How to Remove an Ink Stain from a Shirt Pocket

Shirt pockets are a great place to store your favorite pen, but even good pens turn bad. Unfortunately, when this occurs, the shirt pocket is no longer just a carrier for the pen, but for the pen's contents, the ink. For some, the immediate solution to this problem is to throw the shirt away. This does not have to be your solution. Ink stains can be removed using some common household items.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Liquid laundry detergent
• Lemon juice
• Ammonia

1. Apply the liquid laundry detergent behind the ink stain. If the ink came from a broken pen in the shirt pocket, then apply the detergent on the outside of the pocket and/or the inside of the shirt. Let the detergent sit for three to five minutes.

2. Rinse away the detergent thoroughly with cold water.

3. Create a mixture consisting of 50 percent lemon juice and 50 percent ammonia. The lemon juice will open the pores of the fabric, and the ammonia will clean the pores out. Let the mixture sit for three to five minutes.

4. Rinse away the mixture thoroughly with cold water. If the majority of the stain is removed, then you can wash the shirt as normal, but do not dry it. Once ink goes through the dryer, it is nearly impossible to get out.

5. Repeat the process if the stain is not fully removed when you remove the shirt from the washer.