2 Laundry Problems

Updated on June 03, 2009
H.B. asks from Boulder, CO
32 answers

I tried spray and wash on my husband's shorts with an ink stain from a pen leaking in his pocket and my daughter's dress with a tiny bit of dry erase marker on it. After going through the wash, I realized the stains had not come out and I didn't put them in the dryer. Does anyone have any good ways to get ink out of clothes. Thanks!

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D.C.

answers from Denver on

Depending on the type of ink, believe it or not, hairspray has worked. Just spray it on the ink, and if it's going to come out, it essentially disappears. I did that with a blouse that had a small pen line, and it just evaporated. Weird, but true. You also might try contacting the company who makes the ink to see if they have any suggestions. Hope this helps!

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A.T.

answers from Provo on

spray it directly with hair spray, and rub it in and you'll see the stain disappearing. Keep spraying till it's gone, then rinse with cold water. it's amazing!

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L.B.

answers from Provo on

Carbona Ink Remover is without a doubt the best product for doing this. You can find it at JoAnn Fabric Stores.

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Y.K.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Hi H.,
I have had the same problem when washing my father-in law's shirts, he always keeps a pen in his shirt pocket. :)For the ink stain and possibly the dry erase marker, dab rubbing alcohol on them using a clean white cloth. Turn the garment inside out first so that you're pushing the stain out od the fabric rather than in. Good luck.

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M.N.

answers from Pocatello on

My mom always told me to use hairspray. Good luck! I have also been told fabulous things about KaBoom.

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D.R.

answers from Provo on

I used "la awesome" to get red ink out of my husbands shirt! you can get it at dollar tree or family dollar!
good luck

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C.C.

answers from Denver on

Hi H. - Carbona makes a really good ink stain remover. You find it in the laundry aisle in a small yellow bottle. They have other formulas as well - chewing gum, ketchup and sauce, etc.

good luck to you!

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C.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

airosol hair spray, the cheap stuff works best...aquanet or another brand like that

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K.M.

answers from Boise on

Hairspray. Douse it good and scrub with a toothbrush. Rinse and rewash. Good luck!

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T.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

You should try the stain remover Zout. It got a black stain out of my husbands pants. I use if for all stains it get it all out, even if the stain has been on the clothing for a while. You can get it pretty much anywhere.

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M.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I have dealt with pen marks many times on my kids clothes! It isn't easy to come out, but I found that Shout works the very best. I drench it in the stuff and then I make a little paste out of Biz laundry booster and rub it in. I let it sit for a few hours and then put through the wash. Hope this helps!

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K.F.

answers from Boise on

Hair spray on ink has always worked for me, but I'm not sure if already washing will affect it. I've never been able to get dry erase marker out, but you might try dry-erase cleaner (it cleans it off of the boards).

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J.K.

answers from Denver on

Hairspray works the best for getting ink out of fabric. Just spray a fair amount on the stain so that it pools there and then rub it with your fingernail until it disappears. This usually works right away for me.

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M.H.

answers from Denver on

I've had good luck using hair spray on the ink, then it comes out in the wash. Depends on the fbric too, though. I wouldn't try that on silk blends for example. I had a dry cleaner in Michigan who got lots of ink spots out of white pants before. It can be done!!!

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E.C.

answers from Denver on

spray the ink stain with hairspray. Cheap aquanet hairspray works the best.

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H.W.

answers from Provo on

As others have said, aerosol Aquanet works wonders. I've used it on year-old stains and gotten them out before. The aerosol works better than the pump spray. Not sure why, but it really works.

I don't know about the dry erase marker. Good luck!

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C.A.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My husband leaves pens in his pants all the time, ink comes out with a lot of hairspray, problem is when you use water first (ie. wash it or run it under water) it won't work...next time drown the ink in hairspray and scrub.
C.

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S.S.

answers from Denver on

The best way to get ink out is by spraying the fresh stain with hairspray, preferably aerosol. This may work after they've been washed as well. If not, take a look at the laundry aisle at the grocery store. They have tons of stain removers...all little containers that nobody ever pays attention to while they are rushing through the store.

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S.L.

answers from Boise on

Aquanet hairspray works because of the alcohol in it. Most ink (that isn't washable) is alcohol based, so alcohol dissolves it.

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G.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

After testing for color-fastness in an unobtrusive spot, try hand sanitizer rubbed in well, left a few minutes, then rinsed. The alcohol acts as a solvent, and will remove many inks (including Sharpie pen from furniture, believe it or not).

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W.L.

answers from Denver on

Try a warm water soak in Oxyclean for a full 24 hours. Oxyclean is a lifesaver!

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K.M.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hairspray. Especially the Aqua Net brand.

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S.S.

answers from Denver on

I personally use Bella Bars to get stains out of clothes now, but I have used Goo Gone & Goof Off with GREAT success in the past too. Good luck!

Have a GREAT day!

S.

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K.H.

answers from Fort Collins on

I would either try vinegar and or hydrogen proxide

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A.E.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I always use the cheap hairspray. Some say aerosol works best but I just use whatever I have on hand.

I had a stain on a shirt of my husbands that sat for weeks maybe even months and it still came out with hairspray.

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G.R.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Try Simple Green..or 409.. both are great for removing stains. I use simple green as its biodegratable and will not harm pets or people. simple green usually does not need to be full strength.. I use it in a spray bottle.
Some times my husband gets grease on his shirts and I use simple green and dawn dish soap.. with both the grease lifts off.

By the way.. Blood is removed with Hydrogen peroxide.

Hope it helps..

G.. Mom for 32 years. 2 grown girls and 3 grand kids.

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N.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Always use straight rubbing alcohol on ink stains before using anything wet, eg. spray and wash or water. It will come right off anything!

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S.W.

answers from Salt Lake City on

You need alcohol. You can have a margarita if you want, but plain ol' rubbing alcohol will help with ink stains. That's the componant in hair spray that makes it useful as a stain remover.
Put the shirt on a white towel without folding it (so if the ink starts to move you won't just move the stain around) and douse it with alcohol. Let it sit for about 30 seconds, then press and blot with another white towel, using different places of the towel (check the blotting towel each time you press the stain and use a different spot to re-blot so you're not just spreading ink stain blots around).
I saved a church shirt this way. It took two alcohol treatments with a cold wash in between, but the stain was gone.
Good luck!
P.S. Congrats on your growing family! Nothing gets out baby poo and spit up like a scoop of OxyClean in the wash. ;)

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M.G.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I did this same thing! Use some acetone nail polish remover and I used a q tip to soak it in, then just DAB, (don't rub or it will smear the ink) it until the ink comes out. Worked for me! Good luck.

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R.T.

answers from Provo on

hairspray for the ink. Also you can put the spray and wash on the stain and leave them out of the wash for as long as it takes... just let the stain remover work and keep applying. I did that for some stubborn baby poop stains on a little pair of my son's pant (white and green striped)... took the stain out completely without harming the color at all. Good luck!

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S.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Rubbing alcohol, but you really have to work it.

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P.D.

answers from Denver on

If hairspray doesn't do the trick, Oxyclean probably will. I got maroon frosting dye out of my khakis with it!

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