There are times when ink stains on your clothes can be pretty frustrating. We don’t want you to start pulling out your hair, so we gathered some tips for how to remove ink stains from clothes in the easiest ways possible. To make the process easier, we included multiple steps like how to remove ink stains from different materials.
Below are the most common types of materials that can become ink-stained, with steps on how to remove ink from each:
- Non-washable fibers such as Acetate, Burlap, Carpet/Synthetic, Carpet/Wool, Fiberglass, Rayon, Silk, Triacetate or Wool
- Washable fibers such as Acrylic Fabric, Cotton, Linen, Modacrylic, Nylon, Olefin, Polyester or Spandex
- Soft surfaces such as Acrylic Plastic, Ceramic, Glass/Tile, Cork, Glass, Plexiglas, Polyurethane, Porcelain Dishes, Porcelain Fixtures, Vinyl Clothing or Vinyl Wallcoverings
- Delicate surfaces such as Alabaster or Marble
- Stone surfaces such as Asphalt, Bluestone, Brick, Concrete, Flagstone, Sandstone, Slate or Terrazzo
- Smooth surfaces such as Bamboo, Cane or Paint
- Grout
- Leather or Suede
- Linoleum or Vinyl Tile
- Wallpaper
- Wood
Table of Contents
Non-washable Fibers
Follow these steps to remove ink stains from Acetate, Burlap, Carpet/Synthetic, Carpet/Wool, Fiberglass, Rayon, Silk, Triacetate, or Wool:
- Sponge (the method of using light strokes with a dampened pad working outward from the center of the stain) the stain with water.
- Try a light spray of hair spray to loosen the stain, then apply a wet spotter and a few drops of white vinegar.
- Let stand for 30 minutes, blotting every 5 minutes with a clean absorbent pad. Add wet spotter and vinegar as needed to keep the stain moist.
- Flush (the method of applying stain remover to loosen staining materials and residue from stain removers) with water.
- If the stain persists, apply rubbing alcohol to the stain and cover with an absorbent pad moistened with alcohol. Let it stand as long as any stain is being removed. Change the pad as it picks up the stain. Flush with alcohol. (Do not use alcohol on acetate, rayon, or triacetate.)
- If stain traces remain, sponge area with water and apply a wet spotter and a few drops of ammonia. Let stand for 30 minutes, blotting every 5 minutes. Add enough wet spotter and ammonia (do not use ammonia on silk or wool) to keep the stain moist. Flush with water and allow to dry.
Washable Fibers
Use the following steps to remove ink stains from Acrylic Fabric, Cotton, Linen, Modacrylic, Nylon, Olefin, Polyester or Spandex:
- Try a light spray of hair spray to loosen the laundry stains.
- Soak in a solution of 1 quart warm water, 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing detergent, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar for 30 minutes; use care when using vinegar on cotton and linen.
- Rinse with water and allow to dry.
- If stain persists, apply rubbing alcohol to the stain and cover with an absorbent pad moistened with alcohol (use alcohol sparingly on acrylic and modacrylic). Let stand as long as any stain is being removed. Change pad as it picks up the stain. Keep both the stain and pad moist with alcohol. Flush with alcohol and allow to dry.
- If any trace of stain remains, soak in a solution of 1 quart warm water, 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing detergent, and 1 tablespoon ammonia for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water and allow to dry.
Soft Surfaces
Follow these steps to remove ink stains from Acrylic Plastic, Ceramic, Glass/Tile, Cork, Glass, Plexiglas, Polyurethane, Porcelain Dishes, Porcelain Fixtures, Vinyl Clothing or Vinyl Wallcoverings:
- Apply an all-purpose spray cleaner, following label directions.
- If any trace of stain remains, cover area with a compress sprinkled with ammonia.
- Rinse well and wash with a cloth dipped in warm sudsy water.
- Rinse again and allow to dry.
Alabaster or Marble
Follow theses steps to remove ink stains from Alabaster or Marble:
- Wipe the surface with a cloth or sponge dipped in warm sudsy water.
- Rinse well and wipe dry.
- If any trace of stain persists, apply an absorbent pad dampened with rubbing alcohol.
- After several minutes, replace the pad with one moistened with ammonia.
- Continue alternating alcohol and ammonia treatment until stain is removed.
- Rinse well and wipe dry.
Stone Surfaces
Use the following steps to remove ink stains from Asphalt, Bluestone, Brick, Concrete, Flagstone, Sandstone, Slate or Terrazzo surfaces:
- Wash with a solution of washing soda or detergent (not soap) and water.
- Use a cloth or soft-bristled brush to help scrub.
- Rinse thoroughly with clear water and allow to dry.
Bamboo, Cane or Painted Surfaces
Follow these simple steps to remove ink stains from bamboo, cane, paint/flat or paint/gloss:
- Wipe with a cloth dipped in a solution of mild pure soap and water to which a few drops of ammonia have been added.
- Rinse well and dry thoroughly.
Grout
Follow these simple steps to remove ink stains from grout:
- Wipe stain with a cloth dipped in warm sudsy water.
- If a stain remains, dip a wet toothbrush into a litle baking soda or powdered cleanser and gently scrub.
- Rinse well and wipe dry.
Leather or Suede
Ink stains on leather or suede may be permanent, but try the following steps before you throw out the item! Caution: There is no guaranteed way to remove this stain from these materials.
- On leather, apply a cleaner, such as Tannery Vintage Leather Cleaner & Conditioner.
- On suede, try gingerly applying a dry-cleaning solvent. Dab it on with a clean cloth, after testing on a hidden seam.
- Allow to air dry.
- On leather only, follow with Tannery Vintage Leather Cleaner & Conditioner or Fiebing’s Saddle Soap to condition the leather.
Linoleum, Vinyl Tile
Follow these steps to remove ink stains from linoleum or vinyl tile surfaces:
- First, apply an all-purpose spray cleaner according to package directions.
- If any stain remains, cover the area with a compress made with rubbing alcohol.
- Rinse with clear water.
- If stain persists, rub the area with superfine (number 0000) steel wool dipped in liquid floor wax.
- Wash the area with soapy water, dry, then wax as usual.
Wallpaper
Follow these steps to remove ink stains from wallpaper:
- Try removing any ink with a soft eraser. Work in small movements to avoid tearing the paper.
- If the stain persists, wipe the area with a cloth or sponge moistened with cool clear water. Overlap the strokes to avoid streaking.
- Use a clean cloth to gently pat dry.
Wood
Use the following steps to remove ink stains from wood:
- Mix dishwashing detergent in hot water and swish to make a great volume of suds.
- Dip a cloth in only the foam and gently wipe the stain.
- Rinse with a clean cloth moistened with clear water.
- If a stain remains, rub the area with superfine (number 0000) steel wool dipped in liquid wax. Rub lightly, because steel wool will remove a fine layer of the surface.
- Polish or wax as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Ink stains seem like a harmless accident, but over time can leave permanent marks on fabrics. If you have ever had the misfortune of ink stains on clothing then you know how difficult they can be to get rid of. There’s no need to worry and there are many ways to remove the problem, some are very effective, others not so much.