How to Get Ink Out of Carpet

Carpet stains can be quite stressful, but nothing like seeing fresh ink on your carpet! Below are a few options you can try to get the ink out. Try whichever one you feel more comfortable with and/or have on hand. Time is of the essence so the sooner you attempt to remove the ink the higher likelihood that the ink will come off.

Detergent: Mix about 1 cup of water with a teaspoon of dish washing detergent, creating a soapy solution. Spray this solution onto the stain or dip a cloth into the solution and dab onto the stain. Continue blotting until the stain is removed. If the stain is small, this method should work well.

Rubbing Alcohol: Wet a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol and use it to blot the stain, starting at the edges and working your way inwards to prevent the stain from spreading. Continue re-wetting and blotting until the spot fades away. This will probably take 30 minutes or more.

WD-40:  Spray the lubricant onto the stain and allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes. Then, blot the stain with a sponge and soapy water to remove both the ink and the lubricant.

Hairspray: We can’t vouch for the success of this claim, but many people believe that hairspray can help remove ink stains. It works in a similar way to alcohol, which is why we simply recommend using rubbing alcohol. But if you want to try it, spray hairspray onto the stain and allow the hairspray to sink in for 3-5 minutes. Then, apply a soapy water solution and blot up.

With all of these products, we recommend that you do a test patch on an unimportant and unseen area of the carpet beforehand. Some products (especially spray lubricants) can permanently stain your carpet. Also, always remember to blot (not rub) and don’t pour a liquid product directly onto the stain as this could cause the stain to spread.

After you’ve removed the stain, rinse the area with warm water to remove any residue. Blot the area with a dry cloth to remove excess water and then leave the area alone, allowing the carpet to dry. After it dries, you may need to fluff the carpet fibers up with your fingers.

If your stain still hasn’t disappeared after you attempt with one method you can try another until you find one that works. However, if the stain still isn’t gone after multiple attempts, call Monterey Bay Solutions.