How To Remove Ink Stains From Vinyl

Vinyl is everywhere – all over the place – in or on everything from automobiles to tablecloths, purses, bags, wallets, dolls, furniture to clothing, and on and on.

With so much vinyl around, it’s no surprise that at some time or another, you’re going to need to know how to remove ink stains from vinyl.

It’s easy to see how a pen or some other kind of ink could accidentally or “purposefully” encounter one or more, if not all, of the forms of vinyl in your life.

Rather than letting these ink marks and stains ruin your mood or your day, wouldn’t you like to know how to remove ink stains from vinyl using just one or more common household products that you probably already have on hand?

You’ve come to 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 is used to rinse away various stain removers.

Water is used in the pastes mixed to remove ink stains from vinyl.

Paper Towels, White Cloths, Cotton Swabs, Cotton Balls, Clean Toothbrush

Paper towels, white cloths, cotton swabs, cotton balls, clean toothbrush, cotton pads, cotton squares, cotton rounds, and alternatives are used to blot up excess ink from the stain, to apply various stain removers, to work stain removers into the ink stain, and to rinse off various stain removers, – all at various stages of the stain removal process.

I have found that these microfiber cleaning cloths work really well.

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to protect yourself from any chemicals used in the stain removal process.

Suggested items are rubber or latex gloves, goggles or protective glasses/eyewear, a dust mask, etc.

I like these gloves that I found on Amazon.

Rubbing Alcohol

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

Nail Polish Remover With Acetone

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

However, don’t panic if you only have non-acetone nail polish remover on hand as it’s been reported to be effective at removing ink stains as well, so definitely use it before purchasing the acetone nail polish remover.

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 vinyl.

Liquid Dish Soap Or Liquid Laundry Detergent

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

All-Purpose Cleaners

All-purpose cleaners, such as Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner-Original 32 oz. Spray or Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner 32-Ounces, which we found on Amazon, are great ink stain removers from vinyl.

WD-40

WD-40 Multi-Use Product with Smart Straw Sprays 2 Ways 8 oz., which we found on Amazon, is an amazing ink stain remover from vinyl, among many other things.

Household Ammonia

Household ammonia is particularly efficient at removing ink stains from vinyl.

Commercial Cleaners

Commercial ink stain removal products meant for removing ink stains from vinyl can be found at your local grocery store or even at Amazon, where we found a couple, such as Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover pen and Carbona Stain Devils #3.

Toothpaste | Baking Soda & Water Paste | Mr. Clean Magic Eraser | Goof-Off | Hand Sanitizer

  • Toothpaste: plain, white, non-gel toothpaste is used as an effective stain remover to remove ink stains from vinyl.
  • Baking soda & water paste: mix together a small amount of baking soda and enough water to make a paste used as an efficient stain remover to remove ink stains from vinyl (make enough of the paste to cover the stain).
  • Mr. Clean Magic Eraser: Mr. Clean Magic Erase and Renew Magic Eraser, Original, 2 Count, which we found on Amazon or is available in any store, is used as a successful stain remover to remove ink stains from vinyl.
  • Goof-Off: can be found at your local store or on Amazon, where we found Goof-Off – Household Heavy Duty Remover For Spots, Marks, and Messes – 8 fl. oz. (FG708), is used as a good stain remover to remove ink stains from vinyl.
  • Hand Sanitizer: makes a particularly useful stain remover, like rubbing alcohol, to remove ink stains from vinyl.

Step By Step Instructions For How To Remove Ink Stains From Vinyl

#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. Pour a small amount of mild liquid dish soap or liquid laundry detergent onto a damp cloth or sponge.
  2. 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. 
  3. Use a new area of the cloth or sponge each time you blot to avoid spreading the ink further around the vinyl, using fresh cloths or sponges, as necessary.

