How to remove ink stains from fabric and leather

How many times have you found the children's apron dirty with ink? Or the leather sofa? Or maybe it was you yourself who stained the shirt in the office with the pen. Then when it comes to staining, there comes the delirium: how to do it? Ink, in fact, is one of the most resistant stains in absolute and when staining is a delicate head, they are really painful because, in some cases, it is necessary to treat the area with drastic methods. In such a situation, it is better to take your head directly into the trusted laundry and ask you to do a "miracle".

But how do you act to eliminate ink stains? We have already dealt with this issue in the past, but now we want to propose new and more effective methods. Let us see them together.

Ink spots: How and when to act?
First of all, it is good to say that, as with every stain, the rule of speed applies: the sooner you try to smudge your garment, the simpler it should be to get a good result. This in principle, but this is not always possible. Apparently, some inks are literally indelible and not necessarily the ones that bear this feature on the packaging! In particular, black inks would be very difficult - if not impossible - to eliminate, as would some types of blue. Instead, it is easier to stain the red ink.

We can distinguish between two methodologies:

natural methods: milk
chemical methods: alcohol, ammonia, glycerin, lacquer, stain removers in general
Remove ink stains with milk - Natural remedies
This remedy is especially useful when the stain is fresh. The milk can be used both cold and hot, but also curd, depending on the case. Let's see how:

Cold milk: To remove ink stains, pour a little milk onto the stain and, on the other side of the fabric, hold a piece of absorbent paper folded twice so that the ink that slips away is absorbed by the paper. Repeat if necessary. Then wash as usual.
Hot milk: is an excellent solution if the stain has dried. All you need to do is to intiepidiate the milk and soak the head until the stain has faded or completely removed. Wash as usual.
Rennet: Although it does not smell well, this method is particularly effective on the most stubborn stains. To coagulate the milk, just keep the milk out of the fridge and put it in the sun for a maximum of one to two days. Once the desired result has been achieved, put some lumps on the part to be stained, taking care to place under a large folded piece of absorbent paper. Leave it in place and, if necessary, repeat the operation. Then wash as usual.
This method is very good in case you need to stain a delicate fabric from the ink, as well as a more resistant fabric such as cotton. Avoid using milk on the skin.

How to remove ink stains with chemical methods

Also "unsuspected" chemical methods such as lacquer, which often has an excellent ink yield, can be applied to fabrics. But what are the chemical methods capable of clearing ink stains without damage? Let's see them together, but first let's remember that it is always good to test the product in a hidden part of the fabric, so as to avoid unpleasant episodes:

Lacquer: Put the usual piece of absorbent paper under the stain and spray the lacquer at the other end of the side. Make sure that the area is full of lacquer. At this point, place a piece of damp absorbent paper over the stain and buffered. Do not rub. Repeat the operation if necessary. Then, washed as usual
Alcohol: it is excellent on the spot not yet dry. If the garment is made of durable fabric, immerse the stain directly into alcohol. Alternatively, use a cotton-fioc wetted with alcohol and buffer the affected area. Repeat the operation if necessary. Then, wash as usual. You can also use a mixture of two parts alcohol and one part ammonia
Stain removers: Use the stain remover after testing one or more of these methods, perhaps before washing.
Important: Ink stains should never be rubbed!

How to remove ink stains from the skin
On leather garments and objects it is rather difficult to eliminate ink stains. The best advice is to turn to your laundry, especially if the garment is valuable (and very likely to be so).

If it was the leather sofa that stained, then you should refer to the instructions in the box at the time of purchase. If you do not have them, please call the consumer service of the manufacturer.

If the stain has not penetrated much, you can try to dab the stain with Marseille soap and water, taking care to do a test in a hidden spot of the sofa.

In some cases, even a simple magic gum is sufficient, depending on how much has penetrated the stain.