Easy Ink Stain Removal Methods

An ink stain can ruin almost any garment. I can remember taking my stained clothes to my grandmother before she passed away. It seemed like she could get any stain out of any garment. Luckily, before she passed away, I asked her how to treat stains on my clothes. I use these these methods and I have not been disappointed yet.

Water based ink stains are the easiest to remove. Ballpoint ink stains can be tricky to treat because the formula used in each color and each brand varies slightly. Permanent ink can be treated in some cases but, in others, it will be easier to buy a new garment.

The most important thing to remember when trying to remove an ink stain is to begin treating it as soon as possible after the accident. The sooner you start the treatment, the easier the stain will be to remove. I carry a stain removing pen in my purse so I can treat any stain, including ink stains, as soon as they happen. Tide and Shout both have stain removing pens that work really well.

Once I am home, if the stain is still on my clothes, I treat the stain using things that I have around the house. The process is the same for all of these chemicals. I always try the chemicals in the same order and move through the list as needed if the stain is not removed. A paste of baking soda and water is always my first option. I use rubbing alcohol, hair spray, and fingernail polish remover one at a time if the previous one does not work.

First, put a large white towel under the stain. If the stain is on a shirt or pants, make sure that the towel is in between the front and back of the garment so that the ink does not transfer to the other side of the item. The towel has to be white so that dyes from the towel do not transfer to the clothes during treatment.

Next, add the chemical to a clean white washcloth. Test the chemical in an inconspicuous area of the garment to make sure that the chemical will not damage the item. Blot the stain with the wash cloth. Make sure to check the towel under the stain for discoloration. If the stain is bleeding into the towel, move the stain to a clean area to avoid the ink from the towel re-staining the garment. Place a washcloth on the stained area of the towel to protect the garment.

Let the garment dry before you move on to the next chemical to avoid a reaction between the chemicals. Always test each chemical on the garment before trying to remove the stain with it.

After you have gotten as much of the stain out as possible, wash the garment in the hottest water possible. Use your regular laundry detergent. When the cycle is finished, check the area of the stain. If the stain is still visible, repeat the steps in order. Don't dry the garment until the ink stain is removed. Heat will set the stain and make it impossible to remove.