 #2 Preparing Your Vinyl For A Stain Remover

  1. Put on any necessary personal protective equipment, such as rubber or latex gloves, goggles, dust mask, etc., and protect your work surface and vinyl as well from any chemicals involved in the stain removal process.
  2. Before using a particular stain remover, test it on a spot in a hidden area of your vinyl to check for any possible color transference, discoloration, or fabric damage.
  3. Choose one of the stain remover methods listed in steps #3-10.

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

Rubbing alcohol, as the #1 DIY ink stain removal remedy for vinyl, is an effective method to remove almost any type of ink stain from your vinyl, particularly permanent marker.

  1. Moisten a cotton ball, cotton swab, or soft white cloth with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and gently dab it over just the stained area, but not beyond it, until the area is saturated with the rubbing alcohol, to avoid spreading the ink further than the initial stain.
  2. Continue to dab small amounts of rubbing alcohol on the stained area with fresh cotton balls, cotton swabs, or cloths so as not to keep blotting ink right back onto your vinyl, lifting as much ink as possible with the rubbing alcohol and cotton balls, swabs, or cloths.
  3. Wipe off the remaining ink and rubbing alcohol, rinsing your vinyl using a damp cloth or paper towel with cold water.
  4. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  5. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #4-10.

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

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

However, if you only have the non-acetone nail polish remover on hand, it has been known to show positive results removing ink from vinyl, so it’s definitely worth using before you purchase the nail polish remover containing acetone.

  1. Moisten a cotton ball, cotton swab, or soft white cloth with a small amount of nail polish remover and gently dab it over just the stained area, but not beyond it, until the area is saturated with the nail polish remover, to avoid spreading the ink further than the initial stain.
  2. Continue to dab small amounts of nail polish remover on the stained area with fresh cotton balls, cotton swabs, or cloths so as not to keep blotting ink right back onto your vinyl, lifting as much ink as possible with the nail polish remover and cotton balls, swabs, or cloths.
  3. Wipe off the remaining ink and nail polish remover, rinsing your vinyl using a damp cloth or paper towel with cold water.
  4. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  5. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3, 5-10.

#5 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 – absolutely!

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 been greatly reduced or eliminated, mostly because it can dry out or damage your hair. 

Also, look for a hairspray with very few, preferably no, 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 a small amount of hairspray with alcohol onto a cotton pad, cotton square, or cotton round and gently dab it over just the stained area, but not beyond it, until the area is saturated with the hairspray, to avoid spreading the ink further than the initial stain.
  2. Continue to dab small amounts of hairspray on the stained area with fresh cotton pads, cotton squares, or cotton rounds so as not to keep blotting ink right back onto your vinyl, lifting as much ink as possible with the hairspray and cotton pads, squares, or rounds.
  3. Wipe off the remaining ink and hairspray, rinsing your vinyl using a damp cloth or paper towel with cold water.
  4. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  5. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-4, 6-10.

#6 Stain Remover: All-Purpose Cleaner (Optional-Choice Of Method)

All-purpose cleaners make excellent ink stain removers for vinyl.

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 vinyl, such as Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner-Original 32 oz. Spray or Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner 32-Ounces.

  1. Spray a small amount of all-purpose cleaner directly onto the stained area, but not beyond it, until the area is saturated with the all-purpose cleaner.
  2. Allow it to sit on the stain for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Using a soft cloth (or several), lightly wipe the all-purpose cleaner and ink off the vinyl, using a fresh area of cloth or fresh cloth, being careful not to wipe ink back onto the stain in the process.
  4. Wipe off the remaining ink and all-purpose cleaner, rinsing your vinyl completely using a damp cloth or paper towel with cold water.
  5. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  6. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-5, 7-10.

#7 Stain Remover: WD-40 (Optional-Choice Of Method)

WD-40 has a list of 2,000 uses, WD-40 2000 Uses list, on which it states that WD-40 is effective at removing ink from multiple surfaces, including vinyl.

