How To Get Ink Stains Out Of Sheets

Have you ever fallen asleep working? Writing in your journal? Writing a letter? Have you rolled over on an uncapped pen?

You get the picture – ink stains all over your sheets – what now?

It happens to everyone sooner or later, and you’re left searching all over for how to get ink stains out of sheets.

Not to worry, with very few exceptions, you will be able to remove ink stains from your sheets using only a few everyday household products you most likely already have on hand!

If you’re willing to learn, you’ve found the right place.

Ready to get started?

Items You’ll Need

In this section, we’ll list and discuss the items you’ll need to get ink stains out of scrubs. 

We’ll provide any alternatives as options for each item, when applicable.

Water

Cold water and cool running water are used to rinse away various stain removers.

Cold water is used in the wash cycle for the washing machine.

Paper Towels, Various Cloths, Cotton Balls, Damp Sponges, Old Towels

Paper towels, various cloths, cotton balls, damp sponges, old towels, and alternatives are used to blot up excess ink from the stain, to apply multiple stain removers, to work stain removers into the ink stain, and to rinse off various stain removers, – all at different stages of the stain removal process.

Check out these microfiber cleaning cloths that I like to use.

Rubbing Alcohol

High quality rubbing alcohol is used as a stain remover as it’s an effective ink stain remover from sheets.

I like this brand.

Hairspray With Alcohol

Hairspray, with high alcohol content and few (preferably no) additives like perfumes, oils, and conditioners, such as Aqua Net Professional Hair Spray, which we found on Amazon, is used as a stain remover as it makes an alternatively effective ink stain remover from sheets.

Nail Polish Remover With Acetone

Nail polish remover with acetone is an efficient ink stain remover from sheets, so make sure you have the kind that contains acetone.

Order yours here.

Laundry Stain Removers

Laundry stain removers make excellent ink stain removers from sheets, found in your local grocery stores or Amazon, such as Oxi Clean Max Force Gel Stain Remover Stick 6.2 oz or Grandma’s Secret 7001 2 Pack Spot Remover Laundry Spray 16 fl oz, 32.

All-Fabric Bleach

All-fabric bleach is used as an ink stain remover for sheets.

I use this one.

It has a gentler touch.

Liquid Dish Soap And Liquid Laundry Detergent

Mild liquid dish soap or liquid laundry detergent is used to immediately attempt to remove as much ink as possible while the ink stain is fresh.

Liquid laundry detergent is also used in laundering your sheets after stain removal.

Step By Step Instructions For How To Get Ink Stains Out Of Sheets

#1 Soap & Water

It’s best to catch and act on an ink stain as soon as it happens, or at least as quickly as possible. 

It’s much easier to get rid of ink stains when they are fresh or wet than when they are set-in, old, or dried up.

  1. Place an old towel or white paper towels underneath the stain to absorb any ink that soaks through.
  2. Pour a small amount of mild liquid dish soap or liquid laundry detergent onto a damp cloth or sponge.
  3. Blot as much of the ink as possible, working the soap into a lather, before wiping the affected area clean with cold water and a damp cloth or sponge. 
  4. Use a new site of the fabric or sponge each time you blot to avoid spreading the ink further around the sheet, using fresh cloths or sponges and towels or paper towels, as necessary.
  5. Rinse the area thoroughly under cold running water.

 #2 Preparing Your Sheets For A Stain Remover

  1. Before using each stain remover, place an old towel or white paper towels underneath the stain to absorb any ink that soaks through.
  2. Before using a particular stain remover, test it on a spot in a hidden area of your sheets to check for any possible color transference, discoloration, or fabric damage.
  3. Choose one of the stain remover methods listed in steps #3-7.

#3 Stain Remover: Rubbing Alcohol (Optional-Choice Of Method)

Rubbing alcohol, as the #1 DIY ink stain removal remedy for sheets, as well as other fabrics , is an effective method to remove almost any type of ink stain from your sheets.

  1. Moisten a cotton ball with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and gently dab it onto the stained area until the area is saturated with the rubbing alcohol.
  2. Blot the ink from the stain with a paper towel, rotating and replacing paper towels as often as necessary to avoid blotting ink right back onto your sheets while lifting as much ink as possible with the rubbing alcohol and paper towels.
  3. Rinse the area under cold running water.
  4. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  5. Once the stain is gone, proceed to step #8, Launder As Usual. However, if the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #4-7.

#4 Stain Remover: Hairspray With Alcohol (Optional-Choice Of Method)

Hairspray is a long-time common ink stain removal technique, often referred to as an ‘old wives’ tale.’ 

However, it does work – 100%!

Hairspray used to contain alcohol, the stain-removing ingredient, which made it an effective ink stain removal method.

However, as formulas progressed, the amount of alcohol in hairsprays has significantly been reduced or eliminated, mostly because it can dry out or damage your hair. 

Also, look for a hairspray with very few, preferably zero, additives such as perfumes, oils, or conditioners.

You can still find higher alcohol content in some hairsprays, though they’ll mostly be among the cheaper hairspray products, such as one we found on Amazon, Aqua Net Professional Hair Spray.

  1. Spray enough hairspray with alcohol onto the stained area until the area is saturated with the hairspray.
  2. Blot the ink from the stain with a paper towel, rotating and replacing paper towels as often as necessary to avoid blotting ink right back onto your sheets while lifting as much ink as possible with the hairspray and paper towels.
  3. Rinse the area under cold running water.
  4. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  5. Once the stain is gone, proceed to step #8, Launder As Usual. However, if the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3, 5-7.

