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How to Remove Printer Ink From Clothing & Skin

Amanda Flanigan

Printers -- once only found in businesses -- have become a common sight in many homes. Unfortunately, where you have printers you have printer ink. Printer ink is a typical culprit for stains. The ink from the printer not only stains clothing and fabric; it also can stain your fingers, hands and skin.

Printer ink comes in a variety of colors and can be both liquid and powdered form.

It is best to deal with the printer ink as soon as possible. The quicker you remove printer ink, the easier the process is.

Clothing

  1. Remove the article of clothing. Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to remove the loose printer ink if the ink is in a powdered form.

  2. Allow your sink to fill with cold water and submerge the article of clothing into the water. Agitate the clothing and water with your hand. Allow the water to drain from the sink.

  3. Apply a prewash stain treatment to the printer ink stain. Allow the prewash stain treatment to sit on the clothing for 10 minutes. Launder the item in cold water.

Skin

  1. Wash the area that is stained with printer ink with soap and cool water. If after washing the printer ink is still present, continue to Step 2.

  2. Apply water-displacing spray to the skin and gently rub with a cloth. Rinse with cool water.

  3. Alternatively, spray a non-oily hairspray to the printer ink stained skin. Allow the hairspray to sit on your skin for 10 seconds. Wash the area with water and soap and rinse clean.

  4. Warning

    Do not place the clothing in a dryer until all traces of the printer ink is gone. The heat from the dryer will set the printer ink stain into the clothing.