How to take out pen ink stains

Ballpoint pen ink is not something that you can usually remove with simple soap and water, but there is an equally easy and inexpensive way to remove pen ink from surfaces or clothing. You will only need a few materials, which you probably already have, to save your favorite shirt from being ruined. Find out what makes ink difficult to remove and how to remove it here.

Why Is Ballpoint Ink so Hard to Remove?

Ballpoint pen ink is tricky to remove due to its chemical composition. Ink pens and felt-tip markers contain pigments and dyes suspended in water and organic solvents, which may include toluene, glyco-ethers, propylene glycol, and propyl alcohol. Other ingredients such as resins, wetting agents, and preservatives may be added to help the ink flow or stick to the page. In other words, the elements of ink pens responsible for making them work so well as pens are also the reason ink stains clothes.

The Chemical Process Involved in Removing Ink

Removing pen or marker ink requires the use of solvents that work to dissolve both polar (water) and nonpolar (organic) molecules found in ink. In chemistry, a general rule of thumb is "like dissolves like". Therefore, organic compounds containing both polar and nonpolar molecules can break down ink.

Materials You Will Need to Remove Pen Ink

You can use any number of common household chemicals to lift away ink. The best of these is alcohol because it easily dissolves water-soluble pigments and organic solvents but is gentle enough that it won't discolor or damage most fabrics. In order of most to least effective, here are other household substances to try.

• Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
• Shaving cream
• Hairspray
• Non-flammable dry cleaning fluid

Ink Removal Instructions

It's important to always remove ink stains before washing. If you add ink-dissolving solvents to stained fabric and then wash it, you run the risk of the stain lifting and spreading to other parts of the fabric. If you do nothing to treat ink before washing and drying, you will very likely set the stain even further into the fabric, rendering treatment nearly impossible. Start with rubbing alcohol and remember to thoroughly rinse any lifted ink in cold water.

1. Dab rubbing alcohol onto the ink.
2. Allow a couple of minutes for the alcohol to penetrate the surface and react with the ink.
3. Blot the ink stain using paper towels or pre-dampened cloth soaked in either water or alcohol.
4. If the alcohol is ineffective, try using foaming shaving cream and repeating the steps above.
5. If the shaving cream doesn't work, hairspray will usually do the trick. However, use this only as a last resort because hairspray can be damaging to certain surfaces and fabrics.
6. A non-flammable dry cleaning fluid may remove certain inks, but use caution when using this toxic substance. Alternatively, you can take your clothes to be dry cleaned and let the cleaners know about the stain.

Other Inks and Materials

Gel ink pens use ink that is made to be permanent. Not even rubbing alcohol will remove gel ink, nor will acid. Sometimes it is possible to wear away gel ink using an eraser. Ink stains in wood can be very difficult to remove when the ink makes its way into cracks and crevices. When treating ink-stained wood, be sure to remove all traces of alcohol from the wood afterward and rinse the affected area with water—prolonged exposure to high concentration alcohol is damaging to wood. To reverse the drying effects of alcohol, condition the wood as well.

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "How to Remove Ball Point Pen Ink." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-remove-ball-point-pen-ink-606156 (accessed January 1, 2023).

If you've ever washed a pair of pants with a pen in the pocket, you know that ink stains are both unsightly and tricky to remove. Whether the ink is black, blue, or red, ridding the mark from clothes, furniture, linens, and more is a common housekeeping annoyance. Unfortunately, there is no catch-all trick that works for all fabrics. To beat the stain, you need to know what type of solution will work with the fabric and what application technique will remove ink stains from the surface. Before you make a mistake that only draws more attention to the stain, follow our advice on how to get ink out of clothing and other fabric items. The best stain removal technique depends on the material, so check out the fabrics listed below to find the tricks you need to remove ink stains from every type of clothing.

How to Get Ink Out of Canvas or Linen Clothing

To remove ink stains from washable linen or canvas, test rubbing alcohol on an inconspicuous spot to ensure it won't damage the fabric. Then place the stained area facedown over the mouth of a jar or glass, holding the fabric taut so the ink spot won't spread. Drip rubbing alcohol through the stain. The alcohol will pull the ink along as it drops into the jar. Rinse well and line-dry, then check that the stain has been removed before laundering per fabric-care instructions.

Ink Stain Removal for Chenille Clothing

To treat an ink stain on washable chenille, first soak the item for 30 minutes in an ink stain remover solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild, clear dish soap and one tablespoon white vinegar diluted in one quart warm water. Rinse with water and air-dry. If the stain remains, dab with rubbing alcohol (test on an inconspicuous spot first). Rinse with water, and wash as directed on the garment's label. Air-dry and inspect to make sure the stain has been removed before drying as directed again.

How to Get Ink Out of Corduroy Clothing

To remove a pen ink stain on washable corduroy, first soak the item for 30 minutes in a solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild, clear dish soap and one tablespoon white vinegar diluted in one quart warm water. Rinse with water and air-dry. If the stain remains, dab with rubbing alcohol (test on an inconspicuous spot first). Rinse with water, and wash as directed on the garment's label. Air-dry and inspect to make sure the stain has been removed before drying as directed again.

How to Remove Ink Stains from Cotton

Lightly spritz the cotton with hair spray to loosen the ink stain. Then soak for 30 minutes in a solution of 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing detergent and one tablespoon white vinegar diluted in one quart warm water. (Test on an inconspicuous spot first.) Rinse with water and allow to dry. If stain persists, press with an absorbent cloth moistened with alcohol. Change cloth as stain lifts. After the stain is removed, dab with water, then a dry cloth.

