How to Get Pesky Ink Stains Out of Your Clothes

There’s nothing more annoying than accidentally getting ink from a pen on your clothes. What’s worse is that removing ink stains isn’t easy. While there’s no one specific method for removing ink stains, here are some different methods you can try based on the material of the clothing item.

Types of Ink

Water-based ink is a great deal easier to remove than its counterpart. It’s the type of ink usually found in markers or gel pens. This is because oil is a natural water-repellent and is very thick.

Oil-based ink is usually what ballpoint pens contain. Luckily, the methods here will work for both types; you may just need to be more persistent with oil-based.

Starting the Removal Process

The first thing to remember is never scrub, as it will just push the ink further into the fabric. Instead, gently blot the stain. Then check the label on the item of clothing to see how it should be washed and what it’s made of.

If you don’t remove the stain immediately, you will need to soak it in rubbing alcohol and gently blot it. After you’ve done one of these two things depending on how old the stain is, you can wash it as normal. Make sure you use cool water.

Check the Stain

Once your machine has run through its cycle and the clothing has been washed, take it out and check to see if there is any ink left. If there is, you’ll need to repeat the process until all the stain is gone.

One of the most important things to remember is to never put the item in the dryer, especially if ink stains aren’t gone. This will set the stain further and make it nearly impossible to remove. Keep repeating the process of blotting and washing until it’s gone, and then air dry.