How to Get Ink Out of Clothes: Pen, Sharpie & Marker

To get ink out of clothes, lay the stain face down on clean paper towels, dab rubbing alcohol onto the back of it, and keep moving to fresh towels as the ink transfers. Then rinse well and launder (American Cleaning Institute). Don't put the garment in the dryer until the ink is gone, because heat sets stains (NMSU Extension).

This works best on fresh ballpoint ink. Permanent marker, India ink and ink that has been through the dryer are harder, and some inks can't be removed at all (American Cleaning Institute; UGA Extension).

Key takeaways

Work from the back: stain face down on paper towels, rubbing alcohol applied to the underside, towels changed often.
Use 70 or 90 percent rubbing alcohol with no added color or fragrance.
Test any solvent on an inside seam first; never use acetone on acetate or triacetate.
Check the stain after washing and air-dry the garment if any ink is left; dryer heat sets it.
Ink in a dryer drum comes off with rubbing alcohol on an unplugged machine, then a tumble with damp rags.

How do you get ballpoint pen ink out of clothes?

Ballpoint ink is an oily paste, so it needs a solvent such as rubbing alcohol, not plain water (Iowa State University Extension; Paper Mate). The American Cleaning Institute method for ink:

Test first. Dab a little alcohol on an inside seam or hem to check the dye doesn't move.
Ring the stain. Sponge rubbing alcohol on the fabric around the mark, then on the mark itself.
Flip it. Lay the stain face down on clean paper towels.
Treat from the back. Dab more alcohol onto the underside so the ink is pushed out into the towel, not deeper into the fabric.
Change towels often. Keep going while ink is still transferring.
Rinse, then launder with detergent.

Blot rather than rub: rubbing spreads the stain and can damage the fabric (Iowa State University Extension). For a small mark, ACI's alternative is to stretch the fabric over the mouth of a glass and drip alcohol through it, so the ink drops into the glass (American Cleaning Institute).

What strength of rubbing alcohol works best?

Use 70 or 90 percent alcohol without added color or fragrance, since dyes and perfumes can leave their own mark (American Cleaning Institute; Cornell Cooperative Extension). K-State's extension guide adds that alcohol fades some dyes and should not be used on silk; on acetate, dilute it with 2 parts water to 1 part alcohol (K-State Research and Extension).

Does hairspray remove ink?

Only an alcohol-based hairspray, because the alcohol is what dissolves the ink. Paper Mate recommends spraying the back of the stain until it is wet, replacing the towel underneath as it absorbs ink, then laundering. Oregon State's extension stain sheet gives the same option: spray until it looks wet, rub in detergent and wash (Oregon State University Extension).

How do you get Sharpie and permanent marker out of clothes?

Permanent marker may only come out partly, and its maker says so. Sharpie's own help page says removal varies with the fabric, the color, the ink and the time elapsed, and that it cannot guarantee results (Sharpie). The ink is built to resist water and fading, which is what makes it permanent (Sharpie).

Your best chance:

Act right away. Fresh marker comes out more easily than old marker (Sharpie).
Use the back-of-the-stain method. Lay the item face down on paper towels or a white cloth, apply the remover to the underside, and replace the towels as they pick up ink (Sharpie).
Choose a solvent. UGA Extension's felt-tip method is to sponge continually with rubbing alcohol, acetone or a prewash stain remover until the ink stops bleeding, let it dry, repeat, then launder (UGA Extension).
Keep it out of the dryer and away from the iron until it's gone (Sharpie).

Acetone (nail polish remover) dissolves acetate. UGA warns that acetone turns acetate and triacetate to froth, and should not be used on modacrylics either (UGA Extension; NMSU Extension). Check the fiber content label before you reach for it.

What removes Sharpie instantly?

Nothing reliably does. Sharpie promises only partial or complete removal, and UGA Extension calls permanent inks almost impossible to remove from hard surfaces and carpet (Sharpie; UGA Extension). Sharpie also suggests a dedicated ink remover (it names Amodex) for permanent ink (Sharpie).

Does hydrogen peroxide remove Sharpie from fabric?

