How to read the text printed on top of every IC?

1. Clean up the text with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

2. Wait for the alcohol to evaporate and rub yellow or white chalk on markings.

3. Wipe gently with a cotton swab and bingo!

Source (in Portuguese): http://www.piclistbr.org/paginas.php?fname=%20dicas.htm%20&autor=%2009/2010%20-%20Luciano%20Sturaro

Also using a white paint marker will make a big difference in reading IC's:

Use a 10x loupe, very handy.

Occasionally some markings might be illegible after soldering and splattering some flux on them, so flux cleaner can help there.

Sometimes you can change the contrast by wiping the markings with your fingers; the skin oils can change the reflectivity to make it easier (or more difficult) to read.