How to remove pen ink from clothes after drying: Tips & Tricks
It’s Sunday morning, and you are folding your freshly washed laundry when you come across a stain…a pen ink stain. This has to be one of the worst feelings in the world, considering you just washed and dried your clothes. Is pen ink permanent damage to clothes? Can you even remove ink stains once the clothes have been washed and dried? We are here to tell you that it is not the end of the world. Sure, ink stains are notoriously tricky to remove, but with a few simple tips and tricks up your sleeve your clothes will be clean and free of stains once again! In this article, we show you how to remove pen ink from clothes after drying, so you never have to struggle again!
Ink stains are harder to remove after the clothing has been washed and dried
Pen ink can stain the skin for a couple of days
Is pen ink permanent on clothes?
That depends. With a bit of patience and some common household items, you will be able to remove most ink stains completely. If you just toss the clothes in the washing machine, as usual, the stain is more likely to become permanent. That is why it is important to always check your clothes carefully before putting them to wash. Nevertheless, we are going to show you easy tricks how to remove pen ink from clothes after drying and washing!
Ink stains are one of the toughest stains out there
Can ink stains be removed after drying?
Yes! Even though it is way harder to remove ink stains after the clothing has been washed and dried, there are some cleaning tricks that can be tried on such clothes, as well. And these methods are exactly what we are going to discuss below!
Be careful when working with ink, you don’t want to ruin your clothes and furniture
How do you get ink out of clothes after they have been washed and dried?
Method 1
What you will need:
- stain remover for clothes
- laundry detergent
- rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- a cotton ball or a piece of cloth
Step-by-step instructions:
- First, pre-treat the ink stain with a stain remover. Choose a stain remover that contains surfactants for a more effective treatment.
- Next, let the stain remover sit for 15-20 minutes.
- After that, handwash the clothing in lukewarm water using laundry detergent. Make sure to apply pressure when washing the ink stain.
- Then soak a cotton ball or a piece of cloth in rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Next, dab the stained area until you remove the ink stain completely.
- After that, rinse the spot with cold water.
- Finally, when the stain is gone, wash and dry the clothing normally.
Done!
The first step is to treat the ink spot with a powerful stain remover
Add detergent to the affected area and let it soak before handwashing the clothing
You can also use a toothbrush instead of a cotton ball
Method 2
What you will need:
- glycerin
- a cotton swab
- laundry detergent
- a small bowl
Step-by-step instructions:
- First, use a cotton swab and dip it in the bottle of glycerin.
- Then dab the cotton swab with the glycerin on the ink spot. Make sure that the affected area is completely saturated.
- Next, in the small bowl, mix 1 part laundry detergent with 1 part water. Make sure they are thoroughly combined.
- After that, apply the mixture to the ink stain using a new cotton swab. Make sure the affected area is completely covered, just like you did with the glycerin.
- Then let the clothing sit for 10-15 minutes so that the mixture can work to remove the ink stain.
- After that, wash the clothing as you would normally do.
- Next, make sure the stain is completely removed before leaving the clothing to dry. If you still see traces of the stain, repeat the process again.
- Finally, leave the clothing to dry normally.
Done!
If you are treating a fresh ink spot, make sure to blot the ink as much as possible
You can also apply the laundry detergent mixture directly to the spot
Method 3
What you will need:
- alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- laundry detergent
- color-safe bleach
Step-by-step instructions:
- First, apply the hand sanitizer to the affected area and make sure it is completely covered.
- Then let it soak for 5-10 minutes.
- After that, put your clothing in the washer and wash with laundry detergent and half a cup of color-safe bleach.
- Next, run the washer on the hottest water setting.
- Finally, after the washer is done, take out the clothing and leave it to dry.
Done!
Bleach is a great cleaning option for white clothing
Can you remove ink stains from leather?
Yes! It often happens that we forget to take out a pen from our bag, and it ends up opening and splotching ink everywhere. If you want to clean your leather clothing or accessories, follow the instructions below. Leather goods require special treatment, so you don’t end up damaging them in the process!
What you will need:
- rubbing alcohol
- leather conditioner
- a cotton ball
Step-by-step instructions:
- First, moisten a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol.
- Next, perform a spot test on a hidden part of the leather. This step is important to ensure that you do not accidentally damage the leather. Just apply the rubbing alcohol on a small spot and wait 10 minutes. If you do not encounter any problems, proceed to the next step.
- Apply the cotton ball with rubbing alcohol onto the leather ink stain and gently rub the area until you see the ink gradually disappearing.
- Finally, use a leather conditioner to restore the moisture and shine back to the area. Just apply a small amount of the product in the place where the ink stain once was.
Done!
Make sure to do a spot test on a hidden part of the leather first
Use a cotton swab to go over the ink spot with the rubbing alcohol
Don’t leave a pen in your leather bag because it might open and do some serious damage
Use a leather eraser pen for your furniture
How do you remove ink stains from a carpet?
We wanted to add a final method that will show you how to remove ink stains from your carpet. Since this is an accident that occurs more often than we would like, it is good to know this next method, so you can react quickly while the stain is still fresh. Pro-tip: A great hack to keep your carpets looking fresh and clean is using baking soda!
What you will need:
- a piece of cloth
- a bowl
- laundry detergent
Step-by-step instructions:
- First, use a piece of cloth to blot the area. You have to do this, so the ink doesn’t smear everywhere.
- Next, fill the bowl with warm water.
- After that, add a bit of laundry detergent and mix.
- Finally, dab the ink stain with the mixed solution and a cloth until the stain is completely gone.
Done!
Be careful not to bring your pen too close to your carpets and rugs
Laundry detergent is great for removing ink for carpets
The result is a fresh and clean carpet
We hope you enjoyed these simple tricks how to remove pen ink from clothes after drying and washing!
