How do I get red ink out of carpet?

Question

Ok this is driving me crazy as I just noticed it. There is a 1/4th inch red ink on the carpet, I'm not sure what to do that will help get rid of it, and I'm afraid of rubbing it as it will just get bigger and bigger. What do I do to help get rid of it? plz I need help as we just had this carpet shampoo'd just a few days ago, as we are moving in about 2 weeks, and the carpet was nice and clean, and after this guy came in from home depot to put in the microwave, I noticed this red ink in the carpet, where he walked. its just one spot.

Answer 1

OXI-Clean!! Works like a hot damn

Answer 2

If you are absolutely sure it is ink, then I'd suggest acetone (nail polish remover.) Test a small corner of the rug that would not be noticable, just in case, especially if you have darker carpet. Then, you can pour a capful at a time onto the stain, until it is saturated. Then DAB and PRESS, (DO NOT SCRUB) the stain to get most of the ink product out. Continue until the stain is gone is mostly gone, then finish it off with an oxygen stain remover, like OXY Clean. If you don't have any on hand, you could also use hydrogen peroxide.

Answer 3

I've had 15 years of carpet cleaning experience this is almost the worst thing to happen to your carpet. Whatever you do don't rub on it.. you might try some denatured alcohol on it.. Available at your local hardware store. but dab and blot don't rub. A shop vac is a helpful tool you can rinse out as you go.. Hopefully its not red in concentrate.. Worst case you cookie cut that spot out of the carpet

To preform a cookie cut you will need:
A sharp razor
Hot glue gun
Butter knife

use a butter knife to divide the rows of carpet around the stain in a straight line. Cut carpet backing not carpet fibers with the razor. Cut out only what you need to remove the stain.

Now take the piece with the stain to your closet.
cut out the exact size you need from the back or side of the closet where you will never see it.

Take the clean pc from the closet and hot glue it into place where the stain used to be. stand on it for a minute or two to allow the glue to cool.

If the spot is small enough you will never see where you cut in the new pc.
Let me know if this helped.

Answer 4

Yikes -- you are right -- rubbing it would probably make it worse. Whenever I have ink on my clothes, I spray them with hairspray, let them soak, then wash them and the ink always comes out. In your situation, I think that the hairspray would also work. I would reccommend spraying it, then scrubbing really hard or even better, renting a small carpet shampooer from the grocery store or Home Depot.

Also, if the ink it just on the surface, you could cut if off (I have snipped stains out of carpet that is semi plush before and you really can't tell a difference.)

Sometimes I check this website for other ideas: www.ehow.com They also suggest the hair spray idea:
* STEP 1: Saturate the ink stain with hair spray.
* STEP 2: Allow the stain to fully dry.
* STEP 3: Mix a solution of one part water to one part white vinegar.
* STEP 4: Pour the solution on the stain.
* STEP 5: Brush the area lightly with a medium-bristle brush, preferably a toothbrush.
* STEP 6: Continue brushing until the stain is gone.
* STEP 7: Blot the area with a dry, white cloth.
* STEP 8: Flood the area with water.
* STEP 9: Blot again.
* STEP 10: Allow to dry.

Tips & Warnings

* Always test the cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous part of the carpet before using on a large area.
* Brush from the outer edges of the stain inward to prevent the stain from spreading.
* Use a white cloth rather than a colored one to prevent any dyes from coming off on the carpet.

This website also has an idea, although I would go with the hairspray first (I have experience with that and know it works.)
http://www.howtoremovecarpetstains.com/removeinkstainsfromcarpet.html

You can remove ink stains from carpet using rubbing alcohol. It will work better if it is 90% isopropyl alcohol, but you can try the ones that are 70% if that's what's available. In either case, carpet ink stains will come out more easily if you catch them quickly.

First of all, don't pour rubbing alcohol on your carpet. Apply it to a white cotton cloth and dab the stain carefully, so you don't spread the ink. Suck it out after a few minutes using a shop-vac, or, if you use a cloth, blot carefully. Don't rub! Repeat the process until you remove the stains from the carpet, or until you get no more transfer to the cloth. In the latter case it may not be possible to remove the stain completely, although you can try a commercial cleaning solvent.
Always Rinse And Extract Carpet Stains

When you remove ink stains from carpet, or any other stains, using a solvent other than water, be sure to rinse the area and extract the water. Again, vacuuming out the water is quicker, and less likely to damage your carpet, but you can use a clean white cloth to blot the moisture out also. Rinse, extract, repeat.

Finally, dry the area quickly. There may still be some ink hiding deep in the fibers. Quick drying prevents this remaining ink from wicking up to he surface of the carpet where it can become visible again. Paper towels work well to get the moisture out, and a fan left blowing on the area will complete the process.

Answer 5

Make sure with whatever cleaning product you use that you put a rag on it and blot. I had to do the same thing with sharpie ink and I had to use nail polish remover. I put the towel over the stain with the cleaner on it and pounded with the tip of my thumb. My thumb was totally numb after but it worked. Rubbing it can cause the carpet to fray and may rub the stain in more. Good luck!

Answer 6

I'm not sure how this will do on older ink stains but it has worked for me on fresh ink stains (my carpet is a light brown)...good luck!

1. Saturate the ink stain with hair spray.
2. Allow the stain to fully dry.
3. Mix a solution of one part water to one part white vinegar.
4. Pour the solution on the stain.
5. Brush the area lightly with a medium-bristle brush (preferably a toothbrush).
6. Continue brushing until the stain is gone.
7. Blot the area with a dry, white cloth.
8. Flood the area with water.
9. Blot your little heart out and then allow to dry.

Answer 7

Try oxyclean it will remove red and nothing else I've seen will! Also call the HD & tell them their man got this in your carpet! Tell them you just cleaned it & the carpet man can attest to the fact that there was no red ink in it when he cleaned & get his written statement if possible & you may be held responsible for the whole carpet !!! DO IT NOW & take PHOTOS !!! Best of Luck!

Answer 8

Nail Polish remover works wonder on inks. Put some ink on your old clothes or something and you'll see that it works. ^_^ then you could use it on your carpet. Of course, if you believe me in the first place just put some on your carpet. Of course this need some rubbing actions. Good luck

Answer 9

Go to Lowes and buy a hand cleaner called "E-Z Clean". It's blue and has pumice in it. This stuff is amazing. I used to work as a mechanic and this stuff got ALL of my stains out of the carpet e.g. grease, ink, oil, etc... Accidents do happen.

It is non-toxic, biodegradable, and strong. If you follow the directions, it will get the stain out. Being that your particular stain has already set in it will be a little more difficult.

Is a carpet patch out of the question? If you have a swatch or two left of your carpet you can cut out the stain in a square section and glue the new section in place of it. Look at any Do-It-Yourself book for instructions. I've tried it and it works.

Answer 10

OK simplest thing you can do is: you get the bleach pens for like the laundry and put just a little bit of that on it IF THE CARPET IS WHITE!! If not get REALLY good carpet cleaner and scrub. (fallow the directions)

Answer 11

try this: get 2 white hand towels and your clothes iron. fill iron with water and set on high with steam release. 1 get the stain area a little wet with hot water. 2 get one towel wet with hot water(wring it out, but not completely) and lay over the stain. 3 lay other towel on top of that one. 4 lay iron on top and let it set and steam for a few moments(use caution here as you don't want to burn anything) 5 as you play with this method you will see the towels getting dirty, just rinse and repeat as this is just the dirt coming out of carpet 6 make sure you wipe iron clean everytime you pick it up off towels or it will become very dirty itself. hope this works for you as it has for me many times