It can lighten what's left, because it is a mild bleach. Use the 3 percent solution sold as an antiseptic, not the stronger kind sold for bleaching hair (Cornell Cooperative Extension). UGA lists 3 percent hydrogen peroxide as a last resort for red ink, sponged on until no more stain lifts (UGA Extension). Test it on dyed fabric first, because it can take color out along with the ink (K-State Research and Extension).

How do you get gel pen, felt-tip and washable marker out of clothes?

Start by working out what kind of ink it is, because water-based and solvent-based inks need different first steps. The American Cleaning Institute groups pen inks as ballpoint, felt tip and liquid, and uses the same alcohol method for all three; gel pens aren't treated separately in the guides we read.

Ink	First step	Then
Ballpoint or gel pen	Rubbing alcohol from the back, on paper towels	Rinse, launder, check before drying (American Cleaning Institute)
Regular felt-tip marker	Rinse with cold water until no more color comes out	Alcohol from the back, wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric (American Cleaning Institute; Crayola)
Washable marker	Rinse with hot water until no more color comes out	Wash hot about 12 minutes; soak 1 hour in oxygen bleach; air-dry (Crayola)
Permanent marker	Alcohol, acetone or prewash remover until bleeding stops	Repeat, launder, bleach if safe (UGA Extension)
India ink	Flush water through until loose pigment is gone	Ammonia soak, repeated washes (UGA Extension)

"Water-based" doesn't mean washable. ACI notes that water-based markers are generally nontoxic but not necessarily washable, so check the package for a washable claim (American Cleaning Institute). Crayola's washable-marker method says to skip prewash products and chlorine bleach, and never to heat-dry between washes (Crayola).

How do you get red ink out?

UGA Extension gives red ink its own sequence (UGA Extension):

Soak 30 minutes in 1 quart warm water with 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish detergent and 1 tablespoon ammonia. Rinse.
Soak 1 hour in 1 quart warm water with 1 tablespoon white vinegar. Rinse and let dry.
Apply alcohol under a pad dampened with alcohol, changing the pad as it picks up color. Rinse, then bleach with a type safe for the fabric.

Rinse well between the ammonia and vinegar steps, and never let ammonia meet chlorine bleach (NMSU Extension).

What will take dried ink out of clothes?

Dried ink often still lifts with the same alcohol method, but expect several rounds. Fresh stains are much easier than those over 24 hours old, and some need repeated treatments (Iowa State University Extension). Cornell Cooperative Extension's ballpoint procedure for stubborn ink starts with lukewarm glycerine, kept moist and blotted hard, before a detergent step (Cornell Cooperative Extension).

Can you get ink out of clothes after washing and drying?

Sometimes, but the odds drop. Texas A&M AgriLife warns that laundering may set ink and that a stained garment dried in the dryer may become impossible to clean (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension). If it has already been washed and dried:

Retreat from the back with rubbing alcohol on fresh paper towels, as long as ink keeps transferring (American Cleaning Institute).
Apply a prewash stain remover and let it stand, overnight if needed, then launder (K-State Research and Extension).
Use an oxygen bleach soak for leftover color on washable fabric. Iowa State suggests soaking dye-type stains in a dilute all-fabric color-safe bleach, then washing in water as hot as the item allows (Iowa State University Extension).
Air-dry and check in daylight before you decide it's done (K-State Research and Extension).

Skip home remedies like milk. NMSU Extension says milk on ink is unreliable and can add a stain or set the existing one (NMSU Extension).

What if a pen went through the wash or dryer?

Pull every ink-marked item out before anything goes back in a dryer, and treat each one with alcohol from the back as above (American Cleaning Institute). Air-dry the load until you have checked it, because dryer heat sets whatever ink is left (Iowa State University Extension).

How do you clean ink out of a dryer drum?

Clean the drum before the next load, so ink can't transfer to someone else's clothes. Appliance makers give these steps for their own dryers:

Unplug the dryer before cleaning (GE Appliances).
Wipe the ink with rubbing alcohol, then remove the residue with a damp cloth (GE Appliances). Whirlpool's alternative is a paste of powdered detergent and very warm water, or a nonflammable household cleaner, rubbed on with a soft cloth (Whirlpool).
Air it out. GE says to leave the door open for an hour after an alcohol wipe before you run the dryer (GE Appliances).
Tumble damp rags or old towels for 20 to 30 minutes to pick up any remaining residue (GE Appliances).

