Proven methods and means for removing gel pens from clothes

Expert: Panteleeva Irina Vladimirovna

Magnificent roses on wallpaper as a birthday gift for mom! Why not? Great idea. How to solve an unusual problem without offending the little donor? Glue a frame around the picture and get a picture as a keepsake.

But what if the strokes of a gel pen spoil the appearance of a white shirt, light-colored sofa or leather upholstery of a car? Don't worry, there is a solution.

Rules for removing stains

A positive result can only be achieved if several rules are followed:

1. 
   Before cleaning, the blot should be washed in cold water and wiped with ethyl alcohol or vinegar.

2. Under the place that will be cleaned, you need to place a sheet of paper, sprinkling it with starch. This will prevent the ink from being absorbed into the fabric.
3. Removing stains should begin from the edges, gradually moving towards the center.
4. Immediately after a blot appears, you need to quickly wipe off any remaining ink from the surface of the fabric with a towel. This must be done carefully so as not to touch clean areas.
5. Delicate fabrics should be cleaned with gentle products.
6. Before you begin removing stains, you need to determine the type of fabric to choose an effective cleaning product.

Wallpaper Rescue

It doesn't cost kids anything to leave their wonderful creations on the wallpaper. Even if you just made repairs yesterday. You can get rid of “rock painting” like this:

Don't forget about glycerin

Remove pen from wallpaper? Easily!

How to wash from different types of fabric?

When choosing a product, you need to consider the type of fabric. It is important to choose a method that will not harm the material.

Silk and satin

You can use sour milk to remove ink . Cleaning steps:

• take a plastic container and place the dirty item in it;
• heat the required amount of yogurt or kefir;
• pour the stain so that it is hidden under the fermented milk product;
• leave for 3 hours;
• Perform normal washing using detergents suitable for these materials.

A light-colored item can be cleaned with a mixture based on gasoline, kerosene, and laundry soap (shavings).

Stages:

1. Connect the components (1:1:1).
2. Apply the product.
3. Leave for 10 minutes.
4. Treat the fabric with 2% hydrochloric acid.
5. Rinse.

Wool and cotton

Cotton can be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide and alcohol:

• combine the ingredients to make 1 tbsp. l. cleaning agent (1:1);
• pour the solution into a glass of water (250 ml);
• apply the mixture;
• leave the item for 10 minutes;
• extend.

For wool, a product based on kefir or yogurt is suitable.

Linen

Flax can be cleaned well with milk . Stages:

1. Soak the item in milk.
2. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight.
3. Perform washing as usual.

An alternative to milk is a mixture of white vinegar and dish soap.

Removal process:

• mix 1 tbsp. l. vinegar with 1/2 tsp. detergent;
• pour the resulting liquid into 1 liter of clean water;
• mix;
• soak the thing;
• wait 30 minutes;
• rinse.

Suede and leather

Salt can be used to clean these fabrics:

1. Apply salt in a thick layer.
2. Leave the item for 2 days.
3. Shake off the grains of salt, wash off their remains with a damp washcloth, after moistening it in turpentine.

Movements should be slow.

Jeans

There are two ways to clean jeans:

1. Soak the item in alcohol and sprinkle with coarse salt. Rub the stain with a brush.
2. If the first method does not help, you can mix 2 parts glycerin with 5 parts alcohol. Apply the product. After half an hour, wash off any remaining product.

This article will tell you how to remove pen marks from jeans.

How to remove stains depending on the type of fabric

To remove gel pen ink without ruining your clothes, you need to choose a product suitable for the type of fabric. For delicate fabrics such as linen, silk and wool, it is necessary to select the most gentle cleaners. Otherwise, the trousers or T-shirt may become deformed and damaged, and the product may also burn through the fabric.

Mustard pulp, pre-diluted with water, is excellent for such materials. The mustard mass is applied to the contaminated area for 20-30 minutes, after which the contaminated area is washed off.

As you know, suede does not tolerate contact with water. How then to remove ink stains? You need to drop a couple of drops of valerian tincture and rub them over all problem areas. Then wipe dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. Valerian can also be used when cleaning dermantine or raincoat fabrics.

Salt is great for cleaning leather items from such contaminants. Salt must be mixed with warm water until a thick mass is formed. The resulting paste is applied to the area of ​​contamination and left until completely dry. Afterwards, the salt is removed and the area is wiped with a dry cloth. The product can also be used to clean leatherette clothing.

