How To Get Pen Ink Out Of Jeans

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It's frustrating when you discover a fresh pen stain on your favorite blouse or brand new pair of pants. The good news is that although removing pen stains is tough, it's not impossible. The key is to act quickly, avoid rubbing the stain in more, and not to put your stained garment in the dryer. By following these rules, and applying a stain remover like rubbing alcohol or detergent, you can have your clothes looking clean and new again.

1

Buy a stain remover meant for ink stains. Look in the laundry aisle at your local grocery store or shopping center and see if you can find a stain remover that says something like "removes ink stains" or "eliminates pen stains" on it.
2

Blot the ink stain using a damp cloth before you apply the stain remover. Try to lift as much of the ink stain as you can using just the cloth.^[1]
3

Apply the stain remover to the pen stain. If the stain remover you're using comes in a spray bottle, spray it directly on the stain. If you're using a stain-removing pen, draw over the surface of the stain with the tip of the pen until the entire stain is covered with the stain remover.^[2]

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Ilya Ornatov is the Founder and Owner of NW Maids, a cleaning service in Seattle, Washington. Ilya founded NW Maids in 2014, with an emphasis on upfront pricing, easy online booking, and thorough cleaning services.

Ilya Ornatov
House Cleaning Professional

Try a Tide Pen for a quick fix. Ilya Ornatov, the founder and owner of NW Maids, says: "You can use a Tide Pen or even rubbing alcohol to remove ink stains. Soak the stain with the Tide Pen and then place the clothes in the laundry on a normal cycle."
4

Let the stain remover set into the stain. Read the instructions that came with the stain remover to see how long you should leave it on the garment. If you're not sure, leave it on for about ten minutes.^[3]
5

Blot the stain using a cloth. You should begin to notice more of the ink transferring from the stained garment to the cloth. This is a sign that the stain remover is working.^[4]
6

Put the stained garment in the washing machine by itself. This will prevent the ink from transferring to other clothes in the wash. Wash the stained garment on the same setting you normally would.^[5]
7

Check to see if the pen stain came out in the wash. If it didn't, repeat the process, starting with applying the stain remover to the stain.^[6]
8

Make sure the garment is stain-free before you dry it. Never put stained clothing in the dryer, as the heat will set the stain and make it much harder to remove.

1

Use isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol. You can find rubbing alcohol at your local drugstore or pharmacy.^[7]
2
Apply the rubbing alcohol to the stain using a cloth or cotton ball. Gently dab it on and let it sit for two minutes.^[8]
- Never rub anything into a pen stain, as rubbing may cause the stain to sink in and spread more. Always dab onto a stain instead.
3

Use a damp cloth to blot the ink stain repeatedly. Apply pressure with your hand to encourage more of the ink to lift off the stained garment. Periodically check the cloth for ink to see if the rubbing alcohol is working. You should start to see some of the ink transferring from the stained garment onto the cloth.^[9]
4

Rinse the garment under cold water. Make sure you've lifted all of the ink you can using the cloth.^[10]
5

Wash the garment in hot water. You can do this by hand in the sink with detergent or by using a machine. Once the garment's been washed, check to see if the stain is gone.^[11]
6

Repeat the process if the stain is still there. Keep trying to lift more and more of the ink off the garment using rubbing alcohol and a cloth. If the rubbing alcohol stops working, you may need to try a different method to remove the stain.^[12]

1

Get a bottle of pure, liquid glycerin. You can find liquid glycerin at your local drugstore or pharmacy.^[13]
2

Apply the glycerin to the ink stain using a cotton swab. Dab it onto the stained garment so the entire stain is covered, and let it set.^[14]
3

Add a few drops of laundry detergent to a bowl of water. Mix the detergent and water together in the bowl.^[15]
4

Apply the detergent mixture to the stain using a cotton swab. Gently rub the surface of the stain using the cotton swab to help the detergent mixture lather.^[16]
5

Machine wash the stained garment with cold water. Check to see if the stain is gone after the garment is finished washing. If the stain is still there, repeat the process.^[17]

1

Use hairspray that contains alcohol. Avoid hairsprays with added perfumes, oils, or conditioners, as they can stain and damage clothing. Check the ingredients list on the bottle before using a hairspray.^[18]
2

Dampen the ink stain with a wet cloth or sponge. This will prevent the hairspray from drying out on the stain.^[19]
3

Spray the ink stain with the hairspray. Hold the hairspray about 2 inches (5 cm) from the stain while you're spraying. Make sure the stain is completely soaked with hairspray.^[20]
4

Scrub the hairspray into the ink stain using a scrub brush. Use a toothbrush for smaller stains.^[21]
5

Wash the stained garment on its regular setting. Check to see if the pen stain is gone before you put the garment in the dryer. If the stain is still there, apply more hairspray to the stain or try using a different stain remover.

Add New Question

Question

How do I get ink stains out of clothes that have been in the dryer?

It's still possible to remove an ink stain that has been set in the dryer, but it might take longer. Start with a store-bought stain remover, as they will be the most effective. If you use rubbing alcohol, glycerin, or hairspray, you may need to repeat the process several times before the stain is completely removed.
Question

Does the material of the clothing matter?

Yes, some materials are harder to work with than others. If you're trying to remove a stain from a delicate fabric - like silk - look for a stain remover at the store that's designed for delicate clothing. Also, be careful using hairspray or rubbing alcohol on delicate fabrics as they could cause color bleeding or other damage.
Question

How can I get blue pen stains out of a cream colored hoodie?

You would still follow the same instructions listed above. However, you may want to spray it with extra spot treatment as soon as you can, so that it does not have a chance to really set in deep.
Question

How do I get red ink out of a carpet?

Kim Arundale

Community Answer

The same methods described above can be used on carpet, though if you have pets or small children, be wary of what chemicals you are using. It also depends on the type of ink. Printer ink, for example, is much more difficult to get out of carpet and may require professional stain removers.
Question

How can I get blue pen stains out of tan shorts?

The quick and easy stain removal solution is hairspray. First, spray hairspray directly on ink stain. Let it air dry. Then wash and dry, as usual.

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Always test a stain remover on a small, non-visible portion of your garment before you apply it to a stain.^[22]
Never try to rub away a stain. Rubbing will push stains further into the fabric and make them harder to remove.^[23]
The sooner you try to remove a stain, the easier it will be to get it out. Avoid letting stains set in for a long period of time.^[24]

Things You'll Need

Stain remover
Cloth
Rubbing alcohol
Liquid glycerin
Scrub brush
Hairspray
Laundry detergent
Cotton swab
Washing machine

About This Article

Article SummaryX

To get a pen stain out of clothing, you can use rubbing alcohol. First, place a paper towel directly under the stain so it doesn't spread to any other parts of your clothing when you're working on it. Then, pour some rubbing alcohol onto the stain. The alcohol will help break down the oils in the ink. Blot the stain with a clean cloth until no more ink is transferring off of the fabric, then rinse the stain with cold water. Apply a pre-wash stain treatment and machine wash your clothing using hot water. If the ink's not fully gone, repeat the process. Remember not to dry your clothing in the dryer until the stain is completely removed or you could cause it to set. For ways to remove ink stains without alcohol, read on!

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