10 Ink Stain Removers – Laundry Tips

Tips Before Starting:

• First place a clean cloth underneath the ink stain before applying any stain removal method. This helps prevent any ink from running through to the piece of garment underneath.
• Chances are the ink has gone through to the other side of the fabric, so after cleaning the top of the garment, make sure to work on the back as well before laundering as usual. Some prefer working on the underside first, then the top.
• You can use a soft toothbrush to “scrub” the stain a bit with the chosen treatment, but make sure you don’t scrub so hard that you permanently damage the garment’s fibers.
• Be careful with any stain removal method you choose, test a small area first to make sure the formula won’t damage the garment.
• If you’re finding that one method is not giving you the desired results and wish to switch to another method, make sure to thoroughly rinse and wash out (by hand) the residue from the first treatment before moving onto the next treatment. Always use cool water, not hot since the heat can set the stain.
• If you have ink stains in the carpet that you are trying to remove, these should work too. Just make sure to test first.

10 Ink Stain Removers

Recipe #1

1 TBS Vinegar
1 TBS Milk
1 tsp Borax
1 tsp Lemon Juice

• Mix together all the ingredients then apply to ink stain, leave for about 10 minutes. Dampen a sponge with cool water then dab at the stain until it is gone.

Method #2

Hairspray

• Spray hairspray on the stain so that the spot is well saturated. Wait 30 minutes. Dab at the ink spot with a sponge first soaked in cool water. You may have to soak the spot in hairspray a couple times.

Method #3

Fingernail Polish Remover (plain, unscented)

• Test a small unnoticeable area of the garment first before using. This could discolor some fabrics. The method for stain removal is the same as above, saturate the area with the fingernail polish remover, then dab at the spot with a cool, wet sponge.

Method #4

Toothpaste (Plain paste, not gel, no bleach)

• Just like with the white collars trick and the removing permanent marker tip, toothpaste can help lift ink stains from fabric too. Apply to the stain, let set for a few minutes, then run under cool water while gently rubbing the toothpaste into the stain. Repeat as necessary.

Method #5

Isopropyl Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol)

• Saturate the ink spot with isopropyl alcohol, leave for 30 minutes, then try lifting the stain with a sponge first wet with cool water.

Method #6

Vinegar (Regular White Household)

• Pour a teaspoon of vinegar directly on the stain and allow to rest for about 10 minutes. Then dab a drop or two of liquid dish detergent to the stain. Rub it in gently with your fingers. Leave to rest for about 5 minutes. Rinse under cool water, gently rubbing the soap into the spot while the water rinses the area.

Method #7

WD-40

• Spray it on the ink stain and after a minute or two, rinse off.

Method #8

Shaving Cream

• This needs to be the foaming shaving cream, not the gel. Spray a bit of the foam on the stain, wait 30 minutes, then run under cool water while gently rubbing the stain away with your fingers

Method #9

Ivory Soap (bar)

• Run the stained fabric under cool water so it’s good and wet. Rub the Ivory Soap bar into the stain (not too roughly or it will damage the fibers), make sure to rub a good amount of soap into the stain. Leave for 30 minutes. Add a couple drops of liquid dish detergent to the stain, rub in with your fingers (gently), then run under cool water and wash away the stain.

Method #10

Buttermilk

• Let the stain soak in Buttermilk for 24 hours, then rinse under cool water with a bit of Ivory soap or liquid hand soap. If that hasn’t removed all the stain, soak in Buttermilk again and repeat the process.

Success!

After you have successfully removed the ink stain, rinse the item very well in cool water to completely remove all traces of the stain removal treatment you used. Then launder the garment as you normally would.

For general laundry stain removal helpers, try these tips: Homemade Laundry Stain Remover Recipes and Bleach Stains From Old Linens.

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