How To Get Ink Stains Out Of Clothes

Ever find an ink stain on clothes and you have no idea how it got there? Happens to me all the time. It helps to know what kind it is, but even if you don’t it’s possible to get the ink stain out most of the time.

There is one catch, though. If the ink has been set with heat, it will be more challenging to remove but it’s not impossible if you’re patient. So read on for my tips to get ink stains out of clothes — even old ink stains that have gone through the dryer.

Removing Water-Based Ink from Clothes

Water-based inks include rollerball pens, gel pens, fountain pens, drawing pens, and kids’ washable markers.

Fresh Ink Stains

Blot the stain with a paper towel dipped in cold, soapy water. Change towels if needed, so you don’t spread the mess. Once you’ve lifted most of the ink, turn the garment over and hold it under cold running water to flush out the rest of the stain. Repeat as needed until the spot is completely gone then let the item air-dry and inspect it. If there are no traces of discoloration, launder the item as usual.

Dried Stains

Remove dried water-based ink stains by dabbing the area with a little liquid laundry detergent or liquid dish detergent on both sides. Let this sit for 5 minutes to loosen the stain.

Next, combine equal parts vinegar and cool water in a bowl. Without rinsing away the liquid detergent, submerge the stained area in this solution and let it soak overnight.

The next morning, rinse the garment stain-side down under cold water and let it air dry. Repeat the process if needed. If the spot has completely disappeared, launder the item as usual.

Get Oil-Based Ink Out of Clothes

Oil-based inks are found in ballpoint pens, permanent markers (Sharpies), dry-erase markers, highlighters, and felt tip pens.

Fresh Ink Stains

To remove fresh stains from oil-based inks like permanent markers, first slide a thick towel or piece of cardboard under the garment to avoid spreading the stain while you remove it.

Then, dab the area with a paper towel moistened with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Repeat on both sides of the stain, but don’t rub or you may spread the mess.

Once the stain has disappeared, hold the item beneath cold running water to flush the area then let it air-dry. If you see traces of ink, repeat the process. Otherwise, launder as usual.

Old Ink Stains

As long as ballpoint pen, permanent marker, or other oil-based ink hasn’t been set with heat, you can remove it using isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol followed by dish soap.

First, slide a thick towel or piece of cardboard beneath the item to protect surrounding surfaces. Then, dampen a cotton ball with alcohol and saturate both sides of the spot. Do not rub or you may spread the ink stain.

Wait 5 minutes, apply a small amount of liquid dish detergent to the spot, and let it sit for another 10 minutes. Rinse the item under cool water and let it air dry. Repeat the process if needed, then launder as usual.

Other Ways to Get Ink out of Clothing

If you don’t have the things needed for the above methods, here are a few more laundry hacks to get ink out of clothes. Remember, no matter what you use, rinse the item under cool water and let it air-dry. Until the spot has completely disappeared, keep it away from heat.

Dryer Sheets Can Remove Ink Stains

Dryer sheets contain oily surfactants to help them stop static cling. Those oily substances can also help dissolve oil-based ink stains. Dab both sides of the ink stain with a wet dryer sheet until the mess is gone. Then it’s a cool rinse, air dry and inspect before laundering.

Use Hand Sanitizer on Ink

You can also use hand sanitizer to remove oil-based ink stains. Apply a small amount to a clean white towel and dab both sides of the stain without rubbing. Rinse the item under cool water and let it air dry then inspect it again before laundering.

Be sure the hand sanitizer is free of dyes, fragrances, and moisturizers which can cause new stains on your clothes.

Try Milk to Get Ink out of Clothes

To use milk on water-based ink stains, fill a shallow bowl with enough to cover the fabric’s stained part. Let this soak overnight then rinse with cool water and let the item air-dry. If the stain remains, try another method.

Nail Polish Remover On Some Clothes

You can often get permanent marker stains out of clothes with nail polish remover, but don’t use this on acetate or other synthetics—they’ll melt. For everything else, spot test first. If all is well, dab the stain with nail polish remover on both sides. Then rinse with cool water and air dry. Repeat until it’s gone then launder.

Vegetable Glycerin

Chemically, glycerin is a type of alcohol, and that makes it an excellent ink stain remover. To get ink out of clothes using this method, combine equal parts vegetable glycerin and powdered oxygen bleach, plus a drop or two of liquid dish soap. Dab it onto both sides of the stain, give it 5 to 10 minutes to loosen the ink, then rinse with cool water. Check after it air dries and repeat if needed.

Why Hairspray Doesn’t Remove Ink Stains Anymore.

Old hairspray formulas were great at removing ink stains because they contained a ton of alcohol. Modern formulas use much less, so they aren’t good at removing ink stains from clothes anymore.

So, next time you fall asleep while writing in your journal and wake up to find ink stains all over your face, sheets, and pajamas, you know how to get the stain out. Wait. That only happens to me? Go figure.