At a laundromat, don't scrub the drum with solvents yourself. Tell the attendant or the posted contact which machine has ink in it, and pick another dryer; our laundromat etiquette guide covers what to do when a machine is out of action. If your home dryer is the problem, you can find a laundromat near you to dry the rest of the load while the drum airs out.

Is it safe to use rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer or acetone on clothes?

Yes, with care: all three are flammable or can damage some fibers. Rubbing alcohol is a flammable liquid with a flash point of 53°F, according to NIOSH, and the FDA says hand sanitizer is flammable too (FDA).

Ventilate and avoid sparks. Work in a well-ventilated room away from open flames, pilot lights and appliances that spark (Cornell Cooperative Extension).
Rinse before the washer, wash before the dryer. Solvent-treated clothes should be rinsed and laundered before they go near dryer heat (K-State Research and Extension). The NFPA advises extra care when drying clothes soiled with cleaning agents: wash more than once or hang them to dry (NFPA).
Never mix removers. Chlorine bleach with ammonia produces hazardous fumes; rinse thoroughly between removers (American Cleaning Institute; NMSU Extension).
Know the fiber. Acetone and nail polish remover dissolve acetate and triacetate; alcohol shouldn't be used on silk (NMSU Extension; K-State Research and Extension).

Can you get ink out of clothes with hand sanitizer?

None of the extension guides we read list it. Its active ingredient is ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, the same kind of solvent the guides use (FDA). If you try it, use the same blot-from-the-back method and wash the garment before it goes in a dryer.

When should you take an ink stain to a dry cleaner?

Take it to a pro when the label says dry clean only, when the fabric is silk, wool or acetate, or when a home test moves the dye. NMSU Extension says to use only a dry-cleaning agent on dry-clean-only fabrics, or to ask a dry cleaner (NMSU Extension). Cornell Cooperative Extension advises consulting a professional cleaner if a test spot changes color (Cornell Cooperative Extension).

Tell the professional dry cleaner what the stain is and what the fabric is (Sharpie). Also say what you have already tried, since a home solvent can change what they use. For washable items you'd rather not risk, look for professional stain removal, and see our stain-by-stain guide for other marks on the same garment.

Frequently asked questions

Can baking soda remove ink stains?

None of the extension or cleaning-institute guides we read use baking soda for ink. They rely on a solvent such as rubbing alcohol, followed by detergent and laundering.

Does Dawn get ink out of clothes?

Dish soap alone won't dissolve ballpoint ink, which needs a solvent like rubbing alcohol. A liquid dish detergent does appear in UGA Extension's red-ink soak, mixed with warm water and ammonia.

Will Dawn remove Sharpie from clothes?

Not on its own. Sharpie's makers say permanent marker removal can't be guaranteed; the extension method is to sponge it with rubbing alcohol, acetone or a prewash remover until the ink stops bleeding, then launder.

Does ink come out of clothes in the wash?

Usually not by itself, and washing can set it. Treat the stain with a solvent first, then launder, and check it before drying.

What is the hardest stain to remove from clothes?

Among inks, permanent marker and dried India ink are the hardest; UGA Extension says India ink may be impossible once it dries. The American Cleaning Institute notes that some ballpoint, felt tip and liquid inks can't be removed at all.

How do you get black stains out of khaki pants?

If the mark is ink, use the alcohol method from the back of the fabric, then launder and check before drying. If it is greasy rather than inky, treat it as an oil stain instead.

How we researched this

We read 21 sources for this guide on 13 October 2026 and cited 20. They include the American Cleaning Institute, seven university extension services (NMSU, UGA, Oregon State, Iowa State, Cornell, K-State and Texas A&M AgriLife), the FDA, NIOSH and the NFPA. Pen, marker and dryer makers were cited only for their own products. Some extension guides are decades old, so we used them where newer sources agree. We did not lab-test these methods, and we found no authoritative source specific to gel pens, dry-erase markers or highlighters.

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