It’s a nightmare when someone accidentally gets some ink onto your beautiful carpet. Just a small blotch of ink can completely ruin a carpet. Not to mention, a person’s attention will immediately be drawn to this stain.
Luckily, you don’t need to panic when you get ink on your carpet. The truth is that this ink is quite simple to remove, so you don’t have to worry about the stain being permanent.
This step-by-step guide will get your carpet looking as good as new!
How To Get Ink Out Of Carpet
The exact method that you use will depend on which cleaning product you use (more on that later). However, this is a general guide to removing nasty ink stains from your gorgeous carpet:
Fill a bucket or bowl with warm water.
Using a damp cloth, attempt to remove the stain. Ensure that you dab the stain, as attempting to brush against it may just cause the ink to spread.
You should be able to remove water-based ink stains with this method alone. However, if the ink remains, you will need to use a stronger cleaning solution. We have listed our top picks in the section below.
What Are The Best Cleaning Solutions?
Now that you know the correct method for getting rid of these pesky stains, you will need to consider what product you are going to use.
Each of these products will need to be used slightly differently, so it’s important to consider what works best for you!
The good news is that many of these ink-removing cleaning solutions are general household cleaning products. Therefore, you won’t have to spend time and effort sourcing niche cleaning items.
Here are some of the top products for saying goodbye to ink:
Commercial Carpet Cleaner
These products are specifically designed for cleaning carpets. They usually contain strong chemicals that will be powerful enough to get rid of the ink.
Every brand is different, so it is recommended that you follow the instructions on the packaging.
The great thing about rubbing alcohol is that it will not discolor the carpet, unlike many other cleaning solutions.
Pour a little bit of rubbing alcohol onto a dry cloth. Dab at the stain until the ink begins to disappear.
Afterward, wipe the carpet with a damp cloth to get rid of any remaining rubbing alcohol. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol on-hand, isopropyl alcohol instead.
Shaving Cream
The idea of spreading shaving cream on a carpet may sound a bit odd, but trust us, it works. It works particularly well on permanent ink. So if you have a can of shaving cream in your bathroom, why not give it a try?!
All you have to do is rub some shaving cream onto the stained area. Be sure to properly penetrate the carpet so that the ink is fully removed.
Leave the shaving cream on the carpet for approximately one hour. Once this time has passed, simply wipe the cream away and wash the area to get rid of any lingering shaving cream.
Hairspray
Like shaving cream, hair spray is another common toiletry that can be used to combat these irritating ink stains.
Preferably, you should use an alcohol-based hairspray, as they are particularly good at fending off stains that have been caused by ballpoint pens.
The alcohol found in hairspray products makes it a sensational solution to these oil-based inks. The downside of this technique is that hairspray brands are using increasingly less alcohol in their products.
To remove the ink, you can spray the affected area with hairspray. It is not the best idea to rub the stain, as this could cause it to spread.
Alternatively, you may wish to put a paper towel on the carpet. This way, the towel will absorb the ink when you spray it.
Just bear in mind that your carpet may smell like hairspray afterward, so it might be worth giving it a thorough clean to eliminate this odor.
Dish Soap
Dish soap is a great cleaning product. However, it may not be the optimal product for permanent or harsh ink stains.
Yet, if your carpet has been stained by water-based ink, you can wash it away with dish soap. To use this solution, simply mix dish soap with some warm water.
Using a cloth or sponge, dab at the carpet until you begin to get some results.
Bleach
Bleach is one of the strongest cleaning products out there. You must bear in mind that you can only use bleach on white carpets.
This is because it can discolor the carpet, thus turning it white. This won’t be a problem for a carpet that is already white.
When using bleach, you must wear gloves and take steps to protect your skin, as bleach can be harmful.
Using a paper towel, swab at the ink stain to remove as much as you can. Once you are satisfied, wash your carpet with water to remove lingering bleach.
WD-40
WD-40 is a handy oil that can be used to remove the ink. This is because it will cause the oil in the ink to break down.
Spray a can of WD-40 on the carpet and wait for a few minutes. After this time has passed, clean this spray from your carpet with a cloth that has been dampened in soapy water. Use a paper towel to get rid of any remaining ink from your carpet.
Final Thoughts
As a homeowner, your first instinct may be to panic when somebody spills ink on your lovely carpet. But with some water, a little cleaning product, and some elbow grease, you can get rid of even persistent ink stains!
The great thing about this solution is that there are loads of different products that you can try, many of which you likely already have in your home.
Hi, my name is Johnathon Gooder and I have been in the flooring industry for almost 20 years. I’ve done it all - lay flooring, painted carpets, repaired sections of an entire floor - you name it, I’ve probably had a hand at it.
I like to help wherever I can, which is why I’ve seen more than most. I could diagnose an issue with your carpet over the phone, within 30 seconds, with the amount of knowledge I have on all types of carpet repairs!
Anyway, I have made this website to share my tips and tricks on all things carpet related. From DIYs to maintenance, the best products to use to useful information on your chosen flooring, I’ll cover it all.
So, get ready to get to know your carpet on a more personal level, and let’s see if we can’t solve whatever problem you’re facing right now.
