5 Methods on How to Get Gel Pen Out Of Clothes (No Bleach Needed!)

Gel pen stains are a pain to remove from clothing. Unlike other ink types, gel types tend to stick to the fabric more, creating semi-permanent stains. But with the right method, there’s a way on how to get gel pen out of clothes without causing damage to the fabric.

Overall, ink stains are common, especially if you always put a pen in your shirt’s pocket. Still, it remains one of the most stubborn stains you’ll have to deal with.

To save you from the hassle, we discussed here the right methods to remove stubborn gel pen stains without using bleach.

Why gel ink stains are hard to remove on fabric

Whether it’s your kid’s uniform at school or your clothes at work, gel ink stains remain challenging to remove. If you’re at your wit’s end dealing with the stubborn stain, here are the methods you can try:

Method 1: Use a mixture of ammonia and water

 

One of the most effective ways to remove gel ink from clothes is to use a mixture of ammonia and water. This is the same solution the pen brand Uni-Ball recommends when removing their non-water-based inks from washable garments.

Here’s how you should do it:

  • Dilute one teaspoon of ammonia to a gallon of water.
  • Next, put the solution in a spray bottle
  • Add an enzyme laundry detergent to the mix.
  • Shake the solution and spray it into the gel ink stain.
  • Saturate the ink stain and let it soak
  • After that, scrub the stain using an old toothbrush
  • Rinse the garment after a few seconds of scrubbing.
  • Feel free to repeat the process until you’re satisfied with the result.

Overall, ammonia doesn’t fade fabric dyes as bleach does. But like bleach, it helps whiten white clothing pieces even more. Still, you should always dilute it to avoid damaging your clothes or irritating your skin.

If this didn’t work or if you don’t have ammonia handy, you can try other methods below.

Method 2: Use a nail polish remover

Another solution you can try is using a nail polish remover. It contains acetone, a solvent that turns solid polymer into liquid.

Take note that you should never use this method on acetate fabric as it will sustain damages. In case gel ink got into your acetate, modacrylic, or triacetate fabrics, you should avail of a commercial dry-cleaning service instead.

But if your affected clothing isn’t made of these fabrics, you can proceed with these steps:

  • Try to blot the gel stain if it’s still wet to remove as much ink as possible.
  • Dilute one part of acetone to two parts of water
  • Dip a cotton ball into this solution.
  • Next, blot the stain with the acetone solution.
  • Let it soak and wipe off the stain with another cotton ball
  • Repeat this until you’ve removed the gel stain fully.

Before you use acetone on any clothing, especially dark-colored ones, test it on a hidden spot first. This is to check whether the fabric color will be damaged. If that’s the case, you should use another method in removing the ink stain.

Method 3: Use diluted vinegar

 

Vinegar is considered ‘liquid gold’ because of its versatility in and out of the kitchen. It’s also a handy solution when removing gel ink stains from clothes.

As with using acetone, you should perform a patch test on a small and hidden area of your clothes. You shouldn’t proceed with this method if vinegar made the fabric color fade.

But if the fabric color isn’t changed, here are the steps to perform this stain removal method:

  • Transfer the solution into a spray bottle.
  • Spray the solution on the gel pen stain.
  • Saturate the stain and let it soak.
  • Rub table salt on the soaked gel stain spot. Avoid rock salt as this can damage the fabric.
  • After that, rinse the garment with warm water.
  • Lastly, wash the garment using regular detergent.

Method 4: Use a lemon juice mix

Similar to vinegar, lemon is a time-proven solution to stubborn gel pen stains. The citric acid in lemon is a powerful stain buster not just for ink, but also for wine, rust, and grease stains.

The best thing is that lemon is food safe and unlikely to cause damage to the fabric. Still, you should patch test on a hidden part of the garment to be safe.

If there are no adverse reactions to the garment color, here’s what you need to do:

  • Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with one tablespoon of liquid detergent.
  • Apply this mixture to the gel pen stain.
  • Let it soak on the fabric for around two hours.
  • After that, give the stain spot a gentle scrubbing using an old toothbrush.
  • Next, rinse it with cold water.
  • Feel free to re-apply the mixture if there’s still ink stain left.
  • Once you’re happy with the result, you can now wash the garment using a regular detergent.

Aside from lemon juice, you can also use other citrus fruits like lime or citron. Whatever you choose, always test on a small spot of the garment.

Method 5: Use turpentine as a blotter

 

If all else fails, you can resort to turpentine to remove the most stubborn gel pen stain. This paint thinner is abrasive and can lift ink stains, but you should proceed at your own risk.

Overall, turpentine is only advisable to use on thick pants like those made of heavy denim.

To use this solvent, here are the steps to take:

  • First, place a dark-colored towel on the other side of the stained spot.
  • Next, saturate the ink stain with turpentine.
  • Don’t dip the entire garment in turpentine, just use it as a spot treatment.
  • Just blot the turpentine and never rub as this will make the stain bigger.
  • Keep blotting using a separate cloth until you’ve removed the ink.
  • Once you’re done, rinse the stained spot with the hottest water allowed as indicated in the tag.
  • Lastly, wash the garment with regular detergent.

Final words

Knowing how to get gel pen out of clothes will save you from the eyesore of stains. If done properly, you can remove the stubborn stain without damaging the color and quality of the garment’s fabric. Remember to spot test before you proceed with any of the methods above.

However, if all the methods above don’t work, you can always opt for a dry-cleaning service. This is the same thing if you’re worried about ruining your clothes.

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