Remove Ink Stains from Jeans

Everyone has a favorite pair of jeans. That sinking feeling when you get an ink stain on your best pair doesn’t mean that you’ll have to retire the great look. Ink stains on jeans can be easily removed allowing you to rock your favorite pair another day. The sooner you are able to treat the stain the easier it is to remove, but even stains that are days old can still be taken care of.

Steps

Cleaning with Rubbing Alcohol or Hairspray

  1. Place a clean white towel inside the jeans under the stain. Using a white towel will ensure that no additional color will be transferred to the fabric during the stain removal. The towel placed inside the jeans will prevent the ink from spreading to other areas of the jeans.[1]
  2. Pour a small amount of 90% isopropyl alcohol or spray the hairspray directly on the stain. For small stains, the alcohol can be applied with a cotton ball or cotton swab.[2]Be careful to pour the alcohol slowly and just on the ink so the stain doesn’t bleed and spread.
  3. Blot the stain with a clean absorbent cloth or cotton ball. Each time you blot use a clean cotton ball or a new spot on the cloth as the ink will be drawn out of the jeans with the alcohol or hairspray.[3]
  4. Rinse the jeans with cold water to remove the alcohol or hairspray after the ink is no longer visible. Be sure to use cold water as hot water may set any remaining ink and make the stain much harder to remove.
  5. Launder the jeans in cold water in a washing machine. Check to be sure that all of the ink is gone before drying the jeans because the heat from the dryer will make the stain set in. If any ink remains repeat the process of blotting with alcohol and wash the jeans again.

Removing Ink with Commercial Stain Remover

  1. Test the stain remover in a discreet location, such as inside the waistline, to ensure that the jeans won't lose their color. Prior to using any stain removal product on fabric it is a good idea to make sure that you won't bleach or discolor the fabric with the stain remover. The inner waistband or a rolled cuff are good places to test that aren't seen by others.
  2. Apply a commercial stain remover to the stain. Depending on the type of ink that you are removing from your jeans different stain removers may have more success. One of these stain removers should help get the ink out of your jeans[4]:
    • Rub on stain sticks
    • Spray on pre-wash stain removers
    • Oxygen bleach cleaners
  3. Give the enzymes in the stain remover time to work on the ink. Read the label directions on your stain remover and wait the designated time prior to washing the jeans according to the care instructions on the label.

Removing Ink Stains Using Vinegar

  1. Mix a solution of vinegar and water using a 1:1 ratio. Make sure the water is cool and not hot. Heat will set the stain making it much more difficult to remove.
  2. Soak the stain in the vinegar solution for at least 30 minutes to fully saturate the stain. Place the portion of the jeans that contains the stain in the vinegar solution. The jeans will absorb the water and vinegar and may wick the liquid onto other surfaces. You may want to place a towel under the vinegar and water solution and under the jeans.[5]
  3. Make a paste of baking soda and water. Mix 3 parts of baking soda with 1 part water. The paste will be thick.
  4. Rub the paste into the stain using an old toothbrush. Apply the paste gently and rub it into the stain using a circular motion. Allow the baking soda paste to sit on the stain.[6]
  5. Gently rub the stain with a toothbrush to work the baking soda into the fabric and remove the ink. Rinse the toothbrush in a clean vinegar solution while cleaning the jeans.
  6. Rinse the jeans in cold water and check to make sure the stain is gone. If the stain remains try spot treating with commercial stain treatment and launder the jeans in a washing machine.

Washing Jeans After a Spot Treatment

  1. Remove as much ink as possible using alcohol, a stain remover, or vinegar. Follow the directions listed above to get the majority of the ink out.
  2. Wash the jeans separately with detergent and cold water. It is best to wash the jeans by themselves so the ink does not transfer to any other clothing items during the wash cycle.
  3. Check to make sure the spot is gone before drying the jeans. If any ink remains, re-treat the spot with a commercial stain stick or spray on spot treatment. Only dry the jeans once the ink stain has been completely removed.

Tips

  • Test a hidden area of the jeans like inside the cuff to be sure you don’t bleach the jeans and cause further staining.
  • If the rubbing alcohol method doesn’t work at first, try repeating the process with the jeans inside out to draw the stain out of the other side of the jeans.
  • Don’t soak jeans in hot water, or dry your jeans before doing stain removal. Heat will set in the stain and make it much harder to remove

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/remove-ink-stain.html
  2. ↑ http://housekeeping.about.com/od/stainremoval/a/inkstains.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/how-to-remove-ink-stains/
  4. ↑ http://housekeeping.about.com/od/productreviews/tp/stainremovers.htm
  5. ↑ http://frugalliving.about.com/od/colthing/tp/Vinegar_Laundry_Stain_Remover.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.art-is-fun.com/remove-ink-stains/

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