How Do You Get Out Pen from Clothes

Updated on October 20, 2008
C.F. asks from El Paso, TX
31 answers

My boyfriend just discovered he accidentally left a pen in his pants pocket. He washed and dried it. The pen of course exploded and wound up on all the clothes that were in the dryer. Does anyone know of any method to get out the permanent ink from from clothes that have been through the heating process of the dryer. I would greatly appreciate anyone with any solutions. One of his favorite pair of pants were in the dryer and he says he will wear them anyway with the pen stains. So I would like to see if I can remove those stains for him. Thank you all in advance for your advice.

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L.R.

answers from Portland on

I know hairspray will get pen marks out pretty well, and alcohol seems to do the same (maybe it's the alcohol in the hairspray?). The hairspray seems to undo the permanence of the ink, making it easy to rinse away. You might try getting a gallon or two of rubbing alcohol and soaking them for a few minutes, then rinse in water and soak some more (changing the alcohol as needed. If the ink stains are localized in one spot, just soak that section to use less alcohol. I have never had much success with big stains, but then, I've never tried very hard, either. So I hope this helps!

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R.S.

answers from Houston on

You can try hairspray. Spray a lot directly on the stain and then wash. Most of the time it works for me. I hope this helps.

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T.G.

answers from Killeen on

buy some hairspray the old kind in the arisol can. But a paper towel under the stain spray it with the hairspray dap it with another paper towel. It is a slow process but it works.

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C.T.

answers from San Antonio on

i've been told hairspray and oxyclean.

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J.H.

answers from Houston on

I am sure there is a home remedy of some sort but I just don't know of that one. You can try the dry cleaners...they are good at getting those tuff stains out!

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A.N.

answers from Austin on

Google - Don Aslett's cleaning tips- and look up frequently asked questions - it's in there - you just have to look around for it.

Alli

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J.V.

answers from Austin on

Try saturating the area with a cheap hair spray.. and then blotting... keep doing it....awhile... then use a spray and wash type product...

Has worked for me before.......

J.

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L.H.

answers from Killeen on

Hi C.,,
I discovered from a dear friend ,,that proxide is a Great cleaning soulation ,, you can use it on anything i dont know the color you are working with so you should start out half proxide and half water ,,i have gotten where i dont use any other products for cleaning ,,it leaves a clean smell and does the job ,,hope you have good luck with it as i have.
good luck L.

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S.C.

answers from Houston on

I do know that hydrogen peroxide takes ink out of upholstery. You might try this although I believe once it has gone through the dryer it may have set the stain. You might google it as that is how I learned to use hydrogen peroxide on upholstery and it has worked for me! I hope this helps!

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J.O.

answers from Austin on

HAIRSPRAY!!! I see a lot of people recommending aerosol, but I was successful at even using the pump version. It was sticky and messy. And don't get discouraged if/when it "runs"/bleeds into the surrounding clothes. Just wash it separatly and pray. The pants that I thought were ruined turned out PERFECT!

Good Luck!

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R.L.

answers from Houston on

Hairspray definitely works, but I'm not sure if it work with dried in ink. I do know that Shout gel advanced (in a spray bottle) worked for me in a similar situation, although you may have to treat it and wash it more than once.

Good luck!

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

aerosol hairspray works on minor pen ink - you would have to use a whole lot for this mess. But, it might work.

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D.M.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Try hairspray. Just spray hairspray on the ink stains and wash the clothes again-it usually works. Good luck!

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J.K.

answers from Houston on

Hairspray!! Like the old Aqua Net is the best! Just spray that on anywhere there is pen and get like an old toothbrush and scrub and it will come out in a heartbeat! That also works on walls, furniture, anything! Good Luck!

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L.J.

answers from Cincinnati on

Go to an arts and craft store and see if you can purchase acetone. Wear gloves as acetone does absorb through the skin and is dangerous. Use a paper towel and blot acetone on the ink spots. Then wash in warm soapy water again.

Another thing that sometimes works is Non-Oily acetone nail polish remover. Again wear gloves. Again follow with warm soapy wash.

