Ink Stains on Shirt

Updated on October 15, 2008
D.H. asks from Trenton, MI
20 answers

I'm sure this has been asked along the way, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. I'm babysitting my 21 month old grandson and he was drawing with an ink pen. All of a sudden I noticed that the pen was leaking! I was able to just wipe off the ink (at least almost all of it) from his skin, but there's also ink on his shirt. It's 100% cotton, if that makes a difference. I feel bad that the shirt may be ruined. I'm sure there's something out there to get the ink out, but I don't want to put anything on it without some advice so I don't ruin it. Any advice would be great!

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I've always been good at getting stains out but have never had to get ink out.
I've tried the alcohol, rubbing with a toothbrush, then some Dawn dishsoap. Almost all of the ink has come out, but I think I need to do this routine a couple more times. I haven't washed it in the washer yet, I've only let it dry on the counter by itself.
Thanks again!

Featured Answers

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K.N.

answers from Grand Rapids on

If you have not already gotten it wet, hair spray will get it out. I have used this method A LOT on things. Water however will set the ink into the material.

Good Luck!

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A.O.

answers from Kalamazoo on

You just want to spray the ink stain with hair spray before you wash it. The cheaper the hair spray, the better (aquanet, rave, etc.). Good luck!

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M.V.

answers from Detroit on

My husband left a pen in his NEW work slacks and I washed an entire load of his work clothes and dried them not knowing about the pen. Needless to say I thought I had ruined an entire new work wardrobe AND my dryer because everything was covered in pen!! I got online and found that if you soak the shirt overnight (or at least 8 hours) in a double scoop of OxyClean and then wash as usual that should do the trick. It worked for me, I got the pen out of ALL of his clothes!! Hope this helps!

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

If it's ball point pen, hairspray does the trick.

K.H.

answers from Detroit on

Hairspray!

When I was in Middle School it was "cool" to draw on your jeans and my mom always used hairspray to get it out. Just spray it like hell, throw it in the washer with a good detergent and it should go away pretty easy.

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A.N.

answers from Detroit on

soak the stain in hairspray

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C.W.

answers from Detroit on

Donnna,
I heard this little tip awhile back and used it when my little blessings wrote on my couch and pillows. It worked like a charm. You spray the ink with aresol hairspray and let it dry. Then you wash it in the washing machine like normal. I heard this works best if you haven't already washed and DRYED the article of clothing. Good Luck :)
C.

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D.D.

answers from Detroit on

hairspray works great - spray good then wash.

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T.K.

answers from Lansing on

Rubbing Alcohol! Works like a charm. It's the ingredient in hairspray that makes it work. So skip to the source and it will come out like magic.

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P.R.

answers from Detroit on

Hairspray works on ink!

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L.C.

answers from Grand Rapids on

D. H.,

A product I used is available in our area dollar stores so that is where I would look if I were you. It is called "Greased Lightning" and even gets out mildew so I would think it would also take out ink. Saturate the ink spots thoroughly and scrub in with the material against itself or a toothbrush. Let it set for a couple of days. If this does not get all of it out the first time, repeat the process before it ever goes into the dryer. You don't want to set the stain in even more by placing it into a hot dryer. This product has taken blood and grass stains out of clothing that I thought I would have to throw away and you could not even tell the stains had been there. Some stain removal products leave a shadow of the stain, but I don't recall seeing that with anything I have used it on. It even takes out mildew if it has not been put into the dryer.

L. C.

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L.U.

answers from Lansing on

use hair spray on the stains....cheap old-fashioned like Aqua-net, not a gel-spray. I keep it around just for ink stains.Saturate the stains with the spray, then work it through with your fingers, then rinse.
L.

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D.F.

answers from Detroit on

Ink is a hard one but can be done.
Put towel or cloth under the article with the ink on it.
Pour rubbing alcohol on it then blot it.
You will notice that the ink will come off a little at a time.

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M.L.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Spray hairspray on the stain and then wash, check the stain before putting it in the dryer to make sure the stain is completely out. If the stain is really bad you may need to repeat with hairspray and wash again. (Aqua Net hairspray works for me)
ML

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Put an old towel down on your table and lay the shirt on top. Flush stain with lots of water. This will dilute the stain on the shirt and the towel will absorb it. I use dawn dishsoap as a stain remover and it gets almost everything out. I use a toothbrush to scrub in the soap and then flush with water.

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L.G.

answers from Detroit on

hairspray gets out ink. just spray it on, dab it a little, and then spray more to saturate the area. can't make any promises, i've never had a really bad ink stain, but when i've accidently brushed a pen on my shirt or pants at work,it works. somethign with the alcohol in it.

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L.N.

answers from Benton Harbor on

Everyone will tell you hairspray...which works well but it's the alcohol in it that cuts the ink. Dab some on, you'll see the ink start to run...then wash as usual. It may take a couple of tries...but don't dry it until the stain is gone. BTW...if it's gel ink, nothing will take it out!

~L.

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M.A.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I haven't tried the hairspray or rubbing alcohol. What I use for tough stains is Goo Gone. You'll find it at Meijer's where the laundry supplies are (baskets, hangers etc.). You may want to have some at home for any other stains in addition to ink. It works great and doesn't harm the fabric. I won't use anything else!

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K.S.

answers from Detroit on

Before you wash or anything, spray liberally with hair spray. May need to rub the clothing together with the hair spray on a bit. Do not be afraid to use lots of hair spray. This really works! I had a white sweatshirt with ink all over the back and my grandmother told me about the hair spray. It came out. Good luck.

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T.

answers from Detroit on

Was gonna say my son just wrote on his khaki pants with ink and hairspray took it out. I sprayed it.......let it sit a few and it started to run then rinsed it. It will come out

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