A Guide On How To Get Ink Out Of Jeans With Ease 

Last Updated on September 4, 2023 by Chase Reiner

To remove ink from jeans easily:

• Blot the stain with rubbing alcohol.
• Dab the area with a cloth.
• Wash the jeans.
• Repeat if necessary.
• Avoid heat until ink is gone.

This method is effective and wallet-friendly.

Can You Remove Ink Stains From Your Jeans?

Have you ever been so clumsy to put a pen in your pocket thinking it is safe? Then, later on, you discover ink exploding all over your jeans? All you need to do in such a situation is relax because your jeans aren’t beyond repair.

With proper stain treatment, you will get the ink off your jeans. Below are simple and practical tips to follow.

Identify The Type Of Ink

Pens are not made from the same type of ink. It is crucial to determine which type of ink you are working with to give your jeans the proper ink treatment. The different types of ink are:

1. Water-based Ink

Washable markers, fountain pens, and gel pens contain water-based inks. This type of ink does not grip too hard on clothes, but the removal process is time-consuming.

2. Alcohol-based Ink

This ink features mostly in permanent markers. It is the most challenging type of ink to remove from clothes. But this does not mean it’s impossible to get rid of alcohol-based ink on jeans.

3. Oil-based Ink

Ballpoint pens are the most used pens, and they use oil-based ink. This type of in has a fast-drying nature.  Oil-based ink is the most accessible type of ink to remove from jeans.

How To Get Ink Out Of Jeans

The removal process of ink stains is relatively easy when you understand the different types of ink and their properties. The ink on the jeans will determine the cleaning method to adopt and the variety of products to use.

Below are the methods used to remove different types of in from jeans.

Water-based Ink

Water-based ink is not difficult to wash off from jeans. The problem comes in when you let the ink dry completely. If you’re lucky enough to spot the ink stain before it dries, plain water and salt will completely clear the color.

Procedure 1

Requirements

Milk

Warm water

Toothbrush

Detergent

Step 1: Put milk in a large bowl and submerge the stained part of the jeans and let it soak for one hour.

Step 2: Scrub the stained part with a toothbrush and rinse with warm water,

Step 3: Apply detergent to the part with a visible stain. Let it sit for one hour, and then, Wash the entire pair of jeans.

If the stain is still visible, repeat the whole process two times until it fades off.

Procedure 2

Requirements

Two pieces of towel/cloth

Water

Detergent

Step 1: Place the stained jeans on a dry towel/cloth. Apply water to the stained area. Blot the stained region using a clean cloth. The stain will transfer onto the pure fabric.

Step 2: Add detergent onto the stained part and let the jeans sit for five minutes.

Step 3: Wash the whole pair of jeans with water and ensure the entire stain is clean before putting it out to dry.

Alcohol-Based Inks

Alcohol-based ink stains are the hardest to remove. For this type of stain, one will need a permanent ink remover.

Alcohol is recommended to remove permanent ink because it dilutes the stain and makes it easily removable while washing.

Procedure 1

Requirements

Rubbing alcohol

Laundry detergent

Water 

A clean towel

Step 1: Place the stained pair of jeans on a clean towel. Apply a little water only on the Stained area. Blot the stained part with another cloth. Avoid using paper towels because it leaves Pieces of paper on the fabric. While you blot, the stain will transfer to the cleaning cloth.

Step 2: Add a tiny amount of laundry detergent onto the stained part and let it sit for five minutes.

Step 3: Keep blotting the stained part until the stain comes off ultimately. Once the stain is cleared, wash the pair of jeans using suitable hot water, and rinse off multiple times. It is essential to check that the stain is removed before drying the jeans.

Alcohol may not obliterate the stain, but it makes it fade. In such a case, use oxygen-based bleach with cold water. Soak the jeans for nine hours, then wash them.

Procedure 2

Requirements

Nail polish remover/ Hairspray (both contain alcohol which helps dissolve the ink)

Dry, clean towel

Water

Laundry detergent

When using either hairspray or nail polish remover, picking the ones with the highest percentage of alcohol is vital. This increases the efficiency of this product in clearing permanent ink stains.

Step 1: Place the stained jeans on a clean and dry towel. Spray a good hairspray/nail polish remover on the stained part. Blot with a piece of cloth until the Stain clears.

Step 2: When the stain clears, rinse the nail polish remover/hairspray, and then launder the pair of Jeans and put out to dry.

Oil-based Ink

This type of ink is the easiest to remove from jeans. Regular laundry clears this oil-based ink on jeans.

The problem arises when the ink is left for too long, and it dries. One is advised not to launder jeans with dried ink because of the drier sets’ heat in the cloth’s stain. Heat sets the ink on the jeans, making it challenging to come off.

In case ink is dried, the following tips should guide you:

Procedure 1

Required

Alcohol-based sanitizer

Hot water

Laundry detergent

Step 1: Apply an adequate amount of alcohol-based sanitizer on the stained area. Allow it to soak for ten minutes

Step 2: Was the jeans with hot water (not too hot to damage the pair of jeans).

Procedure 2

Required

Color-safe bleach

Laundry detergent

Water

When alcohol fails to remove the stain, bleach can be used reasonably.

Step 1: Before using bleach, it is advisable to first test a small amount of it on the inner seam of the cloth to determine whether it can damage the jeans in any visible way.

Step 2: Mix one teaspoon of bleach with a gallon of water and soak the jeans for 45 minutes. Launder the jeans and dry them.

Precautions To Take While Cleaning Ink-stained Jeans

• Avoid placing the jeans in a dryer. The impact of heat on ink-stained jeans makes the stain so hard to remove.

• While laundering stained jeans, one should blot and avoid rubbing. Rubbing will spread the stain all over the jeans.

• It is essential to act fast once you notice your jeans are stained. Allowing the ink to dry makes it hard to come off.

Final Thought

How frustrating can it be when you notice ink stains on your favorite pair of jeans on your laundry day? Ink is made with oils, dyes, and pigments, which can discolor your jeans and force you never to wear them again. You can successfully get rid of the tint but still, have the oil stain remaining. 

That’s why it is essential to adopt the correct stain treatment based on the type of stain you need to remove. Anytime you fall victim to ink stains, stay calm because the removal process is simple. With the correct stain treatment, your pair of jeans will be as good as new.

References:

https://www.thespruce.com/remove-ink-from-jeans-4779946
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Ink-Stains-from-Jeans