How to remove ballpoint ink stains

Short answer: Ballpoint ink is dye dissolved in oil, and it needs rubbing alcohol rather than water to loosen from fabric. Place a piece of paper towel underneath, and dab from above, so the ink pulls into the paper instead of spreading further.

Put something underneath

Without something underneath you only move the ink around within the fabric, and the stain spreads instead of disappearing. Paper towel or a clean cloth pulls the ink down and away from the fibers while you work on it.

Dab, do not rub

Rubbing spreads the stain over a larger area of the fabric than it originally covered. Dab straight down toward the paper, and switch paper often, so you are not pushing the ink back into the fabric again.

Alcohol is what works

Rubbing alcohol dissolves the oil base in ballpoint ink in a way that plain water cannot do at all. Water alone just moves the ink around, while alcohol actually breaks down the dye and pulls it out of the fibers.

Wash right after

Rinse the alcohol thoroughly out of the fabric, and wash the garment normally afterward, or a ring can form. Alcohol residue can leave a faint mark of its own if it is not fully washed out of the fibers.

Gel pens need more

Ink from a gel pen is often more heavily pigmented than ink from an ordinary ballpoint and needs several rounds of alcohol. Be patient, and repeat the treatment, rather than rubbing harder to speed up the process.

Fountain pens are a third type

Ink from a fountain pen is water based and therefore reacts differently than oil based ballpoint ink on the same fabric. Try cold water first on this type, and switch to alcohol only if the water does not work well enough.

Check the fabric after washing

Even after a thorough treatment, a faint trace can remain that only becomes clearly visible in daylight. Treat again with alcohol if any color is still visible, before the garment goes back into the closet.

Does hairspray work on ink?

Older cans of hairspray contained alcohol and could be used similarly to rubbing alcohol to loosen ink. Newer hairsprays often contain less alcohol and more sticky compounds, so rubbing alcohol remains the safer choice today.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you remove ink from clothes?

Place paper towel underneath, dab with rubbing alcohol from above, and wash the garment normally afterward. Switch paper often so the ink gets pulled out instead of pushed back in.