How To Get Ink Stains Out Of Children’s Clothes

If your kids are already going to school, you’ve probably already had the challenge of getting ink stains out of their clothes. They are very difficult to remove, even if you wash the clothes over and over. 

Don’t worry though: it’s possible to get the stains out.

In this article, we’ll share with you some of the best tips for removing ink stains from kids’ clothes. However, we will first explain why it is so difficult to remove them.

What is ink made of?

Today, there is a wide range of pens on the market, as well as a wide variety of materials from which the ink is made. In summary , the ink consists of a pigment or a dye that is dissolved or mixed in a solvent.

The dye is a composition consisting of vinyl resins, glycerol, carbon black, tannic acid, additives and dyes, among other water- or oil-based substances.

Normally, oil is used as a solvent to add toughness and thickness and to help the ink dry more quickly. This is why it is often difficult to remove ink stains from clothing.

Recommendations before you start

There are a number of factors to consider before attempting to remove a stain. If you don’t take this into account, the stains can get worse by spreading them out further. It is even more difficult to remove the stains afterwards.

The sooner you remove the stain, the better

This rule applies to almost all types of stains. You don’t have to thoroughly examine the clothes every time your child comes home from school. However, it is important to act quickly so that the process of removing the stain does not become more difficult.

If you spot the ink stain quickly, use a paper towel to remove the still fresh ink.

Do not wash the garment

Washing the clothes without completely removing the stain first will cause the pigments and resins to become trapped in the fabric. This makes it much more difficult to get the stain out. Avoid this at all costs.

Type of fabric

Next, it is important to check what type of fabric your child’s garment is made of. This will determine which ingredients you should use to treat it.

For example, you cannot use water with bleach on a colored fabric. It will affect and discolor the fabric.

Do not rub the stain

The way ink works is that it penetrates the surface it sits on. So if you rub an ink stain, it will only absorb and spread more.

Instead, you can press down firmly on the spot while the ink is still fresh. But avoid rubbing when the stain is dry.

How do you remove ink stains?

The following tips will help you remove ink stains from your children’s clothing, depending on the freshness of the ink, the type of fabric and the color of the garment.

1. Use milk

The mild acidity of milk, along with some of the compounds it contains, help dissolve the ink stains.

• To use, after removing the fresh ink as described above, soak the garment in warm milk for 5 to 6 hours. During this time, you should change the milk as it absorbs the color.

The stain will gradually lighten until it dries. You can just wash it afterwards.

However, if some ink remains, soak the garment in water containing bleach for several hours. Then rinse and wash again. This procedure is recommended for clothing made of light-colored cotton, wool or other fibers.

2. Use methanol

Methanol is a low density liquid that is sometimes used as a solvent. It is therefore a good option to get ink stains out of your children’s clothing.

• To begin with, place a clean cloth moistened with methanol under the garment.
• Then press a piece of cotton wool on the stain. The goal is to absorb the ink.
• Repeat with a new piece of cotton wool until the stain is gone.

3. Use Acetone

Also known as propanone or nail polish remover, acetone is a chemical compound that is used, among other things, as a solvent for chemicals. Like methanol, acetone helps remove ink stains from clothing.

However, this product can be very aggressive to fabrics and can damage the garment. Nevertheless, both this procedure and the one with methanol are suitable for colored clothing.

The method of applying it is the same as with methanol. However, do it in an open area and follow the instructions for use. The smell can cause headaches.

4. Lemon juice

Another natural trick for getting ink stains out of your child’s clothes is lemon juice. Lemon juice actually acts as a bleaching agent and removes stains from certain types of fabric.

For this way you need the juice of half a lemon and a piece of cotton wool.

• Moisten the cotton wool with the lemon juice. Then apply it to the stain for a few seconds. Repeat until the ink is gone.
• Then wash the item as usual.

Ink stains may not be the easiest stains to remove. However, we hope these tips will help you save your kids’ clothes, especially when it comes to the favorite piece of clothing.