How to Remove Pen Ink Stains

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In essence, marker ink is an ink stain that is difficult to remove because it is used for permanent marking. If marker ink gets on surfaces in your home, leather, or fabric, you can remove it in several ways. While not guaranteed to clean like new, these methods are well worth a try if you find it wasteful to throw things away.

Table of Contents

Removes marker ink on hard, non-porous surfaces

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Use alcohol. Find some brandy, such as 50.5% bourbon. Any brandy with alcohol above 40% will do, but Isopropyl alcohol is better. Dab alcohol on a clean cloth and rub it on the ink stain. ^{[1] X Research Source <i>Stain Removal</i>, p. 24, (2009), ISBN 978-1-84397-443-7}

Use a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda. Mix baking soda and toothpaste in a 1:1 ratio in a small cup. Apply the mixture directly to the ink stain and leave it on for a few minutes. Use a slightly damp clean cloth to apply the mixture to the ink stain in a circular motion. Although it takes a bit of scrubbing, the ink will fade.

Use the “miracle eraser” Magic Eraser. Magic Eraser is a special cleaning pad used to remove stains on a variety of surfaces. You just need to moisten the eraser and then rub it on the marker ink.

Use WD-40 oil. WD-40 is a commercial cleaning product with a variety of uses. You just need to spray a little WD-40 oil directly on the marker ink and then use a clean towel to rub it.

Use a marker to write on the board. Whiteboard markers can be used to remove stains on many surfaces and work extremely well on whiteboards. The reason is because marker pens contain non-polar solvents. You just need to paint a marker on the marker ink and then wipe it away. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Use a pencil eraser. In some situations, you can simply use a pencil eraser to remove the marker ink.

Use sunscreen. Some say sunscreen is an effective tool for removing marker ink from non-porous surfaces. Just spray or dab some sunscreen on the ink stain and rub it away with a clean towel.

Use nail polish remover. Dip a clean cloth in Acetone nail polish remover and rub it over the marker ink.

Remove marker ink stains from fabric

Use bleach to remove marker ink from white fabrics. Mix a small amount of bleach in the water and then dip the ink-stained cloth into the mixture. The ink will fade immediately or need to soak for a few minutes.

If you have to soak, you’ll need to monitor to make sure the bleach doesn’t dissolve the fibers.
After the ink stain disappears, immediately wash the fabric as usual.

Use a mixture of vinegar, milk, borax, and lemon juice for satin. Satin responds relatively well to a mixture consisting of 1 tablespoon of milk, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of fenugreek, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. ^{[3] X Research Source Angela Martin, <i>Natural Stain Remover</i>, p. 101, (2009), ISBN 978-1-74110-8323}

Mix the mixture in a small cup and apply it directly to the ink stain and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Use a clean, damp sponge to dab the mixture onto the fabric (do not rub) until the ink stains disappear.

Use isopropyl alcohol or acetone for tough fabrics. A little isopropyl alcohol or acetone can be used to remove ink stains on coarser fabrics such as towels or tablecloths. Just use a clean cotton ball dipped in alcohol or acetone and dab it on the ink stain until it comes out clean. Wash towels immediately.

Use citrus juice on casual clothes. Citrus juice, such as lemon juice, can be used to remove marker ink from most clothes without fear of stains or bleaching. You just need to dab a little fresh fruit juice on the ink stain and then use a cotton ball or clean towel to gently blot until the ink stain disappears.

For more delicate fabrics, it is recommended to dilute citrus juice with water in a 1:1 ratio. Wash clothes immediately after removing ink stains.

Apply isopropyl alcohol or hairspray to the stain on the carpet. Pour isopropyl alcohol so the towel is clean. Dab the towel over the ink stain on the carpet. As with any carpet stain, you shouldn’t rub it, which will spread the ink and weaken the fabric. Lightly dab until the ink fades. ^{[4] X Research Source <i>Stain Removal</i>, p. 24, (2009), ISBN 978-1-84397-443-7}

As an alternative, you can use a hairspray to spray the stain and blot with a clean towel until the ink fades.
After the ink stain has been removed (by either method), wet the carpet with a little water and then pat dry with a clean towel.

Remove the ink from the brush on the interior

Use hairspray on leather upholstery. Spray a little on a clean towel and rub the ink stain. You may need to spray more or reposition on a clean towel to completely remove the ink stain.

After the stain is gone, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe off any remaining hairspray and then apply the furniture conditioner.

Use hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol on microfiber upholstery. To remove marker ink from this material, you need to pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on a clean towel and rub it on the ink stain for about 10-15 minutes.

Next, pour some Isopropyl alcohol on another clean towel and rub it over the ink stain for 10-15 minutes.
Finally, use a new clean cloth dipped in water to wipe away any remaining ink stains. Use a dry towel to wipe off the water one last time.

Use Windex glass cleaner, isopropyl alcohol, or nail polish remover on other types of furniture covers. You can use Windex glass cleaner, isopropyl alcohol, or nail polish remover to remove marker ink from all other types of furniture upholstery by:

Pour a small amount of the cleaning product of your choice on a clean, dry towel and then dab it on the ink stain until it comes out clean. Some people think that it is best to use cloth-colored towels to cover furniture.
The cleaning product can be poured onto a new spot on the towel and continued to dab several times until the ink stain disappears. Just make sure the upholstery isn’t soaked in the cleaning product to prevent staining.
After removing the ink stain, use a clean, dry towel to absorb any remaining water on the fabric. If possible, leave the furniture outside to dry naturally.

Remove brush ink from the skin

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Use alcohol. Try isopropyl alcohol or 40-50.5-degree spirits.

Pour some alcohol on a sponge or towel. Apply alcohol to the ink-stained skin, maybe rub a little hard. The ink stays on the skin but will fade after 1-2 washes.

Advice

Try 99% isopropyl alcohol, 95% grain alcohol, acetone paint thinner, or even vegetable oil if other products are not available.
Modern kitchens or bathrooms with cabinets often have waterproofing properties, meaning that ink and cleaning solutions stick to the surface only. This does not apply to wood without a waterproofing or less modern materials. Therefore, you should test in a hidden location before using this method to remove all ink stains.
Use pine oil/white wine to remove ink stains from your skin. Pour some pine oil or white wine on a towel and gently rub the ink stain on your skin. Rinse the skin after removing the ink stain.
Stridex acne patches are very effective in removing ink stains on hard, non-porous surfaces and on skin.

Warning

Do not apply alcohol or acetone to the skin around the eyes, nose, or mouth of children, adults, or pets. Can be applied to the body, hands and feet, but not to sensitive skin and face.
Take care to avoid scrubbing too hard on young children’s skin. If the ink-stained surface has pre-existing artificial colors such as paints, dyes or lacquers, the use of acetone, oil and alcohol can be abrasive to the skin.

Steps