Dye family: alcohol or a long oxygen soak
How to get ballpoint ink out
Oil-based ink in dye. Rubbing alcohol dissolves it.
Do this first
Lay on a paper towel pad
Fresh stain
- Lay on a paper towel pad
- Dab rubbing alcohol from the back
- Change the pad often
- Gently work in detergent
- Wash
Dried or old
- More alcohol rounds
- Oxygen soak
- Glycerin for very old ink
- Fabric care
- Test alcohol on colours.
- Time
- 20 min
- How to tell
- Look: blue or black line, blot at the end; Feel: none; Smell: none
Where this fix comes from
- University of Illinois Extension, Stain Solutions
- American Cleaning Institute, Stain Removal Chart
- Persil Stain Advisor, Arts and crafts
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.