How to get ink out of carpet
For an ink stain on carpet, put a little rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover on a white cloth (never pour it on), dab the ink from the outer edge toward the center, and blot with a clean part of the cloth as the ink transfers. Keep going until nothing more comes up, then blot with a mild dish-detergent solution and rinse with water. Pen ink is a dye or pigment in an oily or solvent carrier, so it needs a solvent to release it, and blotting moves it into the cloth instead of spreading it.
- Best method
- Solvent on a cloth, blot from the edges in, rinse
- Time
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Stain type
- Combination
You will need
- Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover
- Plenty of white cloths or paper towels
- Clear liquid dish soap
- Cotton swabs, for small dots
How to remove ink from carpet
- 1
Blot wet ink right away
If the ink is still wet, such as from a leaking pen, press a dry white cloth or paper towel onto it to soak up what you can. Don't wipe.
Why: Wet ink that's lifted now never reaches the base of the pile. Wiping smears it across more fibers.
- 2
Test the solvent
Dab a little rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover on a hidden patch of carpet, such as inside a closet, and check the cloth and carpet for color change.
Why: Solvents can lift carpet dye as well as ink. The Carpet and Rug Institute asks for a pretest every time.
- 3
Dab solvent on with a cloth
Moisten a white cloth or cotton swab with the solvent and dab the ink, starting at the outer edge and working toward the center. Let it sit a minute, then blot with a dry part of the cloth.
Why: Ballpoint ink is an oily paste of dyes and resins that redissolves in alcohol and other solvents. Working inward keeps the dissolved ink from spreading into a bigger ring.
- 4
Keep switching to clean cloth
Repeat, moving to a fresh part of the cloth each time, as long as ink keeps transferring. Be patient: it can take many rounds.
Why: A dirty cloth puts ink back into the carpet. Each fresh pass pulls a little more out.
- 5
Blot with dish-detergent solution
Mix ¼ teaspoon of clear dish soap into a cup of lukewarm water, dab it on with a cloth, wait a few minutes and blot.
Why: Detergent lifts the remaining oily carrier and solvent residue. It's the next step in the Carpet and Rug Institute's ink sequence.
- 6
Rinse and blot dry
Blot with plain warm water a few times, then press dry towels on the spot until no moisture comes up.
Why: Solvent and soap residue left in the pile attracts dirt, and the spot would darken again.
Why ink is tricky on carpet
Ink is a colorant in a carrier, and the carrier decides what dissolves it. Ballpoint ink is a thick, oily paste in glycol or oil-type solvents; gel and rollerball inks are water-based with pigments or dyes; fountain pen and washable inks are water-based dyes. That makes ink a combination stain, and no single remover works for every ink.
For most pen ink on carpet, rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover is the right start. The Carpet and Rug Institute's sequence for ink is nail polish remover, then dry-cleaning solvent, then dilute dish-detergent solution, a warm-water rinse, an ammonia solution, and finally a professional.
Why you never pour it on
Carpet is a deep pile tufted into a backing that's held together with latex adhesive. Solvents poured onto the carpet run down into that backing and can damage the latex, and liquid in the base wicks back up and brings ink with it. So every solvent goes on a cloth, and you blot rather than rub, which also keeps the yarn tips from fraying.
By situation
Ballpoint pen ink
The most common case and usually the easiest. Rubbing alcohol on a cloth often lifts it completely within a few rounds.
Gel pen or water-based ink
Start with plain cool water on a cloth and the dish-detergent solution, since water-based inks often move with water. Move to alcohol if color remains.
Permanent marker or permanent ink
Try alcohol on a cloth first, but the Carpet and Rug Institute lists a professional as an early step for permanent ink. See the permanent marker on carpet guide for more.
Tattoo ink
No carpet or extension source covers tattoo ink specifically. It's a pigment-based ink, so treat it like other ink: blot immediately, then work through alcohol on a cloth and the dish-detergent solution. A dried spill that won't budge is a job for a professional.
Wool carpet
Test carefully and use solvents sparingly. Skip the ammonia step, since wool is damaged by alkalis, and call a professional if the detergent solution doesn't finish the job.
What not to do
- Don't pour alcohol or nail polish remover onto the carpet. It can soak into the backing and damage the latex that holds the carpet together.
- Don't rub or scrub. Rubbing spreads dissolved ink into a wider ring and frays the pile.
- Don't reuse an inky part of the cloth. It puts the ink straight back into the carpet.
- Don't use hairspray or milk. Hairspray leaves sticky resin, and extension guides call old remedies like milk on ink unreliable.
Other methods that work
Dry-cleaning solvent
The Carpet and Rug Institute's second step for ink, applied on a white cloth the same way. A non-flammable spot remover is preferred.
Caution: Ventilate and never pour it on.
Ammonia solution
One tablespoon of household ammonia in a cup of water is a later step in the institute's ink sequence, for color left after detergent.
Caution: Synthetic carpet only, test first, and never combine with bleach.
Stain still there?
The ink spot got bigger
Dissolved ink spread outward. Work strictly from the edges toward the center with small amounts of solvent, and switch to clean cloth more often.
A faint blue or black shadow remains
Try the dry-cleaning solvent step, then the detergent solution again. If it still shows, a professional cleaner has stronger solvents.
The carpet color lightened
The solvent lifted carpet dye. Stop, rinse with water and blot, and ask a professional carpet cleaner about repair options.
Safety
- Rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover and dry-cleaning solvents are flammable: ventilate and keep them away from flames.
- Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach.
Never mix cleaning products; see chemicals you must never combine.
Questions
Does rubbing alcohol get ink out of carpet?
Usually, especially ballpoint ink. Dab it on with a white cloth, blot from the edges in, and keep switching to clean cloth until no more ink transfers.
Can nail polish remover remove ink from carpet?
Yes. It's the first step in the Carpet and Rug Institute's ink sequence. Test it first and apply it with a cloth, not poured on.
How do you get dried pen ink out of carpet?
The same way as fresh: solvent on a cloth, patience and frequent clean cloth. Dried ballpoint ink often still redissolves in alcohol.
How do you get tattoo ink out of carpet?
Blot it at once, then try rubbing alcohol on a cloth and a mild dish-detergent solution. No source covers tattoo ink on carpet specifically, so call a professional if a dried spill won't lift.
Ink on other surfaces
Other stains on carpet
Sources
- Spot Solver: Ink, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- Spot Solver: Ink, Ball Point, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- Spot Solver: Ink, Permanent, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- Simple Stain Removal Tips and Tricks, The Carpet and Rug Institute
- Stain Removal for Washable Fabrics (HE 2-840), University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
- Removing Clothing Stains (Guide C-502), New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service
Last updated . Methods are drawn from the sources above; how we research and check our guides.