Any good tricks for getting ink out of clothing?

Freezer-TPF- · Post by **Freezer-TPF-** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:46 am

I need help from the BS/OO/exGG knowledge base. I just dropped a red ink pen into my lap, and said pen managed to leave a few nice little ink marks on my favorite khaki pants. Does anyone know any tricks for getting the ink out? I am guessing putting water on it right now would just spread out the stain.

Life is not fair.

triggercut · Post by **triggercut** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:54 am

I got nuthin' here.

For ballpoint ink, you spray the affected area with hairspray and then wash and that works. For marker pen ink I got no idea.

Freezer-TPF- · Post by **Freezer-TPF-** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:10 am

Hmm, this is rollerball/uniball pen ink. I was figuring you might know a few tricks from your restaurant staff, triggercut. Or maybe that is why most restaurant employees wear black pants, to hide such catastrophes. Hmm, it's all coming together now...

CeeKay · Post by **CeeKay** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:12 am

Get it drunk and....

nope, nothing comes to mind other than washing them as soon as possible.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:27 am

http://www.heloise.com/staincalendar.html

Or nuke the pants from orbit. It's the only way to be sure...

In either case, I think it's no pants day for Teh Freezer!

Kael · Post by **Kael** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:31 am

The Octopus Overlords have made their first strike.

Rubyeye · Post by **Rubyeye** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:38 am

Stain remover and a few washes will probably get rid of the pen ink. Just don't dry! I USED to wait tables when I was in college and had a fateful accident that included a full dryer of clothes, 90 minute dry cycle, and a loose pen I had forgotten to take out of my apron thingy. It was bad, pen marks EVERYWHERE. After a few washes, it all came out.

triggercut · Post by **triggercut** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:45 am

Gel ink *might* work with the hairspray thing, but I dunno.

Spray & Wash or Shout might do it, too.

I'd say your best bet is a triple-threat combo of a stain-remover, oxy-clean, and a detergent with color-safe bleach.

Freezer-TPF- · Post by **Freezer-TPF-** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 1:59 pm

Yes, I like the full court press approach. I'm going to pick up some anti-stain ordnance, throw a few combos at it, then wash sans drying. These ink marks are now my white whale.

I would go with no pants, but I already have a letter in my personnel file on that subject. It's not my fault that "dress down for casual Fridays" is so open to interpretation.

Dirt · Post by **Dirt** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:13 pm

Take it to the drycleaners.

Lassr · Post by **Lassr** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 3:29 pm

I've used WD-40 to get a grease mark off of clothes...not sure it would work on ink though...spray then wash but don't dry until the mark is out.

CeeKay · Post by **CeeKay** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 3:32 pm

FishPants wrote:I would try peeing on the ink. If nothing else it would be fun.

And you dodn't even have to take your pants off!

You could try nuking it from orbit.

GargoyleBoy · Post by **GargoyleBoy** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 3:32 pm

Fire.

Bad Demographic · Post by **Bad Demographic** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 4:01 pm

Scissors.

Freezer-TPF- · Post by **Freezer-TPF-** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 4:48 pm

Well, I tried to combine suggestions and used the scissor approach with the time saving suggestion of not taking the pants off first. So quick follow-up: How do you get blood out of clothing?

Also, I better post a medical advice thread quickly before the room gets totally dim. Oooh, look, multicolored splotches in my field of vision, prettttyyyyyyyy..........

Bad Demographic · Post by **Bad Demographic** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 4:55 pm

To get blood out of clothing:
The stuff you wash diapers in (I forget the product name)
Amway has or used to have a powder laundry detergent that did a good job of getting out both blood and grass stains. The product I'm thinking of was available around 1970 -- I don't know if they still carry it.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 5:03 pm

Freezer-TPF- wrote:Well, I tried to combine suggestions and used the scissor approach with the time saving suggestion of not taking the pants off first. So quick follow-up: How do you get blood out of clothing?

Also, I better post a medical advice thread quickly before the room gets totally dim. Oooh, look, multicolored splotches in my field of vision, prettttyyyyyyyy..........

Go towards the light!

kathode · Post by **kathode** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 5:11 pm

Shampoo works wonders on blood. You might have to soak it a while if it's been stuck there a long time.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 7:29 pm

you can get permanent marker off CDs with diluted rubbing alcohol

DiscoJason · Post by **DiscoJason** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 11:58 pm

Would this ink be from the Octopus Overlords?!?!?!?!? I think we have found their double agent, folks!!! Get him!!!!

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 6:06 am

Hairspray takes out ink.

Soaking in COLD water with a little rubbing takes out blood. Do not use HOT water, that will set the blood in the fabric.

Grifman
A single guy who's had to figure all this out on his own