You have a trace of ballpoint pen ink on your clothes. This might have happened to you at least once in your life. If this has not occurred to you, maybe you know someone who had to face that uncomfortable situation.

If you have kids, then you will know how difficult it is to keep their clothes clean, not to mention little children love to scribble on paper and other surfaces, like clothes or your sofa.

You wash your clothes thinking the stain will be removed but that does not happen. The ink stain is still there.

When there is a ballpoint pen stain on your favorite shirt you have to come up with a plan that is easy to follow and execute, and that requires as little time and money as possible.

In this article you will find 5 easy steps that will remove that unpleasant ink stain for good.

1) Sponge the stain with dry cleaning solvent. Wait until the fabric absorbs the solvent and then rinse. Repeat until the stain is removed.

2) Do the same as in step 1 but with rubbing alcohol and let the fabric air dry.

Note: Some people suggest using shaving cream if rubbing alcohol does not remove the stain.

3) If the stain is not completely removed with the steps mentioned above, then use a liquid laundry detergent. Rub it on the stain and let it sit overnight. Rinse out the detergent.

4) Use some laundry pre-wash stain remover on the stain.

5) Wash.

On Hairspray

You might have heard that hairspray is a good option to remove a ballpoint pen stain. However, there are a few aspects you need to take into consideration if you decide to use this method.

Essentially, hairspray contains alcohol which is why is so good at removing ink stains. If the surface or fabric is a washable one, then it could be OK to use it. Nonetheless, in some surfaces like upholstery and carpets, hairspray could leave sticky residues.

If you decide to use this method this is what you have to do:

1) Place the stained area of the fabric facing down on a towel.

2) Pre-treat the fabric with pre-treatment spray. Let it sit.

3) Use a scrub brush or toothbrush to scrub the surface of the fabric.

4) Wash with warm water.

Conclusion

It is important to know what kind of fabric has been stained with ink and what cleaning method is the best to remove it.

The steps above are generally used for clothing and are specifically targeted for ballpoint pen stains.

The steps mentioned above should help remove that ugly stain without a problem in no time.