How to Get Pen Ink Stains Out of Clothes — 4 Easy Steps

ink stain on casual shirt

Removing pen, ballpoint or felt-tip ink stains from material like canvas and cotton is possible even after drying. With hand sanitizer and fabric treatment, you can remove pen ink from clothes — no matter how stubborn the stain.

More from Clorox experts
By Mary Gagliardi

Because ink is designed to stay on whatever surface you apply it to, when pen marks stain clothing and fabric, machine washing won’t be enough to get the stain out.

Instead, you need to use a special stain pretreating technique prior to machine washing, starting with clear alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel. The alcohol and thickening agents in the hand sanitizer help it soak into your fabric and begin to dissolve the ink stain. Then you pretreat again with Liquid Clorox 2™ for Colors, which is appropriate for nearly all machine washable items, including jeans and colored clothes.

Related Articles

This technique works on a variety of different types of ink, from pen ink to highlighter and marker stains — making it easy to get pen ink out of clothes and remove even tough, dried-on marks. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll see how simple it is to lift ink stains completely, even after they’ve been through the dryer.

What you need

Steps to remove ink stains from colored clothes & white items with spandex

  1. Pre-treat with alcohol-based hand sanitizer

    Use enough to saturate the stain. This will start to break up the ink, and you will see the stain begin to lighten. Let the hand sanitizer gel stay on the ink stain for a few minutes before continuing.

    Tip

    If the ink is fresh, blot it with a paper towel first, to remove excess ink.

    Hand sanitizer being squeezed from the bottle.

  2. Apply Liquid Clorox 2™ for Colors to the stain

    Use the cap to apply the Clorox 2™ product directly to the stain and gently rub it in. Allow the Clorox 2™ product to stay on your fabric for 10 minutes. Set a timer so you don’t lose track of the time and leave it on any longer. Do not let the product dry on your clothing.

    Tip

    Do not let Clorox 2™ dry out on the fabric. Use a timer to monitor the pretreating time.

    Laundry additive pouring out of bottle.

  3. Machine wash

    After 10 minutes, pretreating is complete and it’s time to machine wash your clothes. Select the hottest water possible, and add a little more Clorox 2™ along with your regular laundry detergent.

    washing machine knobs

  4. Air dry

    Air dry and check to make sure stain removal was a success.

    open window ventilation

You can always repeat the two pretreatment steps to get a super concentrated ink stain all the way out.

Tip

For items labeled “machine wash cold” consider using a “warm” wash temperature to improve your chances of getting the stain out.

Steps to remove ink stains from white bleach-safe clothes

  1. Pre-treat with alcohol-based hand sanitizer

    Use enough to saturate the stain. This will start to break up the ink, and you will see the stain begin to lighten. Let the hand sanitizer gel stay on the ink stain for a few minutes before continuing.

    Tip

    If the ink is fresh, blot it with a paper towel first, to remove excess ink.

    Hand sanitizer being squeezed from the bottle.

  2. Soak clothing in water & Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach

    Mix ¼ cup of Clorox™ Bleach per gallon of water. Fully submerge the clothing in the bleach and water solution for 5 minutes. When soaking is complete, pour off the bleach and water solution and you are ready to machine wash the item.

    Tip

    Always avoid bleaching wool, silk, mohair, leather and spandex.

    Hands with rubber gloves in a plastic bucket.

  3. Machine wash

    Wash according to the instructions on the care label, add your favorite detergent and pour 1/3 cup Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach into the bleach dispenser.

    washing machine knobs

  4. Air dry

    Air dry and check to make sure stain removal was a success.

    open window ventilation

You can always repeat the two pretreatment steps to get a super concentrated ink stain all the way out.

Tip

For items labeled “machine wash cold” consider using a “warm” wash temperature to improve your chances of getting the stain out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get permanent marker out of my clothes?

Permanent marker stains can be tough to remove, but it’s not impossible. Start by applying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer directly to the stain—this helps break down the ink. Next, gently rub in Clorox 2™ for Colors and let it sit on the fabric for about 10 minutes. Then, wash the item in your washing machine as usual. You may need to repeat the process depending on the fabric type and how long the stain has been there. For more tips and step-by-step guidance, check out Clorox’s article on how to get marker out of fabric and clothes.

Can I use full-strength Clorox™ Bleach on ink stains?

It’s important not to use undiluted Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach directly on ink stains or any fabric. Full-strength bleach can damage fibers, causing discoloration or even holes. While Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach is effective on ballpoint pen ink stains, it should only be used in the wash cycle and on bleach-safe fabrics such as cotton or polyester. Do not manually pretreat ink stains with bleach. Instead, start by applying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to help break up the ink. Then wash the item using detergent and the recommended amount of bleach—⅓ cup for standard washers or ¼ cup for HE machines—added to the bleach dispenser. Always follow label instructions and avoid using bleach on delicate or non-fast colored fabrics.

Can hand sanitizer stain clothes?

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — those containing ethyl alcohol, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol — are generally safe for use on clothing and should not cause staining. However, alcohol-free hand sanitizers may contain ingredients that can permanently stain or lighten fabrics. Always check the label to ensure you're using the right type or test on a small inconspicuous area of the fabric before applying to the stains.

Can I get ink out of clothes after drying?

Ink stains that have been through a hot dryer cycle are more stubborn and harder to remove, but they’re not necessarily permanent. You may need to repeat the recommended stain removal steps several times to fully eliminate the ink stains. Start with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to break up the stain, then follow with Clorox 2™ for Colors Stain Remover and a machine wash with your favorite detergent. Persistence is key—don’t be discouraged if the stain doesn’t disappear after the first attempt.