How To Remove Ink Stains From Clothes

Step 1: Prep Yourself

Always treat the stain as soon as you can. Fold a light-colored cloth and place it underneath the stain to prevent the stain from spreading to more fabric. Be sure to also test the different solvents on a hidden area first to avoid discoloration.

Step 2: Wet Ones

If you have them handy, try this solution first. Simply wipe the ink stain with a moist wipe or a baby wipe. Many clothing stores keep baby wipes on hand in case employees accidentally mark on clothing.

Step 3: Spray Away

First dab the stain with lukewarm water until no more ink transfers out onto your absorbent pad. Next, soak the mark with hair spray and blot until, again, no more ink transfers out. Cheap hairspray often times work the best. Finally, dab with a mixture of warm water and clear or white dishwashing liquid.

Step 4: Milk It

If hair spray didn't do the trick, try soaking the stain in milk for 1 hour. Remove the garment from the milk and wring it out. After the milk works to break down the stain, you'll want to coat it with a paste of vinegar and cornstarch. Let the paste dry and then brush away.

Step 5: Alcohol

Try dabbing the stain with a cloth moistened with isopropyl or denatured alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is simply rubbing alcohol that you probably already have in your bathroom cabinet. Denatured alcohol can be found at hardware stores. Again, watch for when no more ink transfers onto the absorbent cloth.

Step 6: Laundry Time

By now, one or a combination of these steps should have worked for you. Your last step should be to launder your item as usual. Just be sure not to dry the item until all stains have been lifted.