How to Remove Ink From Cotton Fabric

Remove ink from cotton fabric with denatured alcohol.

Nothing is worse than discovering your new ink pen has deposited ink all over the pocket of your cotton shirt. Ink is a dye that can permanently stain fabric if not removed as soon as possible. Cotton fabric absorbs substances making ink removal a difficult, but not impossible task. Attacking the ink stain using a certain set of procedures, keeps the ugly black or blue mark from ruining cotton fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Denatured alcohol
• Petroleum jelly
• Dry cleaning solvent
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Liquid laundry detergent
• All fabric bleach

Instructions

1. Lay the cotton fabric with the ink stain over a sink. Pour 1 cup denatured alcohol on top of the ink stain, allowing it to run through the fabric.

2. Place 1 tsp. petroleum jelly on both sides of the ink stain and gently rub into the cotton fabric with your fingers.

3. Apply 1 tbsp. of dry cleaning solvent to a small sponge, and blot at the petroleum jelly on the ink stain. The ink lifts from the fabric to the sponge. As the ink deposits onto the sponge, rinse the sponge in warm water and pour additional dry cleaning solvent onto it. Reapply to the ink, continuing to lift the stain from the fabric.

4. Fill a sink or bucket with warm water and 1 tbsp. liquid laundry detergent. Place the cotton fabric into the soapy water and allow it to soak overnight.

5. Launder the cotton fabric with regular liquid laundry detergent and 1/2 cup of all fabric bleach in hot water or as warm as the care label states. Inspect the ink stain after removing from the washer. If the ink remains, repeat the stain removal technique.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Ink Stains & Ink Stain Removal