Q&A for How to Get Dried Ink Out of Clothes

You can try using a mix of baking soda and hot water. Scrub the paste into the stain in a circular motion using your fingers or a small bristle brush. If that does not work, try using bleach with a mix of hot water.

Unfortunately, the heat from the dryer can make it much harder to remove ink stains from fabric. If you can safely bleach the item, try pre-treating the stain with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Then, run it through the wash with hot water and about ¼ a cup of bleach. If bleach is out of the question, treat the stain directly with both alcohol-based hand sanitizer and a laundry stain remover, then wash it with hot water. Either way, let the item air dry after so you don’t set any remaining ink any further.

You may be able to lift a dried ink stain out of your clothes by rubbing the spot with a paste of baking soda and water. Use a cotton ball to dab the spot until you don’t see any more ink coming off on the cotton ball. Wipe the paste away with a clean, colorless cloth or a paper towel. When you’re done, wash the item as you normally would, then let it air dry to prevent setting any remaining ink.

White toothpaste (rather than the gel kind) may help lift ink stains out of fabric. Rub the paste into the stain with your fingers, then rinse it away with cold water. Keep repeating this process until there’s no ink left. Avoid using toothpaste with dye, sparkles, or other additives that might discolor your clothes.