  1. Spray a small amount of WD-40 onto a cotton ball or white paper towel and start to gently wipe the ink stain away, using fresh cotton balls or paper towels with WD-40, as needed, so as not to rub the ink lifted from the stain right back onto the vinyl.
  2. Wipe off the remaining ink and WD-40, rinsing your vinyl completely using a damp cloth or paper towel with cold water.
  3. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  4. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-6, 8-10.

#8 Stain Remover: Household Ammonia (Optional-Choice Of Method)

Household ammonia is another effective ink stain removal method from vinyl.

  1. Apply enough household ammonia to a white cloth to saturate it (wet but not dripping).
  2. Place the cloth on the vinyl covering only the ink stain to avoid spreading the ink beyond the initial stained area or possibly damaging the vinyl unnecessarily.
  3. Let the ammonia-covered clot sit on the stain for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Remove the cloth by gently wiping any lifted ink off the vinyl and rinsing your vinyl completely using a damp cloth or paper towel with cold water.
  5. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone.
  6. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-7, 9-10.

#9 Stain Remover: Commercial Cleaners (Optional-Choice Of Method)

There are many different types of commercial cleaners on the market that function as ink stain removers from vinyl.

You can find them online in places such as Amazon or even in your local grocery store.

You’ll want to look for a product that lists something along the lines of “removes ink stains” or “eliminates ink stains” on the label among its list of capabilities, as well as “vinyl” on its list of acceptable or approved surfaces or materials.

Commercial cleaners or stain removers can be handy to have on hand to treat an ink stain as soon as it happens because fresh ink stains are so much easier to remove, although it’s possible to remove set-in stains as well.

These commercial cleaners or stain removers come in many formats – liquid, spray bottle, solid stick, and pen are a few.

The Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen, which we found on Amazon, is known to be effective on all types of stains and is so handy to carry around.

We recommend trying the Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover pen before any other stain removal method, as it would be the easiest to administer as long as you have one with you.

Carbona Stain Devils #3, also found on Amazon, is handy to have on hand as well.

Instructions for using the Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen to remove an Ink stain from vinyl:

  1. Using the Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen, take the tip of the pen and run it over the ink stain until the whole stain is saturated with stain remover, pressing down on the tip to release the liquid.
  2. Gently press the tip dispersing the liquid onto the stain, lightly rubbing it with the tip until the stain disappears.
  3. No washing or rinsing is necessary, although you may want to wipe the area with a damp paper towel when finished.
  4. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-8, 10.

#10 Stain Remover: Additional Techniques (Optional-Choice Of Method)

There are quite a few additional stain removal techniques, tricks, and methods for removing ink stains from vinyl worth briefly mentioning, and they are:

  • Toothpaste – Plain toothpaste is a good material for effective ink stain removal.
  1. Apply a generous amount of plain white, non-gel toothpaste onto the stain and scrub the ink with a clean toothbrush being careful to stay within the ink-stained area only. 
  2. Rinse it off with a cloth or paper towel dampened with cold water.
  3. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-10.
  • Baking Soda and Water Paste – another ink stain removal trick is to mix a baking soda and water paste.
  1. Mix a small amount of baking soda with enough water to make a paste (make enough to cover the ink stain).
  2. Generously cover the ink stain on the vinyl with the paste, working it in lightly with a clean toothbrush until the stain is gone, or at least as much as possible. 
  3. Rinse it off with a cloth or paper towel dampened with cold water.
  4. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-10.
  1. Cut a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser into small rectangular pieces and moisten them with cold water.
  2. Gently wipe the ink stain with the small side of a rectangular piece of a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, swapping pieces as they get filled with ink.
  3. No washing or rinsing is necessary, although you may want to wipe the area with a damp paper towel when finished.
  4. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-10.
  • Goof-Off – another effective ink stain remover which can be found at your local store on Amazon, Goof-Off – Household Heavy Duty Remover For Spots, Marks, and Messes – 8 fl. oz. (FG708).
  1. Apply Goof-Off directly onto the ink-stained area.
  2. Let the Goof-Off sit on the stain for at least 1 minute.
  3. Wipe the Goof-Off and ink off the vinyl with an absorbent cloth or paper towel.  
  4. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-10.
  • Hand Sanitizer – is an excellent ink stain removal method, like rubbing alcohol.
  1. Moisten a cotton ball with a small amount of hand sanitizer and gently dab it over just the stained area, but not beyond it, until the area is saturated with the hand sanitizer, to avoid spreading the ink further than the initial stain.
  2. Continue to dab small amounts of hand sanitizer on the stained area with fresh cotton balls so as not to keep blotting ink right back onto your vinyl, lifting as much ink as possible with the hand sanitizer and cotton balls.
  3. Wipe off the remaining ink and hand sanitizer, rinsing your vinyl using a damp cloth or paper towel with cold water.
  4. Repeat the process as necessary until the ink stain is gone. 
  5. If the stain persists, choose another stain removing method from steps #3-10.

