How to Remove Ink Stains From a Carpet

Did your latest art project get a little bit out of hand? Or maybe your dog has chewed up your favourite pen. Not only is the ink all over your pet now, but your carpet, too! Put away your art supplies, add a new pen to your shopping list, and put on your cleaning gloves! It’s time to get that pesky ink stain out of your carpet.

If you:

• Have accidentally spilt ink on your carpet;
• Are struggling to remove the stain;
• Want to know how to clean up dried ink spots,

Then read on! This post will answer your questions.

Why does the ink stain?

Ink is literally made of dyes for staining the surfaces they touch. In addition to dyes, ink contains other ingredients such as lubricants, resins, solvents, surfactants and others. That’s why it can be harder to remove ink once it has settled into the carpet fibre. Ink can also be liquid or paste, oil or water-based, so no shortage of stain types.

How to get ink out of carpet

If ink has stained your carpet, it is important to act quickly. Letting it dry will only make it harder to remove, resulting in more tedious work for you. Blot out as much of the liquid as you can before proceeding.

How you clean your carpet will depend on several factors.

They all make a great difference in how you should handle it. Some more delicate materials, such as wool, require more careful cleaning.

That being said, here are some of the most common ink stain types and how to remove them.

How to remove water-based ink

Water-based inks, such as Indian Ink, are one of the easiest to clean up. They use water as a solvent base and don’t need any harsh chemicals to break them down. You can make a DIY cleaning solution from products you have around the house.

What you need

So, here is how to easily remove water-based ink stains from your carpet:

1. Create a cleaning mixture.
   Mix one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent with some warm water.
2. Dip a cloth into the solution.
   Use a white cloth or towel to avoid transferring colour onto the carpet.
3. Dab the cloth on the ink stain.
   Work from the outside towards the centre of the stain so as not to spread the ink around.
4. Repeat.
   Keep dabbing the stain until it disappears.
5. Soak up any extra moisture.
   Use paper towels or a dry, clean cloth.
6. Vacuum.
   Once the carpet is dry, vacuum it to restore the fibres.

Dish soap can help you remove water-based paint stains from your carpet, too.

Permanent inks

Some ballpoint pen ink shouldn’t prove too difficult to remove from a carpet. However, if dishwashing liquid and water don’t do the trick you can move on to this method.

Printer ink, dried up stains, gel pens and sharpies are a different matter. To remove them, you will need something to break down the ink. This is where rubbing alcohol comes in.

Make sure to always rinse away any leftover alcohol to avoid damage to the carpet fibres. You can use a mixture of water and white vinegar, or water and dish soap.

What you need

Follow these steps to remove more stubborn ink stains from your rug:

White vinegar works wonders when it comes to removing nasty carpet odours, as well.

Still struggling to remove the stain?

As much as you try, some stains simply won’t go away. Why not let the professionals help? Fantastic Services offers a carpet cleaning service that is sure to leave your favourite rug looking and smelling fresh. The fully insured cleaners come equipped with everything they will need to restore your carpet to its former glory. They are prepared to tackle any type of material and stain you may be faced with. The service is done using the effective, child- and pet-safe hot water extraction method. Rest assured – your rug is in the right hands!

Takeaways

• Try to deal with the stain as soon as it appears, as dried spots are more difficult to remove.
• Water-based ink is easier to clean up than other types.
• You can use a homemade solution of water and dishwashing liquid to remove water-based ink stains.
• To deal with ballpoint, printer and dried ink stains, you can use rubbing alcohol. Just make sure to rinse it off afterwards.
• Always test your chosen cleaning method on an inconspicuous area first.
• Some stubborn stains may require professional cleaning.

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Did you manage to get the ink stains off your carpet? Do you have any additional cleaning tips? Let us know in the comments below!

No matter of the cleaning method, remember to always do a small spot test on hidden part of your carpet. Depending on the size, nature, and age of the stain, some of them might be impossible to remove. We cannot take responsibility if any of the above-mentioned methods do not work on your carpets. Read our disclaimer here.