How To Remove Ink From Clothes And Get Ink Stains Out

I’ve written extensively about removing many kinds of stains, so I often receive emails and messages from readers asking for advice on tackling stubborn stains. One type of stain readers struggle to try to remove is ink stains, so I took up the challenge to put together a guide on how to remove ink stains from clothes.

It turns out that hand sanitizer is the best way to remove ink from clothes!

Using the same method I used to figure out the best way to get out grass stains and remove blood stains, I tried several stain removers before determining that hand sanitizer worked best. I also found that not only is it possible to get ink out of clothes, but those ink stains aren’t nearly as difficult to remove as many people assume!

What Stain Remover Works Best On Pen Ink Stains?

I started by comparing two different solvents that my research suggested might be effective against water-based ink: hairspray and hand sanitizer.

I found that both worked well for ink stain removal, which I attributed to the fact that both formulas share a powerful solvent: ethanol. (Ethanol can also help remove permanent ink stains from permanent markers). This made me wonder whether I could remove an ink stain with rubbing alcohol, given that it contains ethanol as well.

So I decided to do another round of ink removal trials, this time comparing the performance of hairspray, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, and nail polish remover on ink stains. To my surprise, hand sanitizer emerged as the clear winner!

I still can’t explain exactly what gives hand sanitizer the edge over the other stain removers I tried, but I can’t argue with the results! The next time I encounter any type of ink stain, whether from a fountain pen or ballpoint pen ink, I’ll reach right for my bottle of hand sanitizer.

Here’s how to remove ink from clothes using hand sanitizer:

How To Remove Ink Stains From Clothes 

You’ll need:

• Hand sanitizer
• An old toothbrush
• Paper towels

Directions:

1. Position the ink stain over a piece of cardboard. (This will help prevent the ink from spreading to another area of the garment.)
2. Apply enough hand sanitizer to saturate the ink stain completely. 
3. Use an old toothbrush to work the solvent into the stain, then let it sit for a minute or two.
4. Blot the stain with a clean white cloth or sturdy paper towel to lift out the ink. (If you don’t see any ink on the cloth or paper towel, repeat steps 1 and 2.)
5. When the ink is gone, rinse the stained item in cold water, apply your stain remover of choice, and launder in cold water. (Hot water may set the stain.)
6. If the stain persists after washing, repeat steps 1 through 5 again.

More Ink Stain Removal Tips

• Don’t dry the stained item until you’re completely satisfied the ink stain is gone! (It may not be entirely impossible to get ink out of clothes that have gone through the dryer, but it may be significantly more difficult.)
• In addition to clothes, you can also use the method outlined above to remove ink stains from carpet and upholstery. (Keep in mind that small stains are likely to be easier to remove than large ones, and be sure to test your fabric for colorfastness if you’re concerned about fading.)
• For ink stains on carpet, apply enough hand sanitizer to saturate the stain, let it sit for a few minutes, then blot the stain with clean cloths. Continue until the ink is gone, then blot with cloths dampened with clean water to rinse.

I never would have guessed that it would be so simple to get ink stains out! If you have a question or quandary of your own, my inbox is always open! :-)

Have you ever dealt with ink stains on clothing?