If you’ve ever washed a pair of pants with a pen in the pocket, you know that ink stains can be both unsightly and tricky to remove. Whether the ink is black, blue, or red, removing the mark from clothes, furniture, linens, and more is a common housekeeping annoyance.
Unfortunately, there is no catch-all solution that works for all fabrics. To beat the stain, you need to know what type of solution will work with the fabric and what application technique will remove ink stains from the surface.
How to Get Ink Out of Canvas or Linen Clothing
To remove ink stains from washable linen or canvas, test rubbing alcohol on an inconspicuous spot to ensure it won’t damage the fabric. Then place the stained area facedown over the mouth of a jar or glass, holding the fabric taut so the ink spot won’t spread. Drip rubbing alcohol through the stain.
The alcohol will pull the ink along as it drops into the jar. Rinse well and line-dry, then check that the stain has been removed before laundering per fabric-care instructions.
Ink Stain Removal for Chenille Clothing
To remove an ink stain from washable chenille, start by soaking the item for 30 minutes in an ink stain remover solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild, clear dish soap and one tablespoon white vinegar diluted in one quart warm water.
Rinse with water and air-dry. If the stain remains, dab with rubbing alcohol (test on an inconspicuous spot first). Rinse with water and wash as directed on the garment’s label. Air-dry and check to see that the stain has been removed before drying as directed again.
How to Get Ink Out of Corduroy Clothing
To remove a pen ink stain from washable corduroy, start by soaking the item for 30 minutes in a solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild, clear dish soap and one tablespoon white vinegar diluted in one quart warm water.
Rinse with water and air-dry. If the stain remains, try dabbing it with rubbing alcohol (test on an inconspicuous spot first). Rinse with water, and then wash as directed on the garment’s label. Air-dry and inspect to make sure the stain has been removed before drying as directed again.
How to Remove Ink Stains from Cotton
To remove an ink stain from cotton, start by lightly spritzing the area with hair spray. Then, soak the stained area in a solution of 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon white vinegar diluted in one quart warm water. (Test on an inconspicuous spot first.) Rinse with water and allow to dry.
If stain persists, press with an absorbent cloth moistened with alcohol. Change cloth as stain lifts. After the stain is removed, dab with water, then a dry cloth.
How to Get Ink Stains Out of Jeans
Follow these simple steps to remove any ink stains from your denim jacket or favorite pair of paints. As soon as you notice the ink, blot the excess ink with a paper towel or cloth – being careful not to rub the stain and risk making it worse.
If you’re not at home when the ink stain happens, first treat the dried ink with a few drops of water before blotting. Lay some paper towels or a clean cloth under your jeans and apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol (just a few drops) to the stain. Gently scrub the area with a cotton swab or soft-bristled toothbrush and voila – the stain will be gone in no time!
How to Remove Ink Stains from Leather
If you want to remove an ink stain from your leather clothing, you’ll need to use a cleaning product that is specifically designed for leather.
Apply the leather cleaner to the stain as soon as possible, preferably within the first six hours after the stain occurs. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the leather cleaner.
How to Get Ink Out of Polyester or Nylon Clothing
Before you attempt to remove an ink stain from polyester or nylon, it’s important to test the treatment on a hidden corner or seam first to check for any potential color damage. To do this, stretch the stained area over the mouth of a jar or glass.
Slowly drip rubbing alcohol through the stain, catching the ink residue in the jar. Rinse, then line-dry. Wash the garment as usual, and if necessary, use a color-safe bleach (as long as the label says it’s okay). Air-dry, and make sure the ink is gone before you dry as directed.
How to Remove Ink from Silk
To remove ink stains from silk clothing, blot the stain with paper towels as soon as possible. You can use cold water to blot the stain, but if the stain remains, spray it with hairspray and continue blotting until it lifts.
Finish by blotting the stained area with warm water. You also can dip a soft toothbrush in a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar, then gently scrub on the stain. Dab with cold water to rinse, then blot dry.
How to Get Ink Out of Spandex and Lycra
To remove ballpoint pen ink from spandex or Lycra, always test the clothing in a hidden area first, to check for any damage that might occur to the coloring. Next, stretch the stained area of the clothing over the mouth of a jar or glass. Then slowly drip rubbing alcohol onto the stain, allowing the jar to catch any ink residue. Rinse off the clothing item and line-dry it before washing as usual.
If necessary, you can use color-safe bleach but only if the clothing label says it’s okay to do so. Make sure to air-dry the clothing item and check that the ink stain is completely gone before drying it as usual again.
Ink Stain Removal for Suede Fabric
To remove a ballpoint pen stain from suede, first test in an inconspicuous area with a dab of consumer dry-cleaning solvent on a clean cloth. Then, if the solvent doesn’t damage the suede, apply it sparingly to the stain, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Get Ink Out of Velvet
When it comes to treating ballpoint pen stains on velvet, it’s important to follow the instructions on the garment’s label. To treat the stain, first soak the item for 30 minutes in a solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild, clear dish soap and one tablespoon white vinegar diluted in one quart warm water.
Rinse with water, and air-dry. If the stain remains, dab with rubbing alcohol (test on an inconspicuous spot first). Rinse with water, and wash as directed on the label’s garment. Air-dry, and inspect to make sure the stain has been removed before drying as directed again.
How to Remove Ink Stains from Wool Clothing
As soon as you notice a ballpoint pen stain on wool, blot it with paper towels. Try blotting the wool with cold water first to see if the stain lifts. If it doesn’t, spray the ink stain with hairspray and blot, repeating until the stain lifts. Blot with warm water. You also can dip a soft-bristle toothbrush in a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar and gently scrub that on the stain. Dab with cold water and blot dry.
