How to Get Pen Stains out of Clothing

Co-authored by NW Maids and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: November 17, 2020 References

It’s frustrating when you discover a fresh pen stain on your favorite blouse or brand new pair of pants. The good news is that although removing pen stains is tough, it’s not impossible. The key is to act quickly, avoid rubbing the stain in more, and not to put your stained garment in the dryer. By following these rules, and applying a stain remover like rubbing alcohol or detergent, you can have your clothes looking clean and new again.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a Stain Remover

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Look in the laundry aisle at your local grocery store or shopping center and see if you can find a stain remover that says something like “removes ink stains” or “eliminates pen stains” on it.
Try to lift as much of the ink stain as you can using just the cloth. ^{[1]
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If the stain remover you’re using comes in a spray bottle, spray it directly on the stain. If you’re using a stain-removing pen, draw over the surface of the stain with the tip of the pen until the entire stain is covered with the stain remover. ^{[2]
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NW Maids
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NW Maids is a House Cleaning Service based in Seattle, Washington. NW Maids has been active since 2013 with a mission to improve the house cleaning experience. The team offers recurring main services, home and apartment cleaning, deep cleaning, and move-in-and-out cleaning services.

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Try a Tide Pen for a quick fix. Ilya Ornatov, the founder and owner of NW Maids, says: "You can use a Tide Pen or even rubbing alcohol to remove ink stains. Soak the stain with the Tide Pen and then place the clothes in the laundry on a normal cycle. "
Read the instructions that came with the stain remover to see how long you should leave it on the garment. If you’re not sure, leave it on for about ten minutes. ^{[3]
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You should begin to notice more of the ink transferring from the stained garment to the cloth. This is a sign that the stain remover is working. ^{[4]
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This will prevent the ink from transferring to other clothes in the wash. Wash the stained garment on the same setting you normally would. ^{[5]
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If it didn't, repeat the process, starting with applying the stain remover to the stain. ^{[6]
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Never put stained clothing in the dryer, as the heat will set the stain and make it much harder to remove.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Rubbing Alcohol

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You can find rubbing alcohol at your local drugstore or pharmacy. ^{[7]
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2
Apply the rubbing alcohol to the stain using a cloth or cotton ball. Gently dab it on and let it sit for two minutes. ^{[8]
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- Never rub anything into a pen stain, as rubbing may cause the stain to sink in and spread more. Always dab onto a stain instead.
Apply pressure with your hand to encourage more of the ink to lift off the stained garment. Periodically check the cloth for ink to see if the rubbing alcohol is working. You should start to see some of the ink transferring from the stained garment onto the cloth. ^{[9]
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Make sure you've lifted all of the ink you can using the cloth. ^{[10]
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You can do this by hand in the sink with detergent or by using a machine. Once the garment’s been washed, check to see if the stain is gone. ^{[11]
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Keep trying to lift more and more of the ink off the garment using rubbing alcohol and a cloth. If the rubbing alcohol stops working, you may need to try a different method to remove the stain. ^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Glycerin

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You can find liquid glycerin at your local drugstore or pharmacy. ^{[13]
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Dab it onto the stained garment so the entire stain is covered, and let it set. ^{[14]
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Mix the detergent and water together in the bowl. ^{[15]
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Gently rub the surface of the stain using the cotton swab to help the detergent mixture lather. ^{[16]
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Check to see if the stain is gone after the garment is finished washing. If the stain is still there, repeat the process. ^{[17]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Hairspray

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Avoid hairsprays with added perfumes, oils, or conditioners, as they can stain and damage clothing. Check the ingredients list on the bottle before using a hairspray. ^{[18]
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This will prevent the hairspray from drying out on the stain. ^{[19]
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Hold the hairspray about 2 inches (5 cm) from the stain while you're spraying. Make sure the stain is completely soaked with hairspray. ^{[20]
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Use a toothbrush for smaller stains. ^{[21]
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Check to see if the pen stain is gone before you put the garment in the dryer. If the stain is still there, apply more hairspray to the stain or try using a different stain remover.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I get ink stains out of clothes that have been in the dryer?

Community Answer

It's still possible to remove an ink stain that has been set in the dryer, but it might take longer. Start with a store-bought stain remover, as they will be the most effective. If you use rubbing alcohol, glycerin, or hairspray, you may need to repeat the process several times before the stain is completely removed.

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Question

Does the material of the clothing matter?

Community Answer

Yes, some materials are harder to work with than others. If you're trying to remove a stain from a delicate fabric - like silk - look for a stain remover at the store that's designed for delicate clothing. Also, be careful using hairspray or rubbing alcohol on delicate fabrics as they could cause color bleeding or other damage.

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Question

How can I get blue pen stains out of a cream colored hoodie?

Community Answer

You would still follow the same instructions listed above. However, you may want to spray it with extra spot treatment as soon as you can, so that it does not have a chance to really set in deep.

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Tips

Always test a stain remover on a small, non-visible portion of your garment before you apply it to a stain. ^{[22]
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Never try to rub away a stain. Rubbing will push stains further into the fabric and make them harder to remove. ^{[23]
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The sooner you try to remove a stain, the easier it will be to get it out. Avoid letting stains set in for a long period of time. ^{[24]
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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Get hair spray (not gel) and spritz it on the clothing, table, skin, and let it sit for 2 minutes. Then, rinse it with warm water.
Try using salt, hand sanitizer, and dish soap with sandpaper or something rough to get out the ink stain.

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Things You'll Need

Stain remover
Cloth
Rubbing alcohol
Liquid glycerin
Scrub brush
Hairspray
Laundry detergent
Cotton swab
Washing machine

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How to Get Pen Stains out of Clothing

Steps

Using a Stain Remover

Using Rubbing Alcohol

Using Glycerin

Using Hairspray

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Tips from our Readers

Things You'll Need

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