How many times has it happened that you accidentally grazed your palms while writing and ended up with nasty ink marks on your sofa? Or maybe your overexcited painter child mistook the couch for an art canvas? If this sounds familiar to you, then you are in the right place.

Accidents can happen, no matter how careful we are. With any ink stain, speed is the key. The faster you effectively clean it, the better the result. In this article, we bring you a few handy tips on how to get rid of Ink Stains effectively from fabric and furniture.

How to get rid of ink marks from furniture

Your ink exploded, and now your favourite fabric couches are stained! Here’s what you can do:

• Add one tablespoon each of vinegar and a gentle dishwashing liquid to lukewarm water,
• Dab the ink stain with a detergent solution, soaked cloth and then follow this up by blotting with another dry cloth unless the stain is gone.
• Give the affected area another swipe with clean water and leave it out to dry naturally.

This method is very effective for minor ink stains. However, if a larger area is affected or the stain does not go away with detergent, you can try rubbing alcohol. Now, rubbing alcohol can sometimes pull out colour from some lounge fabrics. Therefore we advise you to test the drink in an inconspicuous area that cannot be seen easily. Then, if everything’s clear, follow these steps:

• First, apply some rubbing alcohol on a clean white cloth.
• Gently blot the stain with the cloth. Take care not to rub or press too hard since this can push the stains further into the sofa’s natural fibres.
• Use more alcohol if needed. Alcohol can break down oils present in permanent markers.
• Keep blotting unless the stain fades away. Now, rinse with clean water and then dry with a clean towel.

If this method does not give you the desired results, you can repeat this method with the help of a non-acetone based transparent nail polish. However, make sure to test it out on a hidden area before directly using it.

A lot of times, ink can accidentally spill on painted surfaces too. So what do you do in those cases?

A lot of people say that insect repellants can help remove ink stains from painted surfaces. Your regular hair spray is another way to remove those nasty ink trails.

How to remove ink stains from wood furniture

Spilling ink on your favourite wooden table/cabinet can be a nightmare. In addition to the apparent mess, ink stains are tough to remove from wooden surfaces if they have already penetrated the wooden finish. Here are a few methods you can try to get that pesky stain off your wooden valuables.

Dishwash liquid

Let’s start with the essential ingredient. You can use this method to remove fresh stains. Dishwashing liquids have properties that break down the fats in ink stains and prevent them from penetrating the wood finish. Here’s what you can do:

• In a small bowl, take half a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and add five tablespoons of warm water to it. Stir this mixture unless it foams.
• Test the finish of your wooden furniture. Rub this foaming solution on a small inconspicuous part of the wooden item. If it destroys the finish, stop right away. If the finish remains unhindered, continue to the next step.
• Take a clean cloth and wipe it in the foamy solution you just prepared.
• Rub the cloth gently over the stained area. Clean the soap off with another damp cloth and wipe it off with a dry cloth.
• If the stain is still there, you can use ultra-fine steel wool. Rub the stained area gently with this. Now, a little bit of the wooden finish might come off. That’s why it is advisable to be as gentle as possible.

Baking Soda

Baking soda acts as an abrasive when mixed with water. Fill half a tumbler with water and add baking soda little by little. Continue doing this until you get a thick paste. Now spread this paste evenly over the stained area. Make sure that you have covered the ink trail fully. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes, and then start removing the paste with a soft cloth dampened with water. Repeat this process until the stain disappears.

Kindly note, that large stains might need a few repeats of this process. Once the ink is completely gone, wipe off the surface with a dry cloth.

White spirit

This is a substitute for turpentine, and you can easily find this in any DIY store. Before applying directly, you can soak a cotton ball in white spirit and apply it on any hidden area to check for damage.

Once you get the green signal, soak a rag in white spirit and gently rub on the affected area. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth. If the ink stain persists, follow the following steps:

• Take ultra-thin steel wool and moisten a part of it with white spirit.
• Gently rub the affected area with this moist steel wool.
• Make sure to follow the grain of the wood as you are sanding.
• Rub gently and do not overdo it. Try to remove as little finish as possible.
• Now take a clean cloth and wipe it down with a clean cloth to remove spirit and dust.
• You can protect the finish by applying wax or polish soon after.

A Guide on How to Remove Ballpoint Stains from clothes

The good news is that ballpoint ink stains are the easiest to clean. Here’s how:

• Take a paper towel and place it just underneath the stained area.
• Sponge the affected area with rubbing alcohol.
• You can either use a dropper to apply to the stain directly.
• For a more prominent stain, pour the alcohol into a small dish and soak the affected area for 15 minutes.
• Ink will naturally dissolve in contact with the alcohol.
• Repeat this process unless no more ink is released from the fabric.
• Follow up by rinsing with cold water, applying a pre-wash stain remover and washing the cloth in hot water.
• Make sure the ink is completely gone before you toss the clothes in the dryer.

Wrapping up

Accidents are inevitable in our busy lives. What matters most is how prepared we are to deal with such mishaps. Lack of knowledge about the correct procedures can burden you more. We hope these tips mentioned above on how to get rid of ink stains will help you manage mishaps better.