How to remove ink from clothes (even after drying)

Have you ever found a mysterious blue stain on your favorite shirt and wondered how to get ink out of clothes? I’ve been there more times than I can count. Just the other day, I put a pen on my favorite pink hooded sweatshirt. By the time I did the laundry, I had a huge ink stain staring back at me.

Whether you’ve found a fresh smudge or a stubborn spot that’s already been through the dryer, there’s no need to panic. Below I cover exactly how to remove ink from clothes, even after drying and how to handle those fresh riots before they set. Plus, I’ll explain why hairspray no longer gets rid of ink stains and a simple DIY hairspray you can use instead.

Why are ink stains so stubborn?

Ink is not just a simple dye. It’s actually a combination of coloring and a “delivery system” of oil or water, which helps the ink flow onto the paper but also helps it adhere to the fabric. There are two main types of ink you are likely to encounter:

• Water-based inks: These range from gel pens, pens and washable markers.
• Oil-based inks: These are found in ink pens, permanent markers and highlighters.

Why does ink type matter?

Knowing the type of ink tells you if you can use simple soap and water or if you need to break out stronger cleaners like alcohol or glycerin to dissolve the “greasy” side of the mess.

Fresh ink stains have not yet bonded to the fabric. But once the clothes go through the dryer, the chemical bond changes, especially with oil-based inks. That’s why knowing how to remove ink from clothes after drying is a different challenge than treating a new spill.

Steps to remove water based ink stains from clothes

Water-based inks are generally the easiest to remove because they dissolve in water. If you treat the stained area quickly, you may not even need special chemicals.

Fresh stains

If you’ve just dropped a pen or gel pen on your lap, follow these steps:

1. Remove excess ink. Use a paper towel or clean cloth. Press firmly to absorb the ink. If you rub, you’ll just spread the stain around and push it deeper into the fabric. If it spills too much, sprinkle it with cornstarch or baking soda to absorb the excess, then shake before continuing.
2. Use cold water. Dampen a cloth with cold water and continue dabbing from the outside of the stain to the center. Avoid hot water as it can start to set the stain.
3. Wash off the stain. Hold the fabric under a cold tap with the ink side down. This helps push the ink out of the fibers rather than through them.
4. Air dry and check. Never put the item in the dryer until the stain is 100% gone. Heat makes the stain more stubborn to remove.

Dried or embedded stains

If the water-based ink has dried, you need a little more power.

1. Preprocess the point. Dab both sides of the stain with liquid laundry detergent or dish soap. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes.
2. The vinegar soaks. Mix one part cool water with one part white vinegar. Submerge only the stained part of the garment and let it soak overnight.
3. Work the stain. Push your fingers behind the stain to open up the weave of the fabric. Using an old soft toothbrush or a microfiber cloth dipped in cool, soapy water, gently scrub the stained area.
4. Rinse and inspect. Rinse the area thoroughly with cold water. If the ink stain is gone from your clothes, you can wash and dry as usual. If it is still there, repeat steps 2 and 3.

How to remove oil-based ink from clothes

Oil-based inks, like fountain pens, are much more difficult. They don’t dissolve in water, so you need a solvent to break down the oil.

1. Create a barrier. Before you begin, slide a piece of cardboard or a thick white towel inside the garment. This prevents the ink from bleeding onto the other side of your clothes.
2. Apply rubbing alcohol. Dip a cotton ball or white cloth in rubbing alcohol (isopropyl). Dab the stain repeatedly. You should see the ink “move” from your clothes onto the cotton.
3. Rinse with cold water. Once the ink stops coming out, rinse the area with cold water.
4. Air dry. Check the spot once it dries. If you see a hint of the stain, don’t wash it yet! Proceed to the next method to remove old ink stains from clothes.