How to Get Ink Stains Out of Jeans

Keep your denim jacket or favorite pair of paints in good condition with this simple process for removing inks stains from jeans. Start by immediately blotting excess ink with a paper towel or cloth; take care not to rub the stain further into your jeans. If you get an ink stain on jeans while away from home, treat the dried ink with a few drops of water before blotting. With paper towels or a clean cloth placed under your jeans, apply isopropyl rubbing alcohol (a few drops is plenty) to the stain and gently scrub with a cotton swab or soft-bristled toothbrush. Rinse the ink stain in cold water before washing your jeans on a cold cycle. Commercial stain sticks and sprays are also alternatives to removing inks stains from jeans. Hang to air-dry once clean.

How to Remove Ink Stains from Leather

To remove ink stains from leather clothing, use a cleaning product specifically designed for leather. Apply the leather cleaner with a clean cloth ASAP, preferably within the first six hours after staining. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the leather cleaner.

How to Get Ink Out of Polyester or Nylon Clothing

Before you try to remove ink stains from polyester or nylon, test the treatment on a hidden corner or seam to check for color damage. Then stretch the stained area over the mouth of a jar or glass. Slowly drip rubbing alcohol through the stain, catching the ink residue in the jar. Rinse, then line-dry. Wash the garment, and if necessary, use a color-safe bleach (as long as the label says it's okay). Air-dry, and make sure the ink is gone before you dry as directed.

How to Remove Ink from Silk

For ink stains on silk clothing, blot the stain with paper towels as soon as possible. You can simply blot with cold water as long as the stain lifts. If stain remains, spray with hairspray and continue blotting until the stain lifts. Finish by blotting with warm water. You also can dip a soft toothbrush in a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar, then gently scrub on the stain. Dab with cold water. Blot dry.

How to Get Ink Out of Spandex and Lycra

To remove ballpoint pen ink from spandex or Lycra, test the treatment on a hidden corner or seam first to check for color damage. Then stretch the stained area over the mouth of a jar or glass. Slowly drip rubbing alcohol through the stain, using the jar to catch the ink residue. Rinse and line-dry the garment, then wash, using a color-safe bleach, if necessary and the label says it's okay. Air-dry, and make sure the ink stain is gone before you dry as directed again.

Ink Stain Removal for Suede Fabric

To remove a ballpoint pen stain from suede, test in an inconspicuous area with a dab of consumer dry-cleaning solvent on a clean cloth, then apply sparingly on the stain, following the manufacturer's instructions.

How to Get Ink Out of Velvet

Be sure to follow the instructions on the garment's label before trying to remove an ink stain from velvet. To treat a ballpoint pen stain on washable velvet, first soak the item for 30 minutes in a solution of 1/2 teaspoon mild, clear dish soap and one tablespoon white vinegar diluted in one quart warm water. Rinse with water, and air-dry. If the stain remains, dab with rubbing alcohol (test on an inconspicuous spot first). Rinse with water, and wash as directed on the label's garment. Air-dry, and inspect to make sure the stain has been removed before drying as directed again.

How to Remove Ink Stains from Wool Clothing

For wool items, blot the ballpoint pen stain with paper towels ASAP. Try blotting the wool with cold water first to see if the stain lifts. If stain remains, spray the ink stain with hairspray and blot, repeating until stain lifts. Blot with warm water. You also can dip a soft-bristle toothbrush in a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar and gently scrub that on the stain. Dab with cold water and blot dry.

Editor's Tip: Be sure to follow the instructions on the garment's label and the manufacturer's instructions on any products mentioned as you go through the ink stain removal process.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does toothpaste remove ink stains?

  Toothpaste may not be the most effective method for removing ink from fabric, but it can work in a pinch. Just cover the ink stain with a non-gel-based toothpaste and let it sit for several minutes before rinsing the area with cold water. Repeat the steps until the stain is gone. Just be sure to test a small, inconspicuous area before applying the toothpaste to be sure it won’t damage the fabric. 

• Can I use baking soda to remove ink stains on clothes?

  You can use baking soda mixed with water to remove ink stains from clothing. Make a paste with two parts baking soda and one part water and dab it gently on the stain being careful not to spread the stain into surrounding areas. Rinse and repeat until the stain is gone and then launder the item as usual. 

• Does rubbing alcohol damage clothes?

  Rubbing alcohol can discolor, damage, and fade some fabrics, so it’s best to exercise caution when using it to treat stains. While rubbing alcohol is an effective stain remover for fabrics like cotton and linen, it is best to avoid using it on fabrics containing wool, silk, acetate, rayon, or acrylic fibers. 

  How can I remove ballpoint pen stains?

  Isopropyl alcohol also known as rubbing alcohol reigns supreme for ballpoint ink stains. People swear by hair spray, nail polish remover, hand sanitizer and alcohol is the big common denominator between all these. Rubbing alcohol dissolves the oil of pen ink in stained fabric or an ink stained area.

  How do you remove dried ink stains?

  How do you remove ink after it has dried? Put down a towel you don't mind getting stained, and place the stained garment on top of it. Treat the stain with rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or hair spray and let sit for at least 10 minutes before blotting and rinsing with cold water.

  What is the easiest way to remove pen ink?

  Use a Q-Tip soaked in a solvent like brake fluid, acetone, or rubbing alcohol to lift ink out of the page. If chemicals don't work, try carefully rubbing the ink off with an eraser, razor blade, or even a fine-grit sander. If the ink just won't come out, cover it with correction fluid or paper.

  Can pen ink be washed out of clothes?

  Because ink is designed to stay on whatever surface you apply it to, when pen marks stain clothing and fabric, machine washing won't be enough to get the stain out. Instead, you need to use a special stain pretreating technique prior to machine washing, starting with alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel.