How to remove ballpoint ink stains
Lift it with alcohol before it spreads. Here's the safe way to lift a ballpoint ink stain — these steps work for most fabrics, and you can tailor them to yours in the tool below.
Act fast
Can be stubborn — treat it now and don’t let it dry.
Do this now
- 1
Lay the stain face-down on a paper towel.
- 2
Dab the back with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitiser — blot, don’t rub.
- 3
Keep moving to a clean part of the towel as ink transfers.
- 4
Rinse and wash as the label allows.
Use
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hand sanitiser
- Clean paper towels
Avoid
- Rubbing (spreads it)
- Heat
- Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, alcohol, rust remover, or other cleaners.
- Use only one stain-removal chemical at a time, then rinse before trying another.
Good to know
These steps suit most washable fabrics. Choose your fabric to tailor them — gentler for wool, silk and other delicates, firmer for cotton and denim.