts a long time, and it sits in our $$ band, $5–20.

If you clean rarely, a bottle of distilled water and a [Goulet ink syringe](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/goulet-ink-syringes/) for flushing cartridges and converters covers most jobs.

## Where is Goulet Pen Flush made?

**Goulet doesn't say.** Goulet Pens is a US company based near Richmond, Virginia, and says it formulated the flush, but its product page doesn't state where the solution is mixed or bottled.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is in Goulet Pen Flush?

Goulet lists distilled water, ammonium hydroxide (ammonia in water) and biodegradable surfactants. The ammonia loosens dried ink and the surfactants help it wash out.

### Can you reuse Goulet Pen Flush?

Yes. Goulet says you can reuse it as many times as you like, but it's best to dump it every few cleanings.

### Can you soak a pen in Goulet Pen Flush overnight?

Yes, for a very dirty pen, Goulet says to soak it overnight or longer, then flush with clean water. Don't soak aluminum or casein pens.

### Do I need pen flush, or is water enough?

Water is enough for routine ink changes. Goulet pitches Pen Flush for when water isn't enough: dried ink, saturated colors or a pen left inked too long.

### Is Goulet Pen Flush safe for all fountain pens?

Goulet warns against soaking aluminum or casein pens and says never to mix it with bleach. Check with your pen's maker for vintage or urushi pens.

### Is Goulet Pen Flush made in the USA?

Goulet Pens is a US company in Virginia that formulated it, but its product page doesn't say where the flush is made.

## Sources

- [Goulet Pens: Goulet Pen Flush (8oz Bottle) (SKU GP-10003, UPC 658294305075; ingredients, instructions, warnings; 188 reviews)](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/goulet-pen-flush-8oz-bottle)
- [Goulet Pens: Goulet Pen Flush Sample](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/goulet-pen-flush-sample)
- [Goulet Pens: About us (near Richmond, Virginia; founded in 2009 by Brian and Rachel Goulet)](https://www.gouletpens.com/pages/about-us)