How To Get Ink Out Of The Carpet

Whether it’s kids leaving their lidless colouring book pens on the floor or a stray pen spilling from the pencil case to the carpet – ink stains happen.

But there’s no need to panic, as getting ink out of the carpet isn’t as tricky as you may think! In fact, with just a bit of elbow grease and the right ingredients, you’ll have a lovely clean carpet in no time at all!

To help, we’ll go over how you can easily remove ink stains from the carpet in four simple steps, below.

Before we get to how to remove ink from the carpet, you need to know what type of ink needs removing first.

Different types of pen typically need different materials to lift the ink from the carpet fibres. So, first check which of following pens made the mark: permanent marker, ball point, gel, or washable pen.

Permanent markers and ball point pens are typically oil-based pens, so you can use the same tools for these stains. Gel or washable pens are slightly different as they’re water-based, but you can create an ink stain remover to tackle these marks.

Don’t worry if you don’t know which type of pen left the stain, as you can find universal ink stain removers in most supermarkets that’ll make light work of any type of pen mark.

Now you know which type of pen mark you’re dealing with, we can explore the tools you’ll need for each to safely remove those ink stains.

• Oil-based ink: These marks can be a little more tricky to remove. However, believe it or not, hairspray and kitchen towel can help clean your carpet of oil-based pen stains. Check the hair spray is alcohol-based, as that’s what acts as an ink stain remover for your carpet.  
• Water-based ink: Removing ink from the carpet made by a ball point pen is a little bit simpler and involves household objects you likely have laying around already. All you’ll need is dish soap, lukewarm water, and a clean cloth.

TOP TIP: Our spot cleaners are designed to help remove stains from both the carpet and hardwood floor! Check out the wet and dry vacuum collection to see how they can help you get ink stains out of your carpet. 

We’re ready to get to work on removing those ink stains from your carpet! Gather your tools and follow the steps for the type of removal you need.

Before we get into how to remove ink stains from an oil-based pen, it’s a good idea to create some airflow to protect your lungs from the hairspray fumes. To do this, open your windows and pop on a face mask, if you’ve one to hand.

1.     Lightly spray the ink stain with the hairspray until the whole area is covered.

2.    Grab the paper towel and gently blot the area, so as not to push the stain deeper into your delicate carpet fibres As you dab, you should notice the ink gradually starting to lift.

3.     Once the ink is out of the carpet, you can go ahead and dry the area with a clean cloth.

4.    Repeat these steps until you’ve got a clean carpet, and the stain is no longer noticeable.

To get ink out of the carpet from a water-based pen, simply grab the tools you need, and follow the steps below:

1.     First, mix a little bit of dish soap into a cup of water – about a teaspoon of dish soap should be enough.

2.    Then, take your cloth and gently blot the area with your homemade ink stain remover. Make sure not to press to hard, as this can push the stain deeper into the carpet.

3.     Keep repeating until the ink is out of the carpet. When the mark is no longer noticeable, leave the area to air dry completely – opening a window will help speed this process up.

Now you’ve removed the ink stain from your carpet, it’s time to take out your vacuum to give your carpet a thorough clean.

Our vacuums make light work of cleaning pet hair, human hair, crumbs, dust, and debris from your carpet fibres. Use an upright vacuum for the floor, while a handheld vacuum makes cleaning the stairs simple.

Now, step back and admire your fresh new carpet! If you’re after more cleaning top tips, such as how to remove coffee stains from the carpet or how to wash your curtains, then head over to our blog.