How to wash pen from white clothes: 8 best ways

Expert: Panteleeva Irina Vladimirovna

Accidents happen unexpectedly, and the law of meanness works precisely when we fear something most. Well, we wear a white shirt to the office and in the evening we will certainly get the result in the form of a beautiful stroke of a ballpoint pen.

Experienced office workers and parents of schoolchildren probably have a couple of secrets in stock on how to remove ink stains. We have collected their experience, tested all the methods in practice and offer you the 8 most effective methods.

What is ink made of?

Ink most often consists of 2 components. Depending on the structure of the writing unit, the pigment can be of different densities. Let's look at the table

Based on the tabular data, we can conclude that the principle of removing a pen mark comes down to the destruction of the pigment or the dissolution of the ink base.

Application of washing powders

Modern washing powders and gels contain bleaches, bioadditives and active substances that wash away grease and remove stains from pens and felt-tip pens.

Universal laundry detergents wash away fresh traces of a pen, but do not always cope with blots embedded in the fabric. The dosage of the powder is indicated on the packaging.

How to remove a pen from clothes

Most home methods involve chemical destruction of the paste base and subsequent mechanical removal of the dye. Household products attack paint, destroy its structure and discolor it.

Rules for handling white fabrics

Despite the fact that it is easier to remove stains from white clothes than from colored ones, mistakes still happen that lead to damage to things. To prevent this, we recommend paying attention to the following points:

1. The fresher the stain, the easier it is to get rid of it.

   . If possible, do not let the soiled item sit.

2. Do not scrub the stained area with rough brushes.

   . Hard pile can scatter the fabric fibers, they roll up or stretch out, forming a fleecy spot on a smooth fabric. The gentlest way is to use an old toothbrush. The stain should be rubbed with soft, small circular movements.

3. Intense rubbing of the stain with your hands can lead to damage to the structure.

   fabric, weaving deformation and thread pulling.

4. Do not leave chlorine-containing products on fabrics for extended periods of time.

   undiluted formulations. In addition to staining, chlorine also destroys the threads, which can lead to the formation of tears.

5. remember, that Wool fabrics react unpredictably to various chemicals

   . Therefore, before use, test the selected product on an inconspicuous area.

6. When choosing bleach as a bleach, keep in mind that the treated area may become significantly whiter than the overall tone of the clothing.

Organizing a place to remove stains

First of all, allocate free space for yourself on the kitchen table or in the bathroom and cover it with oilcloth. Do not conduct experiments on varnished or painted furniture, otherwise, in addition to the old stain, you can acquire a new one from the dissolved varnish and, in addition, get damaged furniture.

The selected products and tools for removing stains should be placed in front of you. Here's what you might find useful:

1. cotton pads;
2. unnecessary clean toothbrush;
3. container for mixing components (plastic or glass);
4. small and large spoon for measuring and mixing ingredients;
5. water (hot and cold);

Can stain removers and bleaches be used to remove ink from a white shirt?

If the stain is old, you can use a special stain remover or bleach to get rid of it. But everything should be done carefully so as not to harm the product. The selected product is applied to the dirty area, and then the shirt should be washed. If the bleach contains bleach, it is recommended to dilute it with water. It is better not to use such products for delicate fabrics.

How to remove stains at home

First, let's see what we have on hand. We assure you that in different corners we can find products that can easily cope with stains from a ballpoint pen.

Mustard powder

It can be called a universal natural bleach. It also copes well with ink stains. Let's prepare the supplies. We will need:

1. mustard powder;
2. small mixing cup;
3. water at room temperature;
4. big spoon.

To remove a stain, do the following:

1. Place 2 tbsp in a cup. l. mustard powder and pour in 2 tbsp. l. water. Mix the paste. If you see that the spot is small, you can reduce the consumption of components by half.
2. Lay the contaminated cloth on a flat surface. If the item cannot be unbuttoned (for example, a turtleneck), place a clear plastic bag between two layers of fabric. This will protect the bottom layer from getting wet and being exposed to the active substance.
3. Spoon the mixture onto the stain and leave to act for 30 minutes.
4. After time has passed, rub the stain with your hands and rinse the fabric under water.
5. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
6. Wash the item in the washing machine as usual.

Toothpaste

This product erases fresh ink marks in just 5 minutes. You need to take white toothpaste. You will also need an old, but clean, toothbrush and water.

Let's lay out the clothes on the table and do the following:

1. Squeeze the paste out of the tube and distribute it evenly along the lines from the handle.
2. Using a toothbrush, begin scrubbing the stain in small circular motions.
3. If the fabric is thin, the stain on the eyes will lighten and disappear. On thick fabrics the process is a little slower.
4. Rinse the cleaned clothes in water or wash them in a machine.

We recommend that you do not use a colored product to brush your teeth, otherwise you will have to look for a toothpaste stain remover.

Ammonia

The only negative of the liquid is the strong smell of ammonia. Therefore, if you have respiratory diseases or allergies, you cannot use ammonia.

If the stain is small, we see no point in diluting the product with water. Simply apply 2 drops of ammonia to the stain and rub the area with your fingers. Don't be afraid that the paint will start to spread. The main thing is not to let the stain dry out and transfer to other parts of the clothing. After a few minutes, wash the dirty area with a few drops of dishwashing detergent.

