Whats the best way to remove ballpoint pen ink?

Question

Its on my wifes favorite tablecloth, its mostly white so im not to worried about fading. I havent realy tried to get it out because i want to do it right the first time.

Answer 1

What's the fabric? That's good to know when solving a problem like this.
I have a pale pink/green/white shirt that is 65% polyester and 35% cotton. It had an ink line from a ballpoint pen.

I had heard that hairspray can get pen ink out of cotton, so I grabbed mine (It was Aquanet Hair Spray), and sprayed it and gently scrubbed with a toothbrush and washed it in warm water and it came out!! I was amazed. But I have not had a ballpoint pen stain recently, so haven't tried it with any of the newer hairsprays available.

Answer 2

Hairspray works ok but Carbona Stain Devils work great. I had an ink pen explode in a load of whites in the dryer. All the clothes and the dryer were covered. I spent that entire evening with two different kinds of hairspray and I was only partially successful. The next day I bought the Carbona and now you can't even see a spot.

Answer 3

Put a layer of paper towels down under where the ink is and spray ink with hair spray blot with more paper towels move the bottom towels and spray again .. The cheaper the hair spray the better it will work .

Answer 4

I have always sprayed hairspray on the ink spot, let it sit for a little bit and then wash it.

Answer 5

Amodex spot remover is best on ink stains.
You can check out their web site to find it.

This is amazing stuff.

Answer 6

Hairspray, It will take a couple of times of spraying, letting it sit, rubbing and repeating.

Answer 7

hairspray sprayed heavily on stain. Rinse & repeat as needed.

Answer 8

Try WD40. It will not damage the cloth and will wash.