A pen leaking in your pocket, a marker falling on the sofa, or a child drawing a little too enthusiastically on the armrest: an ink stain is one of the more frustrating kinds. Ink soaks into fibres quickly and can spread further if handled the wrong way. Still, a fresh ink stain can often be removed with the right steps, in the right order.
What you’ll need
- Clean, white cloths or cotton pads
- Isopropyl alcohol (or hand sanitiser) to loosen the ink
- A fabric cleaner to treat what’s left behind, such as our Fabric Cleaner
- Cold water
Step by step
- Act as quickly as possible. The fresher the ink stain, the easier it lifts — once it’s dried in, ink sinks deeper into the fibres and becomes much harder to remove.
- Blot gently, don’t rub. Rubbing just pushes the ink further out and spreads the stain. Always blot from the outside of the stain inward.
- Apply isopropyl alcohol to a clean cloth, not directly onto the fabric. Blot the stain carefully until you see the ink transferring onto the cloth. Use a fresh section of cloth each time so you don’t spread the ink back.
- Repeat until no more ink transfers. A stubborn stain can take several rounds of fresh cloth.
- Rinse with a lightly damp, cold cloth to dilute and remove any alcohol residue.
- Follow up with a fabric cleaner to tackle any remaining haze or discolouration, then let it dry fully.
A note of caution
Always test alcohol, or any product, on an inconspicuous spot first — not every fabric handles alcohol equally well, and coloured or delicate fabrics in particular can discolour.
When should you call in a professional?
Has the ink stain already dried in, does it cover a large area, or would you rather not risk discolouration on light or delicate fabric yourself? Then professional help is the safer choice. We work with products and techniques matched to the specific fabric type, so the stain is treated without damaging the upholstery. Get in touch for free, no-obligation advice.
