How to Remove Ink Stain From Clothes

A blotch, whether from a fountain pen or a standard ballpoint can ruin a perfectly good day.

The difficulty in removing an ink stain truly depends on the type of fabric that has been stained and the type of ink it is stained with. There are a few creative ways to remove ink stains from clothes that may not occur to you at first sight of the ink blotch on your favorite piece of clothing.

Things You'll Need

• Towel
• Vinegar
• Sponge
• Hairspray
• Nail polish remover
• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• Liquid laundry detergent

Instructions

1. Read the clothing label to determine the garment's fiber content. This is usually listed on the tag on the garment. Test any chemicals in a small test area on a seam allowance or inside or the hemp to be sure the material can handle it. Rayon, acetate, or triacetate, for instance, are sensitive to rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover.

2. Place a white towel under or between layers in the article of clothing before cleaning. If, for example, the stain is on a front of a shirt of blouse, put the towel in between the front and the back of the blouse so the stain does not bleed through to the back while you are attempting to clean the front.

3. Pour about 1 teaspoon of vinegar directly on the stain and allow to rest for approximately 10 minutes. Then put a drop or two of liquid dishwashing detergent on the stain and gently rub in with your fingers. Work from the center to the outer edge of the stain without rubbing too hard. Let it sit for another five minutes and then rinse under cool water while still gently rubbing the spot with your fingers.

4. Spray the spot liberally with hairspray if it doesn't remove the ink stain. Wait 30 minutes. Gently dab the spot with a sponge that has been soaked in cool water. If you see a lot of the stain is coming out, wait a few minutes, spray with hair spray again and repeat the dabbing.

5. Apply nail polish to remove ink stains from clothes that don't respond to hair spray. Rinse the spot with cool water if you initially applied hairspray. Saturate the stain with the remover, let sit for 30 minutes, then dab with a cool, damp sponge.

6. Apply rubbing alcohol after a test. Saturate stain with the alcohol, let sit for 30 minutes, dab gently with a cool, wet sponge.

7. Apply liquid laundry detergent to the stain and launder as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• Start with the least chemical solution and work up to more drastic techniques.

• Inspect the stained spot before drying. The heat of the dryer sets the stain.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Washable Ink Removal
• Ohio State University Extension: Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal