Ink!!

Updated on November 03, 2008
M.P. asks from Rifle, CO
27 answers

Does anyone out there know if it is at all possible to get ink from a ballpoint pen out of clothes once they have been through the dryer?? My husband left a pen in his shirt pocket and I ended up washing it with a load of clothes.....the only ones ruined in the whole load were mine!! :( Two of the shirts were brand new and as you moms out there know - we don't splurge a lot on ourselves - so I would like to salvage them if I can. THANKS!!

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T.P.

answers from Denver on

Hair spray or woolite. My husband used woolite on the huge ink stain that he had, and it worked. I must caution you on the woolite because it can make colors bleed, so use a little at a time. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.B.

answers from Colorado Springs on

M., Any time I have had to get ink out of stuff I have used Krud Kutter. You can get it at most major stores (Wal-Mart, Home Depot). It get anything out of everything. Depending n the type of fabric I would try a small spot first. But if the shirt is covered.. what are you really loosing>

Good luck! I washed a dried a pack of gum last week. It happens to us all. Have a great day!
T.

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M.S.

answers from Denver on

Aquanet hairspray. Spray it on and let it sit for about 2 minutes. You should see it start to break down the ink. Then put stain stick of some sort (spray and wash works for me). It also works for crayons that get in the dryer.

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L.B.

answers from Denver on

Try hairspray. I know it work if you catch it before the dryer, but I'm not sure about after. It might work, but it's worth a try. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.O.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I haven't tried it, but my sister who is a Pediatric Nurse recommends hairspray, just spray it on before washing and it should take it out.

Cindy O.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Casper on

Believe it or not...hairspray will take the ink out of clothes. My husband is always carrying pens around in his pockets and often writes down the front of his shirt while replacing the pen in his pocket. You can use a cheap brand of hairspray. Just spray it on the ink, rub gently and wash. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Pocatello on

Hi, We use a wonderful product called De Solv It. You can find it online or even in some building supply stores. It's a great citrus based product. I love it. It works even after you've dried your clothes. Good luck. M.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.H.

answers from Boise on

I am obsessed w/my laundry and getting out stains so I have tried lots of products. I use Amodex to get ink out of clothes. My husband had taken some laundry to the laundrymat in a pinch and one of the dryers must have had a pen in it because our entire load of clothes had ink spots all over. I used the Amodex and scrubbed it a little. Most all of the items were saved. I think it may depend a little on the fabric, also. You can get Amodex online or at Office Depot on the West Coast. CVS on the East. The other reason I love Amodex is that it is "natural" (lanolin based). I have used it on my childrens faces when they decided to face paint w/a Sharpie. Took it right off. Also, used it on walls that have writing on it that the Mr. Eraser would not take off. Love it! Hope that helps. Sorry it's a little long winded.

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N.W.

answers from Denver on

M.,
Amazingly the one thing us women always have in the house can be used for more than just holding our hair in place...

HAIR SPRAY is the ink remover wonder.

Good luck.
N.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hair spray is a great stain remover. I use it to help remove hair dye from cloting and floors. I hope this helps. good luck!

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S.W.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hmmm. . . this is tough because the clothes have already been through the dryer, which sometimes cooks stains in, but here's my best suggestion that has saved many a dress shirt from major pen marks:
Put a washcloth or towel under the stain and then soak the stain with rubbing alcohol (that's the ingredient in hairspray that makes it useful for diluting some stains). Let it soak in for a minute or two. Then, using another towel or washcloth, BLOT the stain vigorously, changing the positions of the towels and folding them over frequently so if any ink is bleeding out it won't stain some other part of your clothing. Let it dry and try it again, then rinse in cold water. It might take a couple treatments and you might not get it all out, but I've had really good luck with this method.
Most commercially-prepared stain removers are great for organic stains but can't do too much for something chemical like ink. I'd take a spaghetti sauce stain over ink any day--you have my sympathy and best wishes!

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J.O.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I have used hairspray and then rub the clothes together. It took a couple of washes but it came out. Good Luck!

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K.M.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hairspray works. Spray onto stains and launder as normal.

