I’m a laundry expert – how to remove ink stains from any garment using common household items

Leaving a pen in your pocket is a small oversight that can ruin a whole load of laundry if you’re not careful.

Unfortunately, there is no universal solution to this annoying problem as it all depends on the material of your clothes.

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Fear not though, the experts at Better Homes & Gardens have done their ink stain research and put together a list of easy tips for all your laundry needs.

Ink stains can set quickly and get worse easily, so follow these cleaning tricks to save your clothes.

CANVAS AND LINEN

This cleaning method involves rubbing alcohol, so be sure to test a dab of it on an inconspicuous area of ​​the fabric.

Lay the stained area over the top of a jar or glass and hold it taut to prevent the stain from spreading.

Gently drip rubbing alcohol through the fabric.

The alcohol pulls the ink through the fabric into the glass below.

Rinse thoroughly and air dry before normal washing.

CHENILE AND CORD

Mix together 1/2 teaspoon of clear dish soap, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 1 quart of warm water.

Soak the soiled garment in this solution for 30 minutes.

Rinse and air dry.

If the stain remains, use the above method of blotting with rubbing alcohol after first doing a blot test.

COTTON

Spray the material lightly with hairspray to loosen the ink stain.

Then soak the garment in the same solution as above for 30 minutes.

Rinse with water and hang to dry.

JEANS

If the stain persists, blot the damaged area with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol.

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If you find that your denim jacket or favorite pair of jeans has fallen victim to the dreaded ink stain, don’t worry.

You should act as soon as possible by blotting up excess ink with a paper towel or cloth.

If the stain occurs along the way, treat the dried ink with a few drops of water before dabbing.

Place a clean cloth or some paper towels under your jeans and apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the stain.

Gently scrub the stain with a cotton swab or toothbrush before rinsing with cold water.

Wash your jeans cold and let them air dry after cleaning.

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POLYESTER AND NYLON

Ink can also be removed from polyester and nylon using the rubbing alcohol method.

After drying, wash the garment, using a color safe bleach if necessary and recommended on the label.

Allow it to air dry again and make sure the ink is gone before throwing it in a machine dryer.

SILK

Using a paper towel, dab the ink stain with cold water as soon as possible.

If the stain doesn’t lift, spray with hairspray and continue blotting with warm water until the stain is removed.

You can also scrub with a toothbrush in a solution of 50-50 water and white vinegar.

Rinse with cold water and pat dry.

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VELVET

Although you should read the garment’s cleaning instructions first, ink can be removed with a solution of plain dish soap, white vinegar, and warm water.

Soak for 30 minutes, rinse and hang to dry – and wipe away any remaining stains with a dab of rubbing alcohol before rinsing again.