Accidents happen, and sometimes, ink can end up on your couch. Whether it’s a ballpoint pen or a permanent marker, ink stains can be tough to get rid of so it’s important for any household that relies on pens to learn how to remove pen ink out of a couch.
But don’t worry, with the right approach, you can get pen ink out of a couch. It’s certainly not the easiest stain, especially if there’s a lot of ink that has been spilled.
Removing Pen Ink From Your Fabric Couch
To remove pen ink from a fabric couch, act fast to tackle the stain. Get some rubbing alcohol (this can be in the form of nail polish remover or hand sanitizer if you have it to hand. Apply it to the pen stain and rub away at the stain with a cloth.
That’s the quick overview of removing pen stains from your couch, but in reality, there’s more to it than that.
If You have a suede couch, read out ‘how to remove pen ink from a suede couch’ guide.
Table Of Contents
Act Fast
Blot The Stain
Apply Rubbing Alcohol
Blot With A Clean Cloth
Repeat As Necessary
Use A Specialized Cleaner
Hire A Professional
Act fast
The sooner you can attend to the stain, the better your chances of removing it completely. So, act fast and start removing the ink as soon as you notice it.
Blot the stain
Use a clean, white cloth or paper towel to blot the ink stain gently. Be careful not to rub the stain, as this can cause it to spread.
The easiest way to do this is to take your first sheet of roll and lie it over the ink stain without putting any pressure on the stain. Then, simply pinch each side and scrunch the sheet of paper inwards.
Apply rubbing alcohol
Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean, white cloth and gently dab the stain. Be sure to test the rubbing alcohol on an inconspicuous area of the couch first to make sure it doesn’t damage the fabric.
Rubbing alcohol breaks down the ink compounds and is the most essential step in this process. You can also use hand sanitizer if you don’t have any, time is of the essence with an ink stain!
Blot with a clean cloth
Dampen a clean cloth with cold water and blot the area to remove any leftover rubbing alcohol or ink.
The last thing you want is to spend all of that time bringing ink out of the fabric only to let it solidify itself within the couch again.
Repeat as necessary
If the stain is still visible, you may need to repeat the process. Be patient and continue to blot and dab the stain until it disappears.
Removing pen has been known to take a few turns to fully remove so don’t be disheartened! We have spent over an hour on some jobs to fully remove a stubborn ink stain.
Use a specialized stain remover
If the stain persists, you can try using a specialized stain remover designed for ink stains. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and test the product on a small, inconspicuous area of the couch first.
Do These Methods For Ink Removal Work On Leather?
You can remove biro, marker stains, and pen ink off your leather couches with these methods just as you would with fabric. The good thing about leather is that those chemicals won’t soak up in your couch, unlike with fabric materials.
We highly recommend that you apply leather protection back onto your sofa once you’ve removed the ink because the likelihood is that you have damaged the clear coat.
To do this, follow these simple steps:
Remove the ink stains with the methods above
Grab a microfiber cloth and your leather protection balm
Dab a small amount of balm onto your microfiber cloth
Apply it using circular motions to work the product into your leather effectively
Wipe away any excess with a fresh cloth
Can You Use A Magic Eraser For Ink Removal?
You can use a magic eraser to help speed up the ink removal process, but be aware that it leaves a bit more mess. These little sponges are amazing for all sorts of stains and pen ink is certainly one of them.
All you do here is replace the cloth you had been using with the magic sponge. You will be able to remove the ink stains in half the time but be prepared to get the vacuum cleaner out afterward since a lot of the sponge will have fallen apart during the cleaning process.
Is There A Difference Between Blue & Black Ink Removal
No, not a significant difference anyway. The only time blue ink becomes more difficult is on a white fabric couch. The stain can be more set due to its colour which can end up dyeing the sofa if it’s left on for too long.
9/10 times this won’t be a problem though. Follow the steps outlined and you won’t have any problems getting rid of that ink in your couch.
Do These Methods Remove Permanent Marker From Your Couch?
Sadly, these methods won’t get rid of any permanent marker stains from your couch, that kind of stain will need its own separate process for effective removal.
We have made a blog post on ‘how to remove permanent marker stains from your couch’ for your perusal. It is a more specialized kind of stain to remove so if you are not fully confident, don’t try it.
Hire a professional
If all else fails, you can always hire a professional upholstery cleaner to remove the stain. They have specialized equipment and expertise to tackle even the toughest stains.
In conclusion, getting pen ink out of a couch can be a daunting task, but it’s not impossible. Remember to act fast, be gentle, and use the right cleaning products. With a bit of patience and persistence, you can get your couch looking like new again.