Commonly Asked Questions

Is it possible to remove set-in ink stains from vinyl?

-It is possible to get set-in ink stains out of your vinyl items.

Techniques to remove set-in ink stains from vinyl include either commercial stain removers or home remedies.

There are many commercial stain removers available for purchase; however, we found a couple getting great results and reviews on Amazon:

Safely removes a wide variety of stains, including inks, from a wide variety of surfaces, including vinyl.

Concentrated formula can be diluted or used at full strength.

A safer cleaning alternative to toxic cleaners, solvents, and bleaches.

Safe for you, your surfaces, and your home!

The pro power formula works on all types of messes, including ink, and is safe on multiple surfaces, including vinyl.

Apply a small amount to stain and blot or wipe off with a clean cloth. 

The best home remedy for removing set-in ink stains from vinyl is butter.

  • Butter – a stick of standard semi-soft salted butter can remove set-in ink stains from vinyl.

The oil in the butter helps to lift the ink out of the stain while the combination of salt and direct sunlight work together to help the ink marks to fade from the vinyl.

  1. Rub a cold stick of semi-soft salted butter on the ink stain until the stain is covered with the butter.
  2. Set the vinyl, or the ink-stained area, in a sunny place so the ink-stained area, with the butter on it, is exposed to direct sunlight.
  3. Allow the butter to sit on the stain for about 2 hours while it gets absorbed.
  4. Using a clean cloth or paper towel, wipe the butter and ink from the scrubs. 
  5. Rinse off the vinyl with another clean cloth or paper towel dampened with cold water.

What are some commercial stain removal products meant for removing ink stains from vinyl?

-Luckily, there are quite a few commercial stain removal products meant for removing ink stains from vinyl available for purchase. 

We found a couple on Amazon, getting great results and reviews:

Amodex Ink and Stain Remover – Cleans Marker, Ink, Crayon, Pen, Makeup from Furniture, Skin, Clothing, Fabric, Leather – Liquid Solution – 4 fl oz Bottle

  • Works on all types of ink, including ballpoint, felt tip, fountain pen, permanent marker, etc.
  • Offers a family, eco-friendly line of the most effective ink and stain removal products on the market.
  • Will save you money and your treasured items.
  • Recommended by the world’s leading ink manufacturers to remove their ink marks.
  • Follow instructions as laid out on the product label.

Motsenbocker’s Lift Off Pen, Ink, Marker Stain Remover – 22 oz.

  • Removes most inks, including permanent marker, ballpoint pen, highlighter, stamp pad, and fountain pad inks.
  • Designed to work on hard surfaces yet can be used safely on clothing and upholstery; includes vinyl.
  • Biodegradable and water-based.
  • Easy to carry around and have on hand at work, at home, anywhere.

Conclusion

Have you enjoyed learning how to remove ink stains from vinyl? 

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 vinyl items and buy new ones to replace them.

Make your vinyl ink-free and useable again!