Old oil based stains

If you’re dealing with a stubborn oil-based stain, using a combination of rubbing alcohol and dish soap is a powerful way to break the chemical bond between the ink and your clothes. The following steps explain how to remove old oil-based ink stains from clothing safely and effectively:

1. Do a sample test.

Before you begin, you need to make sure that the cleaner will not damage your fabric.

• How to do it: Dip a cotton swab rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) and apply it to a hidden arealike the inside of a hem.
• Wait: Let it sit 5 minutesthen dab the area with clean water and let it dry.
• Check the results: If the color hasn’t faded and the fabric hasn’t cracked, it’s safe to continue. If the fabric changes, stop immediately and take the item to a professional cleaner.

2. Saturate the stain with alcohol.

Once you know the cloth is safe, apply rubbing alcohol both sides of the stain. You want the area to be completely soaked. Let the alcohol sit 5 minutes. This gives the solvent time to start dissolving the oily ink delivery system.

3. Add liquid dish soap.

While the cloth is still wet with rubbing alcohol, add a few drops liquid dish soap straight to the point.

• Rub gently: Use your finger to rub the soap into the fabric very lightly.
• Please wait again: Allow the soap and alcohol mixture to sit once more 10 minutes. This combination is great for cutting grease and oil found in pen ink.

4. Do a final rinse and check.

Rinse the treated area thoroughly with cold water. After rinsing, leave the garment air dry.

Great: Always inspect the area once it has dried. Never put clothes in the dryer until the stain is 100% removed, as the high heat will set the remaining ink forever.

Best Homemade Ink Stain Remover (For Old, Embedded Stains)

Sometimes, even the strongest soap is not enough for a stain that has been through the dryer many times. This is my favorite “magic” recipe for these “desperate” cases. It uses a chemical rule called “like dissolves like” and has helped me remove stubborn, dried-on ink stains from the lining of my bag as well as my favorite jeans.

what do you need

• 1 tablespoon of glycerin (you can find it in a pharmacy).
• 1 tablespoon powdered oxygen-based bleach (such as OxyClean).
• 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap (I prefer Dawn for its oiliness).

Instructions

1. Spot test as described above.
2. Mix the paste. Combine the glycerin, oxygen bleach, and dish soap in a small bowl.
3. Apply to both sides. Use a cloth to dab the paste onto the front and back of the stain.
4. Wait. Let the mixture sit on the fabric for 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Rinse from behind. Hold the fabric under a cold tap so the water hits the back of the stain first. This washes the loose ink out of the garment.
6. Washing. Wash the item immediately, let it air dry and check to make sure the stain is completely gone. If yes, you are ready. Otherwise, repeat until that old ink stain is gone.

More DIY ways to remove ink from clothes

If you don’t have rubbing alcohol or glycerin at home, you may have one of these items in your pantry:

• Hand sanitizer: Most hand sanitizers are alcohol-based. In a pinch, you can dab clean, unscented sanitizer on an ink spot to help break it down. Just be careful with the scented or colored versions as they can sometimes leave their own stains.
• Milk: For water-based ink, you can soak the stain in milk or a mixture of milk and vinegar overnight.
• Nail Polish Removal: This is a very strong solvent, but it can destroy synthetic fabrics like acetate. Use only on colorful fabrics and always do a small “spot test” on an inconspicuous area first.
• Dryer Sheets: A wet dryer sheet can sometimes help with oil-based stains because of the surfactants they contain.
• The freezing trick: If you’ve treated a stain but can’t wash it right away, put the wet garment in a clear plastic bag and stick it in the freezer. This prevents the stain from drying and setting further until you get to the washing machine.

What no longer works? Hair spray.

You may have heard your parents or grandparents say that hairspray is the best way to remove ink from clothes. This was true because the old hairsprays were full of alcohol.

However, modern nail polishes have changed. Most of them now have very little alcohol or use different formulas to keep your hair in place. If you try to use trendy nail polish on an ink stain, it probably won’t work, and the sticky residue might even make the mess harder to clean up. Instead, stick to alcohol or hand sanitizer.