How do you get ballpoint pen ink stains out of a cotton shirt?

Alcohol takes ink out of material, you can use rubbing alcohol, hair spray, or whatever you have on hand that has clear alcohol in it. But you want to was it out after you have put it on it.

Try spraying with hairspray before you wash; it’s worked on jeans for me.

Thank you! I suck at home ec.

Just an fyi…. if you ever have a problem with grease or oil put amonia on it then wash it

Spray with hair spray. Let it sit 5 minutes. Then, rub soap and warm water into the stain. Rinse.Repeat if necessary. It always amazes me that it works, but it does.

Rubbing alcohol works every time…even on permanent marker (now if it’s on color, it may alter the color). My son draws only with Sharpie’s. I keep bottles of rubbing alcohol on hand. ;)

I have tried the hairspray trick. Just have something you are prepared to throw out or use as a rag ready to press against the ink stain when you wet it with hairspray. I suppose you do the same with the rubbing alcohol. I haven’t tried that. I knew it was the alcohol in the hairspray, but I hadn’t tried just pouring it on the inkstain. Huh. Thanks.

http://video.about.com/housekeeping/Remove-Ink-Stains.htm This is probably the most thorough instruction about ink stain removal. It depends on the type of ink too. Ballpoint is best removed with alcohol or acetone.

First, saturate with hairspray and allow the garment to soak for 10 minutes. That should take some of it out. If the stain isn’t completely gone, apply 91% rubbing alcohol (which is stronger and more effective than the 70% kind).

I had to go to the supermarket before I could answer this question, because I forgot the name of the cleanser.

A few years ago, I had a white tee shirt that was brand new and had a ballpoint stain on it. The woman at the cleaners said to me “Why are you bringing this here? You put Lestoil on this and just throw it in the wash.” I went out, bought Lestoil and put some Lestoil on the stain, and threw the shirt in the wash. The stain disappeared.

Lestoil is a cleaner that can be found in the supermarket. It’s kind of along the lines of PineSol.

I’m going to look for Lestoil @jca. Thanks for the advise. Does it smell like PineSol? I love that clean smell.

@bkcunningham : it has kind of a “housecleaning smell.” I decided last night I am going to buy a bottle and have it near my washing machine. I bet it probably works on other stains, too. I totally forgot about Lestoil until this thread!