If ink gets on your clothes, then regardless of the type of material, the item must be washed as soon as possible. Otherwise, the paint will be deeply absorbed into the fibers of the fabric. To slow down the process, you can fill the area with warm Vaseline or paraffin, and when you have time to wash the clothes in any convenient way. You can remove Vaseline or paraffin from clothing by ironing the item through a paper towel.

How to remove ink using folk recipes?

The table below presents the most effective means for removing gel pen marks from fabrics:

Why does a gel pen leave marks?

School and office supplies for writing appeared relatively recently. A gel pen follows the characteristic structure of a ballpoint pen, but at the same time has fundamental differences.

The writing unit is equipped with a ball, which is hidden in a cone. The flow of ink begins automatically after the ball begins to rotate. A thin layer of dye envelops the ball and flows out, leaving marks on paper and other things.

Gel-based ink has a very dense, opaque structure. The dye contains copper phthalocyanine and iron oxides. The water-based gel also includes biopolymers (xanthan gum and gum tragacanth) and thickeners.

The coloring composition of the ink may contain large particles of mother-of-pearl, glitter and metallic dyes.

Among pens with gel filler, there are anti-fraud inks. Neither bleaches nor solvents take them.

There is also waterproof ink that can be washed off with water only before it dries. Next, you will have to use only chemical stain removal methods.

How to scrub using household chemicals?

The table below provides a list of household chemicals for removing gel pen marks from fabrics:

Suitable chemicals

If you don’t want to spend a lot of time solving an everyday problem, your choice is industrial stain removers, which can be bought at any household chemical store.

• Vanish is a popular product that easily cleans both fresh and old gel pen stains. It can be used for white and colored items. Acts quickly - within 10 minutes. The product should not be used for items made of silk, wool, or leather, since it contains chlorine.

Recommendations for removal are very simple: first wet the contaminated area with water and treat it with gel. Then wait 10 minutes and wash the item with Vanish according to the instructions.

• Stain remover "Expert" from Dr. Beckmann. The company produces several different cleaners - each type of stain has its own “Expert”. This is where “Expert: Pen and Ink” comes in handy. Effective within 10–15 minutes.

The formula contains active oxygen, so the product should be used with caution when cleaning colored fabrics.

Recommendations for use: apply the gel, wait 10 minutes, then remove the residue with a clean napkin and wash the item as usual.

• Amway SA8 stain remover. Works on all types of stains, including new and old. Its formula includes active oxygen, so it is better to use it on things that do not fade. In other cases, it is worth first testing the remedy where the flaws will not be visible. Manufacturers have also developed a stain remover for wool and silk items. To wash an item with Amway SA8, you need to dilute 1 tbsp. spoon of stain remover powder in 1 glass of water, moisten the desired area and soak it in the solution for 1-3 minutes, then wash the product.

We recommend: What and at what temperature should you wash bed linen in a washing machine?

Table No. 1. The effectiveness of popular chemicals

We recommend: How to remove pen ink from clothes - even more tips and useful tricks

Principles for washing fresh and old stains

Tips for cleaning fresh stains:

1. 
   Initially, you need to cover the contamination with talcum powder.

2. Treat the item with dishwashing detergent or laundry soap. Apply the selected composition, wait 30 minutes, rinse with water.
3. If soap does not work, you can use table or rock salt.
4. The last recommended option is soap with ammonia. You need to add 3 tbsp to 250 ml of water. l. alcohol and 1 tbsp. l. crushed soap. Treat the stain with a sponge and wait until it turns pale. All that remains is to wash it.

Old stains are more difficult to remove . To begin with, it is recommended to soak the item in water. After this, you can use one of the suggested methods:

1. Mix glycerin, soda and ammonia (1:1:1). Stir to obtain a homogeneous mass. Cover the ink with the finished paste. Wait 30 minutes. Wash off the paste.
2. Add 1 tsp to a glass of clean water. oxalic acid. Apply the product. Wash the item by adding 1 tbsp. l. ammonia.
3. Soak a cotton pad in gasoline and blot the blot. Wipe with ammonia.

Stain remover products

Now let's move on to the products that are easily found in the kitchen - let's see what you can use to wash the handle off your clothes.

1. Lemon juice. We warn you - this method is not suitable for white things. Cut the fruit into two parts and sprinkle a little salt on the stain. Then squeeze out a teaspoon of lemon juice and leave the whole thing for 5 minutes. In conclusion, all that remains is to wash the clothes.
2. Lemon and salt. This composition is ideal if you suddenly get your leather item dirty. Proceed as follows: generously sprinkle baking soda on the contaminated area. As soon as the crystals absorb dirt, they should be brushed off. Moisten a cotton pad with citrus juice and thoroughly wipe the dirty area with it. If stains remain, treat them additionally with turpentine.


