How to Fade an Old Ink Stain

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Any stain that’s allowed to set for a long time is going to be tough to get out. But few pose such a challenge as old ink stains, especially if they’re in clothing that you’ve already washed and dried without treatment. Still, the steps below are worth a try to fade an old ink stain, often with surprising results.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Hydrogen peroxide
Dish soap or laundry soap

In Clothing and Linens

Step1

Saturate the area with water.

Step2

Prepare a mixture of five parts hydrogen peroxide to one part laundry soap. Liberally apply the mixture to the old ink stain. Unless the item is white, do not allow it to set for more than a moment or two, so as to prevent the peroxide from bleaching the fabric.

Step3

Throw the item into the washer on as warm a temperature as the fabric allows.

Step4

After washing the item, check the ink stain. If it’s still there, repeat Steps Two and Three until the area is faded to your satisfaction. Running the item through the dryer before the old ink stain is gone will only further set it in.

In Carpet

Step1

Saturate the area with water.

Step2

Prepare a mixture of one-half cup hydrogen peroxide and one tablespoon of dish soap. Liberally apply the mixture to the area, enough to ensure that the old ink stain is completely saturated.

Step3

Allow the hydrogen peroxide-dish soap mixture to set on the carpet for up to two hours.

Step4

Use a wet cloth to blot up the hydrogen peroxide-dish soap mixture. Follow it up with a dry cloth. Alternate blotting between the wet cloth and dry cloth until the mixture is removed.

Step5

Allow the area to dry. Repeat Steps One through Four until the area is faded to your satisfaction.