Getting Ink Stains Out of Clothes

By Matt Oden | Comments | Ink and Dye Stains → Ink | Fabric Stains → Clothing

Getting ink stains out of clothes can be a difficult task if you do not treat the fabric shortly after the stain occurs. Many people have that pen at work or school that decides to leak or explode, while others place pens in their pockets on a regular basis. For whatever reason you may have an ink stain on your clothes never fear there is a solution.

Remove Ink Stains from Clothing

Getting Ink Stains Out of Clothes Method 1: Hairspray

What you will need:

  • Paper towels
  • Hairspray
  • Oxy clean
  • Warm water

Everyone has heard that hairspray will remove ink stains, but few believe in the powers of a little hairspray. This myth is not a myth after all. Hairspray is a great weapon against the unsightly ink stain.

  1. To begin this method of removing ink stains from clothing you will need to make sure you can get to a place where you can remove your clothing and start the process right away. Body heat can cause an ink stain to dry, thus causing it to set into the fabric. The sooner you can treat the ink stain the better.
  2. Next, you will need to place a paper towel under the stain. Now generously spray the hairspray on the ink stain.
  3. Let the hairspray stand for a few minutes.
  4. To complete this stain fighting method you will need to apply a oxy clean to the stain using the spray oxy clean or a little powder oxy clean mixed with water.
  5. Using a paper towel blot the oxy clean into the ink stain. Do not rub the stain! This will only make the stain worse.
  6. Allow the oxy clean to work its magic for a few minutes.
  7. Launder the clothing in cold water. Do not use hot water it could set the stain further into the fabric. If the stain is particularly bad you might want to launder the garment separately so you do not spread the ink stain to other pieces of clothing.
  8. Inspect the clothing. If the stain remains you can repeat the steps in method 1 or move on to method 2. Do not dry the clothing if the stain remains. The dryer will only further set the stain.

Getting Ink Stain Out of Clothing Method 2: WD-40

What you will need:

  • WD-40
  • Spray carpet cleaner
  • Paper towel

This method of removing ink stains from clothing a little nontraditional. Now before you completely blow off this method because it calls for WD-40, you should know that this product is not only a great lubricant. WD-40 also contains a lot of minerals and is considered an industrial strength solvent. WD-40 is capable of removing ink, grease, grime, dirt, paint, and even concrete. This stain fighting method is best for those ink stains that you could not remove right away and dried. The chemicals used in this method are a little more harsh than the hairspray and oxy clean.

  1. To begin this stain fighting method you will need to place a paper towel under the ink stain. You do not want WD-40 all over the counter or table.
  2. Next, spray a generous amount of WD-40 on the stain. Allow it to sit for a few minutes.
  3. Now you will want to blot the stain with a paper towel. Do not rub only blot!
  4. Rinse the stained area and inspect. If the stain remains you can use a spray carpet cleaner to continue this method of removing ink stains from your clothing. Spray carpet cleaner is another harsher cleaning product and can help remove dried on ink stains.
  5. Spray the spray carpet cleaner directly on the stain. Allow it to sit for  a few minutes to work its magic.
  6. Next, blot the stain with a paper towel.
  7. Launder as you normally would.
  8. Inspect the stained area. If the stain has been removed you can dry the fabric. If the stain remains you can repeat this method until it is removed. Otherwise you can move on to method 3.

Getting Ink Stains Out of Clothing Method 3: Milk

What you will need:

  • A bowl
  • milk

This method of removing ink stains from clothing can help you remove the most stubborn stains. Milk contains enzymes and proteins that can help break down the ink stains. For this reason this method of removing ink stains is very simple.

  1. To begin you will need to get a bowl big enough to soak the part of the garment that is stained.
  2. Place the stained portion of the garment in the bowl or bucket. Ensure only the stained part is in the bowl or bucket.
  3. Next, pour the milk into the bowel or bucket so that the milk completely covers the stain.
  4. Allow the garment to soak until the milk becomes discolored with the ink stain.
  5. To ensure you have removed all of the ink you can pour the discolored milk in the sink and replace it with fresh milk.
  6. You can continue to repeat this processes until the milk no longer changes color.
  7. Launder the garment as you normally would. If you have a rather large or stubborn ink stain you may want to launder the clothing by itself to ensure you do not stain any of your other clothes.
  8. Inspect the ink stained area. If the stain remains you can repeat any one of the methods mentioned above. If the stain has been removed you can dry your garment. Remember do not dry the clothing if the stain remains because the heat will set the ink stain into the fabric causing it to be much more difficult, if not impossible to, remove the stain

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