This is an effective hand cleanser.

3. Curdled milk or milk. You will be surprised, but by soaking your clothes in these dairy products, you are likely to get rid of ink stains! Only the dairy products need to be preheated, and then proceed as in the video in this article. If you want to remove old stains from the pen paste in this way, then after soaking the item should be additionally washed in a soap solution with ammonia added to it.
4. Mustard. If you suddenly find an annoying streak of black or red ink on your clothes, then mustard will help you. Apply mustard puree to the stained area, leave the item as is for a day, and then wash in warm water.


We will also need a fermented milk product

5. Vinegar. First, pour the product onto the stain, and then prepare a puree from cornstarch and this vinegar. Leave the pulp on the dirty area for several hours, after which all that remains is to wash the item.
6. Toothpaste. Not exactly a product, but still. Squeeze out a small amount of paste and lightly rub into the stain, as in the photo. Then - normal washing.
7. Shaving foam. The method of its use repeats the method with toothpaste.

Salt and lemon paired are excellent stain removers.

Advice! Got your suede dirty? Fine-grain sandpaper will help you.

Removing marks from white and colored items

Products for white clothes:

• milk, kefir, yogurt;
• acetic acid;
• bleach;
• peroxide and ammonia.

For colored clothes:

• dish soap;
• laundry soap;
• ammonia;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• glycerol;
• petrol.

Combinations of funds are allowed.

Purification of white matter:

1. Unfold the thing. Pour chalk over the ink and cover with a paper towel. Press down with any heavy object and leave for two hours. Clean with a brush.
2. Ammonia and acetone. Connect the components (1:1). Preheat to 60°C. Apply to ink stain. Place gauze and iron the item.

You can learn how to wash a pen from a white shirt here. Read about removing ink stains from white clothes here.

How to remove fresh stains

If ink gets on the fabric, it is easier to remove it if you immediately wash the area. It is advisable to do this with a stain remover. It is enough to use one cap of the substance to wash things in a washing machine or by hand. However, a bottle of such liquid is not always at hand.

Laundry soap will also help remove ink. You need to dissolve a small amount of brown soap in warm water. Next, soak the dirty clothes in the solution for about 20 minutes. Afterwards the product will need to be washed by hand. If the gel pen got on the clothes long before washing, then this method may not cope with the problem.

Another effective option is sour milk. Clothing with traces of a gel pen should be soaked in expired milk. If they were installed recently, then it is enough to leave things for a few hours. But if the gel pen appeared on the clothes long before washing, then they should be left to soak overnight.

The moment the milk darkens, it’s time to refresh it. You can also use fresh milk, but it will be less effective. For better results, you can add 20-30 ml of lemon juice to the milk.

An excellent gentle preparation for removing fresh stains is turpentine. With its help, you can easily remove traces of a gel pen even from white clothes. It is enough to apply a small amount of turpentine to the stained area and wash it thoroughly after a few minutes.

Compositions for washing in a washing machine

Washing in a machine is not as useless as it might seem. To remove stains, you need to choose an effective detergent. Verified options:

You will find proven methods and means for removing marks from gel and ballpoint pens in this section.

Removing ballpoint pen stains

It is not difficult to remove tell-tale ink marks from a hard surface through physical effort. What cannot be said about your favorite blouse, shirt, trousers or skirt and other soft surfaces. How to remove pen paste from clothes? There are two ways to get rid of it - special stain removers or improvised means, which we will talk about.

And it doesn't matter

Advice! Products containing solvents (acetone and others like it) are harmful to synthetics. Any home remedy should be tested first on an inconspicuous area of ​​clothing.

Lemon is a great helper. But not for white fabric

Preparing for cleaning

Before you wash your gel pen from your clothes, pay attention to the following. Unlike stains from the ink of a ballpoint pen, blots from it can spread on a large scale during cleaning. Therefore, the first step is to outline the contours of the area where you will perform life-saving manipulations:

1. 1. You will need either paraffin or wax. Heat the substance in a water bath.
2. 2. Using a cotton swab, dipped into paraffin from time to time, outline a clear closed contour.
3. 3. Make sure that the wax saturates the fabric through and through - you should not perform any procedures before this.
4. 4. Once you have removed the stain, scrape off the wax or paraffin line and wash the item completely.

Unexpected but effective

Advice! All proposed manipulations are for large-scale pollution. You shouldn’t waste a lot of time on a small blemish - you can deal with it by rubbing it with an old toothbrush and laundry soap.

