How to Get Dry Ink Out of Clothes

You’ll need rubbing alcohol and the patience of a saint to tackle dried ink stains. Just dab the stain with alcohol-soaked paper towels – don’t rub it like you’re scrubbing a dirty pan. Apply some hand sanitizer and let it sit for fifteen minutes while you contemplate your life choices. Wash in hot water with color-safe bleach, but here’s the kicker: you might need to repeat this whole dance multiple times before that ink surrenders.

Key Takeaways

• Apply rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer directly to the dried ink stain and let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Blot the stain repeatedly with paper towels without rubbing to prevent spreading the ink further.
• For stubborn dried stains, try WD-40 or Dawn dish soap as alternative cleaning agents.
• Wash the garment in the hottest water safe for the fabric, adding color-safe bleach if possible.
• Never use the dryer until the stain is completely gone, as heat will permanently set the ink.

So you’ve got dried ink on your clothes. Maybe you’re wondering if there’s actually a way to fix this mess without turning your favorite shirt into a cleaning rag. Well, grab some rubbing alcohol and prepare for a chemistry experiment that would make your high school teacher proud.

First things first – you need to figure out what kind of ink you’re dealing with. Ballpoint? Felt-tip? Each one’s got its own personality, like stubborn relatives at Thanksgiving dinner. And before you go wild with any cleaning solution, test it on a hidden spot. Because nothing says “I’m an adult” like accidentally bleaching a hole in your pants.

Here’s where it gets interesting. You’ll need rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, and maybe some WD-40 if you’re feeling adventurous. Yes, the same stuff you use to fix squeaky doors. Don’t forget to grab some paper towels too – you’ll be going through a lot of them.

Place a towel under the stain unless you want to create matching ink art on whatever’s beneath. Then start dabbing – not rubbing – with alcohol-soaked paper towels. It’s like performing surgery, except your patient is a cotton blend.

But wait, there’s more. Hand sanitizer isn’t just for germaphobes anymore. That gel contains alcohol and thickening agents that’ll dissolve ink like nobody’s business. Squeeze some on, let it sit for fifteen minutes, and watch the magic happen. Or don’t watch. Time moves pretty slowly when you’re staring at laundry.

Feel like getting creative? Some people swear by WD-40 for old stains. Spray it on, wait five minutes, then wash it out before your clothes smell like a garage. Others recommend Dawn dish soap because apparently it’s not just for ducks covered in oil spills.

Here’s the catch though – and there’s always a catch. You might need to repeat this whole process multiple times. The ink won’t always surrender on the first attempt. Keep blotting, keep applying, keep questioning your life choices.

Just don’t throw it in the dryer until the stain’s completely gone. Heat sets ink stains permanently, like bad decisions at a tattoo parlor.

When you finally wash the garment, use the hottest water the fabric can handle. Add some color-safe bleach if you’re feeling optimistic. Check the stain before drying. Still there? Back to square one, my friend.