How to Remove an Ink Stain From a Couch

Clean ink stains at first sight for best results.

Finding an ink stain on your couch is disheartening. An ink stain diminishes the appearance of the entire piece of furniture. Whether a pen exploded in your pocket, your kids used your sofa as an easel or a newspaper print seeped through onto the fabric, you want the ink stain removed. Take care when removing ink stains from a couch so you do not damage the fabric or spread the ink further.

Things You'll Need

• White rags
• Aerosol hair spray
• Nail polish remover or acetone
• 2 tablespoons oxygen bleach
• Water
• Toothbrush

Instructions

1. Moisten a white rag with aerosol hair spray. Blot the ink-stained couch with the rag, working from the outside of the stain towards the middle. Switch to clean portions of the rag and apply more hair spray as the rag becomes filled with ink.

2. Blot the ink stain with a dry rag. Alternate blotting with the hair-spray-soaked rag and the dry rag until the ink stain is gone. Avoid rubbing or you may spread the ink further.

3. Blot the ink stain with a white rag moistened with nail polish remover or acetone if the ink stain persists. Use the same method as described above until the ink stain is gone.

4. Another option is to mix two tablespoons of oxygen bleach with two tablespoons of cool water. Dip a toothbrush into the mixture and scrub gently in a circular motion until the stain is gone. Blot the area with a damp rag to remove the cleaning solution residue, followed by a dry rag to remove excess moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Always test the product you are using on a small, inconspicuous area of the couch to check for color changes or damage.

• Remove ink from a leather couch with hair spray, rubbing alcohol or acetone nail polish remover. Make sure to rinse and dry the leather completely and apply a leather conditioner to restore moisture.

References

• Made Men: How To Remove Ink Stains From Furniture
• Mrs. Clean USA: Upholstery Cleaning and Stain Removal Tips