General recommendations

There are a number of rules that must be followed if you want to restore an ink-stained item:

• You need to act quickly. Do not leave or delay washing a soiled item. Soak it immediately or use your chosen products to clean the stain.
• Do not remove stains mechanically. There is no need to try to blot it with a napkin or cotton pad, rub it off or scrape it off with a sharp object. This will only damage the fabric and speed up the process of ink absorption into its fibers.
• When treating a contaminated area, place a thick pad under it in the form of cotton fabric or a sheet of paper. This way you won't stain the back of the item, which remains clean.
• When choosing solvents and chemicals, be sure to consider the composition and type of fabric being treated. Don't forget that your main goal is to return your favorite item to its original condition without damaging it.
• When using aggressive agents and solvents, protect your respiratory system and hands by wearing thick rubber gloves.

What to do immediately after a stain appears?

To avoid ink being absorbed into the fabric fibers, it is recommended to take steps to clean the stain as soon as possible:

1. 
   Carefully remove the soiled item, being careful not to stain the clean fabric or your body.

2. Immediately place a thick piece of cloth or paper under the contaminated part to avoid imprinting the stain on the back of the item.
3. Cover the fresh stain with baby powder or talc until the entire ink mark is covered. After 5 minutes, remove the old powder and sprinkle the stain again.
4. Remove the dirty powder from the fabric and treat the stain with hydrogen peroxide.
5. After 15 minutes, thoroughly rinse the area to be cleaned with water and put the item in the wash.

The larger and deeper the stain, the more times you can change the talc powder to absorb excess ink. Also, do not forget to change the inner lining so as not to stain the clean side of the item.

Capricious fabrics

For delicate fabrics, such as natural silk or pure wool, cashmere, there are homemade recipes for removing stains that will never ruin the thread.

Silk fabrics can be cleaned of traces of the handle with mustard powder. The dry powder is diluted in half with water, and then the paste is applied directly to the stained area. When the composition dries, the product is washed in a suitable detergent.

Suede and leather do not tolerate contact with water, so ink cannot be washed off on them. Try wiping the stained areas with an alcohol solution of valerian. A cotton pad is soaked in the preparation, and then all the drawings are wiped off with it. The procedure is repeated until all the dirt is gone.

Table salt can also be used to cleanse natural leather. The salt is soaked a little with plain water, and then applied to the marks of the pen. After a couple of days, the salt is removed and the treated area is wiped with a damp cloth.

Cashmere and wool can be washed in an oxygen stain remover or you can use ordinary tar or baby bath soap. The stained area is rubbed with soap and the item is left for a couple of hours. After processing carefully, the ink is washed off with a toothbrush, and the item is completely erased.

Useful tips

If this is your first time using a cleaning product, it is advisable to test it on an inconspicuous area of ​​the product. This could be an inner seam or a place under the collar. If, a couple of hours after applying the product, you see that the fabric is not damaged, then the composition can be used to wash the entire item.

It is advisable to remove stains from a gel pen quickly, before the ink is deeply absorbed into the fibers of the material. The faster you start washing designs, the more likely you are to salvage a favorite item or wash a white shirt white.

Traces of a gel pen on white or colored linen are not a reason to throw away good things. Shirts, T-shirts, blouses and even jeans can be easily washed using simple household products.

Remove ink stains from clothes and textiles in half an hour

This problem is faced not only by schoolchildren, but also by adults who, on duty, have to write with a pen with liquid ink. If you've been in this situation, you've probably tried to remove the stain with soap or powder, but nothing worked. We suggest using a proven method with which you can remove ink from fabric in a few minutes.

Prepare three small bowls with the following contents:

1. Vinegar.
2. Ammonia.
3. Water.

Tie the stain on the fabric with thread, and then immerse the contaminated area one by one in the compounds for 20 seconds. If the blot does not disappear, repeat the procedure.

You can wash ink from natural materials based on cotton and linen in the following way:

1. Pour acetone and alcohol in a 1:1 ratio into a heat-resistant container.
2. Place the bowl or saucepan on the stove.
3. As soon as the mixture boils, turn off the burner and steam the stain.

After this, you need to iron the fabric through damp gauze with a well-heated iron. There will be no trace of stains left!

Methods for removing stains for white fabrics

Before using folk remedies, you should still try to wash the ink in the usual way using industrial bleach.
The stores offer a huge range of these drugs, suitable for a wide variety of fabric types. It is only important to pay attention to the composition and read the instructions for use. Also, recently there has been a high popularity of powders in capsules. The liquid form of these substances can remove almost any stain, so you need to try such household chemicals first.

