How to Remove Ballpoint Pen Ink From Cotton

Save your cotton clothing and upholstery from ink stains.

A ballpoint pen ink stain on cotton fabrics can ruin a favorite shirt or upholstery linen if left untreated. Luckily, common household items can often remove such ink stains without the use of harsh chemicals such as bleaches that may just end up permanently ruining the fabric. A variety of methods remove ink stains and differ according to the ink and the type of cotton fabric itself. If one doesn't work, try others until you find a cure for that ugly ink stain and save that favorite shirt from the trash can.

Things You'll Need

• Butter
• Soap
• Water
• Hair spray
• Milk
• Laundry machine
• Rubbing alcohol
• Toothpaste
• Vinegar
• Cornstarch

Instructions

1. Rub butter on the surface and leave it out in the sun for two to three days. Wash off with soap and warm water. Let it dry.

2. Spray hair spray on the ink stain. Wash with soap and warm water. Let it dry.

3. Soak the affected ink stain in a milk bath overnight. Then wash in the laundry as normal. This works best for colored cotton fabrics.

4. Dip the ink-stained garment into rubbing alcohol. Then put into the laundry to wash.

5. Dab some non-gel toothpaste onto the ink stain. Rub vigorously and wash with water. Repeat to remove the entire stain.

6. Pre-soak the stain with vinegar. Then mix two parts vinegar with three parts cornstarch into a paste. Apply paste on the stain and let it dry. Put the fabric into the laundry and wash.

References

• Reader's Digest: Removing Ink Stains