Fairy for dishes

Some housewives use this liquid only in emergency cases, since the composition of the product is quite aggressive. Indeed, Fairy helps well with various everyday problems. And just as easily it removes stains from the pen.

What we need:

1. Fairy dish liquid;
2. warm water;
3. soft brush.

Sequencing:

1. Lay the fabric in one layer or place a plastic bag between layers of clothing.
2. Apply Fairy to the dirt and rub it a little into the stain.
3. Using a spoon, apply a few drops of water and lightly scrub the area with the brush again.
4. Leave for 5 minutes.
5. Then rub the stain between your fingers. If the ink stain disappears, rinse the fabric. If some contours still remain, let the product act for another 5 minutes.
6. Machine wash your clothes.

Special detergents contain components that actively act on a particular contaminant. Sodium laureth sulfate and propylene glycol solvent allow you to remove even complex stains.

Alcohol

Buy the cheapest colorless alcohol-containing liquid at the pharmacy and keep it on hand. It will always come in handy on the farm. You can use hygienic hand gel with alcohol or vodka.

To remove a pen mark you need:

1. Moisten the stain with alcohol.
2. Wait a few seconds and rub the cloth.
3. The ink mark may become a large stain. This is a normal reaction.
4. After the contours of the handle disappear, you should wash the treated area with laundry soap or dishwashing detergent.
5. Light stains can be re-treated and then put into the washing machine.

To enhance the effect, you can mix alcohol and ammonia solution in a 1:1 ratio. But we do not consider this advisable, since each product individually copes well with the task.

Hair fixation spray

It is a fact!

Hairspray removes paint on clothes in a matter of seconds. We will need any hairspray, water and soap.

We will deal with the stain like this:

1. Place a paper or cloth napkin under the contaminated area.
2. Apply hairspray to the stain.
3. Without waiting for it to dry, rub the stain between your fingers and wash off the remaining varnish with water.
4. If light outlines of lines remain on the fabric, they will be washed off after washing in the machine.

The secret of hairspray is that it contains alcohol. But it happens that there is no alcohol on hand, but there is an opportunity to use hairspray.

Chemical eraser

This medium can be used as a focal point. It works right before your eyes. To make it you will need the following materials:

1. water;
2. potassium permanganate;
3. acetic acid (70%);
4. hydrogen peroxide.

To remove ink lines, do the following:

1. In 1 tsp. acetic acid, add magnesium permanganate crystals (at the very tip of a thin knife) and stir until a dark solution is obtained.
2. Apply the product to the stain using a cotton swab. The ink will instantly begin to fade. A yellowish-pink stain from potassium permanganate will appear.
3. Using another cotton swab, apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain. All traces of contamination will instantly disappear.
4. Rinse the product with clean water.

Household chemicals

Sometimes it happens that home remedies cannot cope with difficult-to-soluble ink pigment. The reason may be various factors: the chemical composition of the dye in the paste, the density and composition of the fabric, how old the stain is.

The peculiarity of white fabrics is the ability to use various bleaching agents on them with virtually no danger. We list the products that work well at removing marks from a ballpoint pen:

1. Liquid bleaches Vanish, Nika;
2. Powder oxygen products Boss, Cinderella, Persol, Antipyatin, Typhoon.
3. Chlorine-containing bleaches Whiteness, Chistin, Steril.
4. Amway stain removers.
5. Special products for removing pen marks: Dr. Schnell Novo Pen-Off, VMD 88 ink remover, Dr. Beckmann Stain remover for ballpoint pen and felt-tip pen stains.

Before using the listed products, we recommend reading the instructions for use. We also recommend not to neglect precautions. When working with aggressive liquids, wear protective gloves. Keep chemicals away from your mouth and eyes.

Ink stains from a ballpoint pen are not amenable to regular washing, but easily disappear when treated with improvised means. The methods we propose are simple and really work. Use them and your white shirts will be perfect.

Rules for removing contaminants

To begin with, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules:

1. Dealing with a blot on a white shirt is much easier if you start fighting immediately after it appears.
2. Before using a chemical solvent or home remedy, you need to determine what kind of fabric the item is made of.
3. To prevent a large stain from spreading, it is recommended to place a paper towel under the contaminated area of ​​clothing.

4. 
   You can separate the edges of the blot with heated wax or sprinkle dry starch on the stain.

5. It is recommended to apply powder, gel or other cleaning agent to the edge of the strip or stain, and wipe the stains from beginning to middle with it.
6. Before removing a fresh blot, try to remove the paste with a towel.
7. When removing pen marks, chemicals are used strictly according to the instructions; aggressive products are not suitable for items made of delicate fabrics.
8. The product care rules, which are indicated on the clothing label, will help you choose the optimal washing mode after removing the stain.
9. When removing pen marks, it is better to use warm water.
10. When using acetone and other solvents, it is not recommended to dry things with a hot hairdryer.

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.

Professional stain removers

If the ink cannot be washed off, cannot be wiped off with ethyl or ammonia, or does not respond to household products, purchase special stain removers containing chemicals.

When purchasing, we advise you to carefully read the instructions , which indicate what fabrics the product is suitable for:

Liquid stain removers are rubbed into the fabric right before washing.

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