The liquid form of these substances can remove almost any stain, so you need to try such household chemicals first.

In addition, you can use laundry soap - our grandmothers washed the most difficult stains with a brown bar. These are gentle methods that will not damage the tissue, but if they do not help, you will have to use more aggressive means:

• Hydrogen peroxide. One of the most famous remedies for combating various types of stains. Peroxide also works well with ink and is suitable for white textiles. This method requires one teaspoon of the substance and 200 ml of plain water. Mix the components, soak a bandage, gauze or cotton pad in the solution, then rub the blot. This should be done from the edge of the spot to the center so as not to cause the ink to “spread”.
• Vinegar. Another famous home remedy. To remove stains using vinegar, you need to mix it with water in equal proportions, and then soak the product in the solution for about an hour. When exposed to acid, the ink comes off quite easily if rubbed with a small brush. After all manipulations, the product must be washed as usual in a washing machine.
• Milk. The method works well if the ink stain is no more than 2-3 hours old. To remove a stain with milk, you need to heat the liquid to about 36 degrees and pour it onto the stained area. Leave to act for 1-6 hours (depending on the degree of contamination), then rinse thoroughly in cold water and machine wash with bleach.
• Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Both of these substances are strong solvents and work well with stains on white things. There are two options for using these drugs: soak the item or rub the stain with the mixture. Soaking occurs as follows: mix alcohol and peroxide in equal proportions, dilute with two glasses of water, pour into a container and place the damaged product there for 1 hour. You can add cold water and leave the item for longer exposure. After this, you need to rinse the textiles and put them in the machine with high-quality powder. For another option, you also need to mix the components in equal proportions, but do not add water. Armed with a cotton pad or gauze soaked in the solution, you need to rub the stain from the edge to the center.

White clothes

The easiest way to wash ink stains is from white clothes, because you won’t have to worry about the color fading or the print becoming irrevocably damaged.

Whitening products

Before removing a stain from white clothing, you need to consider the type and structure of the fabric. Some overly active substances can dissolve the fiber itself along with the contaminant.

Therefore, you should be especially careful with aggressive and bleaching substances. They help remove the oldest stains, but are quite harsh

Among the most effective means are:

1. Vanish Oxi Action – This product is suitable for all fiber types and works even in cold water.
2. Whiteness has a pungent odor and imparts rigidity to washed items. But it can cope with old stains. The product is only suitable for white linen and cotton items.
3. Persol makes it as easy as possible to remove stubborn dirt. Oxygen bleach is suitable for all fibers except silk. Just keep in mind that it does not work at low temperatures.
4. Synergetic is ideal for sensitive skin. Biodegradable plant components soften water and are easily washed off, but do not cope well with stubborn dirt. It is best to use it while the traces are fresh.
5. Sano perfectly removes stubborn ink stains, being gentle on delicate materials. It is suitable for children's underwear and is economical in use.

To remove stains locally, you need to treat the stain itself with the product, rubbing the fabric, and then add it to the washing machine. The mode should be chosen based on the type of matter.

Folk remedies:

1. In every refrigerator there is always a bag of milk, yogurt or kefir. Only few people know how to remove ink stains using fermented milk products. To do this, you just need to soak the stained area of ​​​​the fabric in milk and leave for one hour. After soaking, the item is simply rinsed in cold water and then washed. This is a delicate method that cannot harm the material.
2. Baking soda can rid your favorite dress of ink quickly without endangering the fabric. You just need to mix one tablespoon of powder with the same amount of water and apply the mixture to the print. After the mixture has dried, you can remove it with cold running water and wash the product.
3. Lemon juice has also proven effective in removing fresh ink marks. Just before washing off the ink, you need to squeeze the juice of one half of a lemon and moisten a cotton pad with it. Then you need to apply it to the ink stain, leaving it for 15-20 minutes. After that, you need to wash the soiled clothes in the usual way. If the trail is old, then it would be useful to use an automatic machine.

Household products

Among household chemicals, there are many products that can cope with stubborn stains, including ink stains:

1. Dr. Stain Remover Salt Beckmann, 100 g. Works on the most difficult stains, guaranteeing absolute cleanliness. This product is effective at any temperature and in combination with any washing powder or gel.
2. Powdered universal stain remover Udalix Oxi Ultra, 40 g. It neutralizes all unpleasant and pungent odors, giving freshness to washed items. It is added to regular powder when washing or to water when soaking.
3. Universal stain remover HG, 500 g. This is a powerful product for removing stains of any complexity, made in Holland.

If it is not possible to use dry cleaning services, then these products will definitely help solve the problem.