#5 Stain Remover: Nail Polish Remover With Acetone (Optional-Choice Of Method)

Nail polish remover with acetone is an efficient ink removal technique from sheets, so make sure you have the kind that contains acetone.

  1. Moisten a cotton ball with a small amount of nail polish remover with acetone and gently dab it onto the stained area until the area is saturated with the nail polish remover.
  2. Blot the ink from the stain with a paper towel, rotating and replacing paper towels as often as necessary to avoid blotting ink right back onto your sheets while lifting as much ink as possible with the nail polish remover and paper towels.
  3. Rinse the area under cold running water.
  4. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  5. Once the stain is gone, proceed to step #8, Launder As Usual. However, if the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-4, 6-7.

#6 Stain Remover: Laundry Stain Remover (Optional-Choice Of Method)

Laundry stain removers make excellent ink stain removers for sheets.

They are found in your local grocery stores or online at places like Amazon, where we found a couple that gets great ink-removal results from sheets, such as Oxi Clean Max Force Gel Stain Remover Stick 6.2 oz or Grandma’s Secret 7001 2 Pack Spot Remover Laundry Spray 16 fl oz, 32.

  1. Spray enough laundry stain remover onto the stained area until the area is saturated with the laundry stain remover.
  2. Blot the ink from the stain with a paper towel, rotating and replacing paper towels as often as necessary to avoid blotting ink right back onto your sheets while lifting as much ink as possible with the laundry stain remover and paper towels.
  3. Rinse the area under cold running water.
  4. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone OR let the laundry stain remover sit on the spot for at least the minimum amount of time recommended on the package/bottle before proceeding directly to step #8 Launder As Usual.
  5. Once the stain is gone, proceed to step #8, Launder As Usual. However, if the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3, 5-7.

#7 Stain Remover: All-Fabric Bleach (Optional-Choice Of Method)

All-fabric bleach is a good ink stain removal option from sheets, which works best when throwing the whole sheet in the wash with some bleach rather than just treating the stained area with bleach, which is more likely to leave the sheet with a discolored spot.

  1. Add all-fabric bleach according to the package/bottle directions to your usual liquid laundry detergent and wash the ink-stained sheet by itself on a cold wash cycle, as hot water will set the stain further.
  2. Examine the sheet after washing for any remaining ink – you may have to repeat cleaning the sheet with bleach a few more times to remove all the ink.
  3. Once the ink has been completely removed, you can place the sheet into the dryer and run it on your usual dryer setting.

#8 Launder As Usual

Congratulations on getting to this step!

By now, your ink stain should be gone entirely. However, before washing, examine the sheet for any remaining ink.

If ink stain remains on your sheets, go back, and choose one of the stain-removing methods from steps #3-7 before washing.

If your sheets are entirely ink stain-free:

  1. Run your sheets through the washing machine separately using your regular liquid laundry detergent on a cold wash cycle, as hot water will set the stain further (just in case).
  2. Examine the sheet (one more time – just to be sure) after washing for any remaining ink before drying as heat from the dryer will further set the ink stain and make it much more difficult to remove.
  3. Once the ink has been completely removed, you can place the sheet into the dryer and run it on your usual dryer setting.

Commonly Asked Questions

Is it possible to remove tattoo ink from sheets?

-Yes, it is possible to get tattoo ink stains out of your sheets.

The first night after getting tattooed, you’ll see an imprint on your sheets, which is to be expected.

Follow these steps to remove the tattoo ink from your sheets:

  1. Let the tattoo ink imprint dry on your sheets.
  2. Lay an old towel underneath the tattoo ink stain.
  3. Spray a generous amount of hairspray with alcohol over the tattoo ink imprint on your sheets.
  4. Blot the ink from the stain with a paper towel, rotating and replacing paper towels as often as necessary to avoid blotting ink right back onto your sheets while lifting as much ink as possible with the hairspray and paper towels.
  5. Rinse the area under cold running water.
  6. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  7. Run your sheets through the washing machine separately using your regular liquid laundry detergent on a cold wash cycle, as hot water will set the stain further (just in case).
  8. Examine the sheet (one more time – just to be sure) after washing for any remaining ink before drying as heat from the dryer will further set the ink stain and make it much more difficult to remove.
  9. Once the ink has been completely removed, you can place the sheet into the dryer and run it on your usual dryer setting.

What if nothing works and the ink stain doesn’t come out of the sheets?

-Unfortunately, there are rare times when ink stains are permanent and cannot be removed.

Fortunately, those times are few and far between, and there is a solution when it comes to your sheets.

Follow these steps if your ink stain doesn’t come out of your sheets:

  1. Cut the ink-stained area out of your sheet.
  2. Get a white patch a tad larger than the size you just cut out of the sheet, or a patch that matches the color of your sheets.
  3. Sew the patch in over the cut-out area of your sheet.

Not perfect, but better than ink-stained!

Conclusion

Have you enjoyed learning how to get ink stains out of sheets? 

It doesn’t take a lot of effort, product, or money – it just takes knowing what to do and which products to use!

All of that is better than having to trash your sheets and buy new ones to replace them.

Make your sheets clean again!