Anything with acetone in it is not safe. It can cause liver damage in people.

Good Luck... let me know how it goes. I have used these method several times in my life with success. Hope it works for you!

LoJo

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H.B.

answers from San Antonio on

Hairspray! Works miracles.

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J.M.

answers from Houston on

Hairspray. Saturate the stain with hairspray and the stain should rub out with a little elbow grease. I have used the cheap kind in a pump and it works great. Good Luck!

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K.K.

answers from Killeen on

I use simple green to get out all stains. Once you buy it there are instuctions for most of it's uses. It may have a strong smell and look odd, but my kids clothes have looked like new for months after purchase by using this on stains. I use a 1/3 dilution of it, spray it directly on the stains and wash...It works wonders!!!

Good Luck.

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B.D.

answers from Houston on

There is a line of stain removers made by Carbona that I use geared toward specific types of stains. I've used this one to get ink stains out of clothes, and it has worked! It has also lightened soaked-in permanent marker on a sweater of mine (I wasn't hopeful that anything could be done on it so I was pleasantly surprised). It's available at Wal-Mart, Kroger, pretty much everywhere. Carbona Stain Devils Ink & Crayon probably about $3.

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H.M.

answers from Houston on

I too did the same thing with my husbands work uniforms after he freaked out we sprayed each of the spots with shout or spray and wash then soaked them in hot water with the product OXY CLEAN for a couple of hours and repeated the process a couple of times in a row,but the ink went away mostly and with each wash it fades more when repeating the process over wearing andd washing.

Good Luck this really bites when it happens.

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S.H.

answers from Houston on

Put a towel or papertowel under the spot. Saturate the spot with half alcohol half peroxide, then pour regular salt on top of that - a small pile on top of area is fine. Then drop a little more alcolhol and peroxide on top of that. The salt will absorb the pen ink. Check it after a little while to see if its totally absorbed, if not, put a little more alcohol and peroxide. I did this for my daughter's leotard and it turned out beautifully.

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L.B.

answers from Odessa on

Rubbing alcohol! Works wonders. Just pour it on and rub and rinse, repeat until gone. I have saved numerous clothes. Works like magic!

It may be the alcohol in hairspray that makes it work. Rubbing alcohol is pretty cheap, too.

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M.S.

answers from College Station on

There is a wonderful product that is "liquid gold" called solumel. You can even get tar out of carpet, fingernail polish off of clothes. It is AMAZing and it smells good too. It has so many uses that I can't even list them all here. Plus, it is all natural and will not hurt you b/c it has no chemicals in it, no fumes!

Blessings,
M.
Mom to 5 Wonderful Kids
www.4MyChildrenSake.com

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D.B.

answers from Houston on

Spray hairspray on the ink before you wash it in the washing machine with Tide.

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G.M.

answers from Houston on

If you havn't dried it in the dryer yet then spray hairspray on it and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. Then wash it in cold water. Comes right out. Good Luck

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S.D.

answers from Austin on

My mom used to drench the stains with aerosol hairspray and wash it, it used to work.

Good luck!

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A.W.

answers from Houston on

Spray alcohol based Hairspray on it, LOTS of it. Then hand wash it to make sure that you get it all out.

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E.L.

answers from Corpus Christi on

spray hairspray on the ink.

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J.W.

answers from Houston on

Your best bet C. would be to get the pants to a dry cleaner for special stain remover.
Unfortunately, you mention that the marker was a permanent one and it has also been through heat so it could be indelibly set. Just take it to the dry cleaners and ask their opinion.

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L.B.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Had this happen with white shirts, found out that fresh lemon juice and a old toothbrush worked wonders. Put a old towel under before starting it will bleed and spread before going away thus the towel. You might also try some oxy-clean it works wonders with lots of things for me. Good luck

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T.H.

answers from Austin on

You can try hairspray(not the aerosol kind). I'm not sure if it'll work out of the dryer, but try blotting with a dry cloth after spraying the stain...

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