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L.L.

answers from Missoula on

I just died my hair to a darker color and the day after I had a pink shirt on and washed my hair and while it was drying the dye had stained my shirt I was pretty bumbed, i really didn't think that it was going to come out but I sparyed it with oxyclean and soaked it clorox 2 for colors for about 2-3 hours and then started the wash before I went to bed when i woke up the shirt was clean and it loookin good. I have found that it is a great tool with my cloths and it really works like bleach on whites but it is for colors. i think it is GREAT stuff and goes really well with the oxyclean. you may have to do this a few times but I'm sure it will work, it even works on my daughters clothes when they are at there worst. Good luck

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H.R.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Aerosol hairspray works really well. I usually apply the hairspray, let it sit, then rinse and reapply if necessary.

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R.M.

answers from Provo on

Rubbing Alcohol, if that doesn't work try milk. Just soak the spot in a small bowl. Good luck!

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S.R.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Rubbing alcohol. But you have to work at it.

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A.M.

answers from Pocatello on

Try the hair spray. It really works.

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L.C.

answers from Denver on

I am not sure once it goes through the dryer but try hairspray or spray rubbing alcohol and see if that helps break it up some

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C.R.

answers from Provo on

I washed a pen with a load of my husbands dress clothes and got ink everywhere. I thought we were going to have to spend a fortune buying a new wardrobe for him. I couldn't get it out myself so I called the dry cleaners and asked if they could get the ink out. They did and the clothes look good as new.

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A.E.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I have used hairspray on ink before and it works great. I'm not sure if I have ever done if after the dryer but it's worth a try. Just spray on the hairspray on the ink blot it with a washcloth,respray if needed and rinse with water. I would then run it through the washer again.

Good Luck

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H.W.

answers from Provo on

Looks like lots of people have said hairspray and they're right. I've gotten ink out that was years old even and been through the dryer many times. The key is that it has to be aerosol - pump hairspray doesn't do it. Or at least not nearly as well. The absolute best really is Aquanet, as someone said. So Aquanet aerosol hairspray if you can still find it. Aerosol is getting harder and harder to find. But it honestly is the best for ballpoint inks. If it's a different kind of ink, like from a fountain or felt tip pen, then it won't work nearly as well.

Good luck!

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A.V.

answers from Denver on

I did the same thing and what seemed to work was to use a cheep hair spray like "Aqua Net", or wash the load again with "Murphy's oil". Neither one got the ink out completely, but well enough.

Amy

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K.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

soak them in dish soap and water, and scrub.

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J.P.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I remember a long time ago so desperate I'd try anything. Well I decided to boil the shirt, add a little bleach and a little detergent, and a little elbow grease. It worked! The shirt was white to begin with so the bleach didn't hurt it. Good luck!

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K.D.

answers from Denver on

I just recently had good success using the extra strength Shout. I can't remember exactly what they call it, but it's in a small blue spray bottle. It took a couple of washes, but it worked. Mine hadn't gone through the dryer, though. Also, Carbona makes some great products. I haven't used the ink solution, but someone recently told me it works really well. I have liked the solutions I have tried. They're usually on the top shelf in a little yellow bottle. Pretty expensive, but cheaper than new clothes. GL!

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L.B.

answers from Provo on

The only thing that I have found, including hairspray and all of other home remedies, that gets ink out of fabric is Carbona's ink remover. You can find it at JoAnn and Hancock Fabrics.

An example: My home teacher loaned me his white baseball cap during a downpour. When I got home, I put the wet cap on my table. Somehow, a red gel pen was put next to the hat, with the result that the red ink from the pen wicked through nearly the entire hat. The white hat was nearly completely red. I was sure it was ruined. As a last resort, I rinsed out the hat and put the Carbona ink remover on it and let it sit overnight. In the morning, the hat was light pink, so I rinsed it, treated it again with the ink remover, and let it sit while I was at work. When I came home, I washed out the hat, which was now white, dried it, and returned it to my home teacher, as good as new.

Note: I have no financial interest in this company. They just make the best stain removers I have ever found.

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