Ink stains can really mess up your clothes or carpet…
A leaking pen in your bag or pocket, children who’ve gone rogue while colouring or pure bad luck: ink stains happen very easily, unfortunately. In this article, we’ll explain how you can remove ink stains from your clothes.
We mostly use products you probably already own anyway. So, no need to panic! With these tips that nasty ink stain will be gone before you know it!
Determine the type of ink
It’s a no-brainer that pen stains are not created equally. Inks are made of different pigments, dyes, solvents and lubricants.
Making them some of the toughest smudges to get out and a pain in the neck. Which is why it’s crucial to determine the type of ink you’re dealing with right away.
The three most common offenders are:
• Oil-based ink: Commonly found in ballpoint pens; oil-based ink is fast-drying and tough to remove.
• Water-based ink: Water-based inks are easy to remove and are used in most washable markers and roller-ball pens.
• Highly-pigmented ink: This type of ink is difficult to remove because of the large quantities of dyes and pigments used in the ink’s solution.
Let’s start with one of the most tedious stains to remove: oil-based ink.
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Oil-based stains
Although a bit time consuming, it’s not impossible to remove oil-based stains. Stay the course and your shirt or pant will come out looking like new.
Step 1:
Find a fabric-friendly solvent. What’s the key ingredient to removing stubborn oil-based pen stains? Ethanol. This can be found in many household products, such as rubbing alcohol, aerosol hairspray and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Step 2:
Place the garment over an absorbant surface. Putting a soft surface, similar to a towel, under the stain will prevent the ink from spreading around the garment as you scrub it. Make sure that only one layer of the garment’s fabric lays against the absorbent material. This will prevent the ink from seeping into the opposite layer of the garment.
Step 3:
Apply the solvent. If rubbing alcohol is your weapon of choice, soak a cotton ball in it and dab it on the stain. If you went with hand sanitizer, squirt a decent amount onto the stain and gently rub it into the fabric. Lastly, if hairspray is the lucky winner, spray it onto the stain until the material is saturated.
Step 4:
Let it sit. Depending on the age of the ink, the solvent may need time to break down the ink’s oils. Let the solution sit for 3-5 minutes, while continuously applying it to the stain to keep it damp.
Step 5:
Blot the stain. Blotting the stain with a clean, dry cloth presses the ink out of the garment and into the absorptive surface. Blot the stain until the solvent removes the stain.
Step 6:
Repeat, if needed. Those oil-based pen stains are determined little suckers, so if the stain wasn’t completely removed, move the garment to a clean part of the adsorbent surface and repeat steps 3-5 until the stain is 90-100% removed.
Step 7:
Apply detergent. To get the last remaining remnants of the pen stain, rub a small amount of detergent into the fabric and let it soak. Finally, rinse the material with warm water.
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Water-based stains
Removing water-based pen stains is like a walk in the park. You just need water, vinegar, a large bowl and your washing machine.
Step 1:
Step 2:
Hang it to dry. Once the garment has soaked in the milk and vinegar mixture overnight, hang it up and let it air dry.
Step 3:
Wash it. Can’t have your favorite shirt smelling like milk and vinegar, right? After the garment has dried, put it in the washer to get rid of the smell and to remove any remains of the pen stain.
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Highly-pigmented ink
Highly-pigmented ink is the most difficult stain to remove. The faster you get to the stain, the better your chances are of getting rid of it.
Step 1:
Hand wash the stain. Start by pulling out the big guns; reach for the soap or detergent. After placing the garment over an absorbent surface, add a small amount of soap or detergent to the stain. Rinse with warm water, then blot the ink with a napkin or paper towel.
Step 2:
Treat the stain with ammonia. Dissolve one teaspoon of household ammonia in warm water. Next, soak the garment in the mixture for one hour. Rinse thoroughly while scrubbing the stain with a soft brush. Repeat this step until the stain is nearly gone.
Step 3:
Treat it with an alcohol and vinegar solution. If the ink stain still refuses to come out, mix one cup of vinegar with a cup of rubbing alcohol. Then place the garment over an absorbent material and apply the solution to the pen stain until the fabric is saturated.
Step 4:
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