It is extremely frustrating to find that a leaky pen has stained your clothing, yet it’s an accident that will happen to most of us sooner or later. We may be tempted to throw the item away, or at least tear it up for cleaning rags, but there are several things to try first to remove the stain from your clothes.
Items you will need
Milk
Bowl (big enough to contain stained part of fabric)
Rubbing alcohol, acetone, vodka or turpentine
Clean absorbent rags
Hairspray
Liquid laundry detergent
Household ammonia
Lemon juice
Put the stained section of the garment into the bowl. Pour in enough milk to cover the stain and swish the fabric through the liquid. When the milk becomes inky, change it. Repeat until the stain is gone.
Spray hairspray directly onto the ink stain. Rinse the spot with cool water. Repeat until the stain is gone.
Stretch the fabric containing the stain over a folded-up rag. Soak a section of another rag with the solvent you’ve chosen (alcohol, acetone, vodka or turpentine). Blot the stain with the soaked rag. Exchange the rags for fresh ones as the ink transfers itself to them. Rinse the stain with cool water when you exchange the rags. Repeat until the stain is gone.
Apply liquid laundry detergent to the back of the stain and rinse under cool running water. If ink remains, mix a solution of equal parts household ammonia, lemon juice and water. Soak a rag in the solution and dab it on the stain, rinsing well between applications. Repeat until the stain is gone.
Once the ink has been entirely removed, launder the garment as usual in the hottest water appropriate for the fabric.
Tips
As a last resort, try taking the stained item to your dry-cleaner. They may not be able to guarantee the result but they can often remove a stain that you haven’t been able to budge.
Check the garment’s attached care label for any special instructions.
Warning
Do not send the article of clothing through the dryer until you are sure all of the ink is gone. The heat from the dryer may set the stain permanently.
Use solvents with care when young children are present.
