How do I remove a red ballpoint pen ink stain?

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Help! I missed a red ballpoint pen from my husband’s ACUs (digital Army uniform) and it popped in the washer! I haven’t put it in the dryer because I know that the heat will make it worse. It’s a small stain about the size of a half dollar but in a noticeable place on his sleeve.
How can I get it out with home remedies?
Will hairspray work? (Some rumor I heard of)
Thank you SO much everyone! I got most of it out now and now you can barely see it but I’m going to keep on working at it until it’s 100% out!

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  1. candygrr1 says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    shout, clorox bleach (white, or they make it for colors too)

  2. King John says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    with scissors!

  3. C B says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Yes, but make sure it is real hairspray and not any kind of gel. Aquanet is the old standby for this. Oxyclean might get it too.

  4. QuInSeT says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Spray And Wash Or Stain Remover

  5. Kris says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Good to see you took a break from the kitchen cooking…
    Now your doing laundry

    nice!

    hope your barefoot

  6. BrownEyes1 says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    place a towel under the stain
    saturate it with hair spray (aqua net works just fine)
    blot the stain with another towel
    apply laundry detergent directly on the stain
    add a couple drops of water and rub in,let set for 15 minutes
    wash.

    you may have to repeat

  7. clayton says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Ink: Soak with hair spray, then dry, then brush lightly with a solution of white vinegar and water. Rinse with clear water.

  8. shorty951983 says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Here are a few different websites that you can read through. Since you know the severity of the stain I would recommend reading through before you try anything-you wouldn’t want to make the stain worse. (a few of them do say hairspray!)Good luck!

  9. andre0504 says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    yes soak it real good in hairspray and landry you might have to repeat this procedure. good luck

  10. meinsla says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    1. Dab the stain with a clean wet sponge until no ink is lifted from stain.

    2. Allow the stain to air dry.

    3. Spray the stain with hair spray.

    4. Sandwich the stained fabric between two paper towels.

    5. Blot the backside of the stained fabric, working the stain into the other paper towel until stain is lifted.

    6. Apply laundry pre-treatment (stain remover).

    7. Wash in warm water and allow to air dry.

    - Also try denatured alcohol if you still see a stain after that.

  11. ADDelightful :) says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    most likely…..my sister borrowed my white shorts one day and sat in a pool of ink (dont ask me how she didnt see it) and i tried everything to get it out. I just sprayed it wit a lot of hairspray then washed it in cold water and VOLIA! it came out good.

  12. sunsets524 says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    You can spray it with hairspray then wash. But, the reason hairspray works is just becuase it has alcohol in it. Here are some other ways.
    For washable fabrics, get rid of a small ink stain by soaking the item in warm water with a tablespoon of Tide (per quart of water) for 24 hours. Then launder as usual, adding bleach if the fabric is bleachable.

    If the spot is larger than a dime, first soak it in wood (methyl) alcohol for l5-30 minutes (except for rayon, acetate or Celanese; dry clean these), then launder.

  13. beckypup01 says:
    August 5, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Hairspray works, I use it on my work uniforms. I usually put the cloth between my thumbs and rub back and forth, to cause friction. It works.

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