Remove Ink from Carpet

Sometimes the quill nib just gets away from you and all you're left with is a puddle of ink on the carpet. Fret not! There are a few methods you can try to they're all probably already under your sink or in a cabinet.

Steps

Rubbing Alcohol

  1. As soon as possible after the spill, grab a clean cloth and some rubbing alcohol. Wet a corner of the cloth with rubbing alcohol and blot the ink stain. It's imperative that you do not scrub the stain -- that will exacerbate your problem. Dab gently at it, absorbing it up into the fibers of your cloth.
    • Start at the edge and work your way to center, preventing the stain from spreading and become a larger problem. Work in a clockwise twisting motion with your rag.
  2. Dab the wet rag over the ink spot repeatedly, occasionally re-wetting the cloth with more alcohol. Get comfy, because the alcohol needs to sit on it for about 30 minutes.[1] It needs to literally eat it away, which can take time. Keep at it!
  3. To avoid damage, rinse the area with warm water and vinegar. A quarter cup of vinegar for a quart of warm water is a good ratio (that's 1:16). The rubbing alcohol may dry out your carpet, depending on its texture, so it's a good idea to give it this rinsing.
    • If the stain is gone, rinse finally with clean water and let dry. Vacuum the area if the fibers are a bit wonky.
  4. If the stain persists, cover it with shaving cream. Let it sit for 15 minutes. When the clock is up, scoop it away and blot with the aforementioned vinegar and water mixture.
    • By now, the stain should definitely be gone. Rinse it with plain water and marvel at your spotless carpet!

Lubricant

  1. Spray lubricant such as WD-40 or Triflow on the stain. Let this sit for a few minutes. Note: It is highly advised that you do a test patch on a piece of carpet out of sight first, as the lubricant might stain the carpet permanently, in which case you'll end up with a stain worse than before.
    • WD-40 seems to be a pretty safe bet though.[2] If you have a selection of lubricants to pick from, choose it.
  2. Wipe the stain down with a sponge and warm soapy water. A carpet cleaner will also work, but why waste the extra product when soap will be just fine? Massage the soap into the stain, removing both the lubricant and the ink.
  3. Rinse with warm water. Even soap can leave an unpleasant residue, so give it a rinse with clean, warm water. Be especially concerned with the edges of the stain, as that's the easiest part of it to miss.
  4. Let dry. Your carpet should be good as new! Run it through your fingers or vacuum it up to return it to its natural texture.

Detergent, Ammonia and Vinegar Solution

  1. Mix up a solution of detergent. Into 1 cup (8 oz) of water, mix in just a teaspoon (5 g) of translucent dishwashing liquid. Spray this solution onto the stain generously.
    • Dawn or Joy works very well for this step, though most dish soaps will do.[3]
  2. Blot the stain with a clean, white cloth. As with both previous methods, do not scrub the stain; that'll just set the stain further into the recesses of the carpet. Dab at it gently, in an up-and-down motion.
  3. Mix up a solution of ammonia. Just like you did with the detergent, spray on a solution of 1 tablespoon (15 g) of ammonia in 1/2 cup of water. Blot the stain with a different, clean cloth.
    • If you don't have a spray bottle on hand, try to create a makeshift one from an old hairspray bottle or body spray. If not, do it the old fashioned way and drizzle it on.
  4. Mix up a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Then what do you do? You got it -- blot with a clean cloth. The stain's virtually gone, huh? Great!
  5. Reapply the detergent solution to clean away any residue. Basically, you're giving your carpet a wash after the ammonia-ridden torture it's just been through. Otherwise, you risk damaging your carpet if those chemicals stay put.
  6. Rinse with clean water and let dry. To get all the ammonia, vinegar, and soap out of the carpet, rinse with clean water, blot it, and leave it to dry. If you come back to it and it's overly stiff, rinse it once more.
    • Run it through your fingers. How does it feel? Not perfect? Haul out the vacuum and go over it a few times -- that oughta do the trick.

Shaving Cream

  1. Spray and spread shaving cream on the stain.
  2. Rinse with a lot of water. Foam will form but that's good.
  3. Rinse. Add more water.
  4. Remove water with shop vac. The stain will be gone. If not, repeat.



Tips

  • If you routinely use ink for mechanical pens, transport them around your work area inside of a bowl or other container. This way if you do spill, you are more likely to spill in your bowl than on the carpet.
  • Some swear that an absorbent (like salt or cornstarch) placed on a brand new stain will soak it up. Leave it on for a day, come back to it, and it's gone. If you're one of faith, you can try it.[2]

Warnings

  • Any attempt to remove a stain may damage the carpet. Test any technique you use on a small, invisible area of the carpet before proceeding.
  • Do not pour the alcohol directly on the stain as this will spread the ink.
  • Make sure you do not rub the rag over the ink spot; this will only push it deeper into the carpet fibers!

Things You'll Need

Method One: Using Rubbing Alcohol

  • Clean cloths
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Vinegar
  • Warm water
  • Shaving cream (if stubborn)

Method Two: Using a Lubricant

  • WD-40 or other lubricant
  • Clean cloths
  • Sponge
  • Soapy water

Method Three: Using a Detergent, Ammonia and Vinegar Solution

  • 1 tsp liquid dish detergent
  • Vinegar
  • 1 tbsp ammonia
  • Clean cloths
  • Spray bottle(s)

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://voices.yahoo.com/how-remove-ink-stains-carpet-clothing-and-353249.html?cat=6
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.rd.com/home/9-common-products-to-remove-carpet-and-rug-stains/
  3. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/stain-removal/removing-ink-stains-from-carpet-10000000675696/index.html
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