Younger kids love experimenting with ballpoint pens, and older kids are encouraged to learn
how to use fountain pens at school, so ink stains – in one form or another – are bound to be
something most parents have to deal with. The good news is that water-based inks and paints
are now widely available and commonly used, and the stains from these are much easier to
remove from clothes.
Here are some ink stain removal tips:
Use a clean cloth to soak up any
excess liquid. Dab, rather than wipe, to avoid spreading the stain, and avoid paper towels that
could disintegrate.
Apply concentrated detergent paste to the stain and let the garment sit
for 10 minutes, allowing the stain to break down.
Once again, dab the stain with a clean
cloth. You should see that most of the ink comes out onto the cloth. Then, wash as normal.
Some ink stains, such as those from permanent markers, are a little trickier to tackle.Dab older
stains with nail varnish remover (not suitable for synthetic fabrics) then wash as normal.