How to Remove Ink Stains from Clothes Easily?

Ink stains can be caused by several common culprits: broken pens, bleeding print, leaky toner cartridges, or tipped-over ink bottles. Regardless of the cause, there are many methods that people can employ to get rid of ink stains on any surface.

Types of Ink

There are four different types of ink that can stain your home’s surfaces:

· Powder

· Paste

·Aqueous

· Liquid

Modern-day ink is also divided into two classes: writing inks and printing inks. While black ink is made using carbon black, colored ink is made up of soybean oil, linseed oil, and is combined with organic pigments that often stain.

When it comes to stain types, residue from food, fruit juices, and grass, for example, are considered organic stains, which make them easier to get rid of. Stains from paint, dyes, and ink, on the other hand, are considered inorganic stains, and are tougher to remove.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get rid of them! If you act quickly.

Regardless of whether your stain from ink is on fabric, leather, upholstery, or carpet, the faster you act the better. Wet ink stains are easier to remove, so it’s important to act as quickly as possible, before the ink dries.

Types of Ink Stains

There are a few different types of ink that create different kinds of ink stains:

· Water-based ink

· Permanent ink

· Ballpoint ink

Each type of stain from ink requires a different approach to remove it, so be sure to consider the surface you’re working with before you try anything.

Tips before Starting:

· First place a clean cloth underneath the stain before applying any solution. This helps prevent any ink from running through to the piece of garment underneath.

· Chances are it’s gone through to the other side of the fabric, so after cleaning the top of the garment, make sure to work on the back as well before laundering as usual. Some prefer working on the underside first, then the top.

· You can use a soft toothbrush to “scrub” the spot a bit with the chosen treatment, but make sure you don’t scrub so hard that you permanently damage the garment’s fibers.

· Be careful with any method you choose, test a small area first to make sure the formula won’t damage the garment.

· If you’re finding that one method is not giving you the desired results and wish to switch to another, make sure to thoroughly rinse and wash out (by hand) the residue from the first treatment before moving onto the next. Always use cool water, not hot since the heat can set the mark.

· If it’s carpet you’re working with, these should work too. Just make sure to test first.

Recipe #1

1 TBS Vinegar

1 TBS Milk

1 tsp Borax

1 tsp Lemon Juice

Mix together all the ingredients then apply to spot, leave for about 10 minutes. Dampen a sponge with cool water then dab at it until it’s gone.

Recipe #2

Hairspray

Spray hairspray over it until it’s well saturated. Wait 30 minutes then dab at it with a sponge first soaked in cool water. You may have to soak it in hairspray a couple times.

Recipe #3

Fingernail Polish Remover (plain, unscented)

Test a small unnoticeable area of the garment first before using. This could discolor some fabrics. The method is the same as above, saturate the area then dab at it with a cool, wet sponge.

Recipe #4

Toothpaste (Plain paste, not gel, no bleach)

Place a small amount of cream toothpaste directly on the ink stain.

Rub the fabric together, applying pressure as you do so, and work the toothpaste into the ink.

Rinse the clothing under cool water to remove the stain. Repeat the process until all of the pen ink has been removed and then launder as usual.

Recipe #5

Vinegar (Regular White Household)

Pour a teaspoon of vinegar directly on top and allow resting for about 10 minutes. Then dab a drop or two of liquid dish detergent onto the area. Rub it in gently with your fingers. Leave to rest for about 5 minutes. Rinse under cool water, gently rubbing the soap into the fabric while the water rinses the area.

Recipe #6

Shaving Cream

This needs to be the foaming shaving cream, not the gel. Spray a bit of the foam on top, wait 30 minutes, then run under cool water while gently rubbing with your fingers

Recipe #7

Buttermilk

Let the item soak in Buttermilk for 24 hours, then rinse under cool water with a bit of liquid hand soap. If that hasn’t gotten rid of it, soak in Buttermilk again and repeat the process.

Success!

After you have successfully lifted out the stain, rinse the item very well in cool water to completely wash away all traces of the treatment you used. Then launder the garment as you normally would.

Sources:

ebay.com

spotremoval.coit.com

ehow.com

tipnut.com

Other links:

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