Removing ink stain from dress shirt

[dochawk]

I'm finally getting around to trying to deal with an ink stain that knocked a shirt out of commission.

 

A pen fell from its cap, iirc, in my inner suit pocket. I can live with the stain inside the suit, but we didn't notice the shirt until it had been cleaned (naturally). The dry cleaners has made its attempt, and I believe the first cleaning was actually in a washing machine.

 

If it makes a difference, the shirt is a Jos. A. Bank traveler (grey), and the ink was Pellikan's Brilliant Red (which I find turns a non-impressive orange-red, but that may have to do with the stuff apparently fermenting in its bottle--left alone for a couple of days, bubbles would develop . . .)

 

thanks

 

hawk

[skipwilliams]

I imagine that the shirt is a goner. Aside from bleaching a white shirt, I've had very poor luck with any sort of special cleaning over-and-above regular pre-treatment (spray-and-wash) and normal detergent washing. I've found that Amodex or Ink-Nix both will remove the color from a non-white shirt.

 

Skip

[ViolinWriter]

You might try hitting it with hydrogen peroxide, full strength, and keep adding more for about an hour or so.

 

One problem though is that the cleaning, including drying the shirt after washing, likely set the colour into the fabric.

 

That failing, you could always pick up a big bottle of Pelikan Brilliant Red, (or better still, a regular fabric dye) and dye the whole shirt. If you go that route, you ought to wash it, after letting the dye set, with a compound called Synthropol. It's readily available from yarn shops and places that cater to weavers and spinners. It helps set the colour so that the red (or whatever you dye it to) won't turn everything it contacts a lovely shade of pink. (If you need leads, shoot a PM my way and I'll give you the links I know of.)

 

I actually "dyed" a concert skirt (think pricey and rather fancy fabric) after a similar incident with spilled liquid. The results were actually rather interesting, and I wore that skirt a full 10 years after all the "blotching".

 

You might also consider "blotching" the shirt all over with some permanent colours from Noodler's or other permanent dyes. It won't be a dress shirt any longer, but it might be fun to wear anyway.

 

Also, regarding the Pelikan ink "fermenting" -- I don't think that supposed to happen. Contact the place you got the ink from and see what they can do to correct the problem.

[Dr.Grace]

I'd try Amodex. This ink is probably not bulletproof like Noodler's so it should come out, I'd think.

 

Don

[Ghost Plane]

The heat at the cleaners will definitely have set it. Try a non chlorine bleach. I've had good luck with getting blood out by pouring Chlorox II directly onto the offending area, letting it sit overnight, then washing the artlcle the next morning in cold water. One hopes the red is a similar chemical base in the ink...

[Paddler]

I have been doing torture tests on various inks to see which ones are really fade-proof and/or water resistant. Left in a sunny window, Pelikan Brilliant Red quickly (10 days) faded to yellow. In a month, most of the yellow had disappeared. The process takes longer where the ink is heaviest.

 

Paddler.

 

 

[Pendragon]

Maybe Spray n Wash would work? I used it on a Noodler's Luxury Blue stain from a white t-shirt. I had to wash it a whole bunch of times, giving it the Spray n Wash treatment each time, but the stain is almost gone.

[ViolinWriter]

Oh what an idiot, moi!

 

There is stuff out there called "Incredible!"

 

It is. Truly. I've used it for years to take ink out of rayon, cottons and linens. I'm so sorry I forgot about it.

 

You can find it at vetrinarians, Linen 'n' Things, Bed Bath and Beyond, and other such stores. It is one of those deoderizing, stain removing compounds, which is why it's sold at veterinarians. (For those little "accidents" our four legged children tend to have from time to time.)

 

I used it once to get Pelikan Royal Blue out of a rayon shirt that stained if I even looked at a cup of coffee. It took quite a while of soaking in the stuff (for my shirt, cuff in a bowl of Incredible overnight) but it did come out.

 

I'd be careful with the shirt in the sun process as many cotton and natural fiber dyes are may fade unevenly in sunlight as the ink also disappears. And, cotton is not exactly like paper when it comes to accepting and releasing dyes such as inks.

[MikeW]

Amodex has always worked well for me, although this only really happened to me once ...

[encephalartos]

Amodex has always worked well for me, although this only really happened to me once ...

 

I second the Amodex. I got blue ink out of white denim with it, and

the jacket was presentable afterwards. It will take more than just

one application, so don't give up too quickly. DON'T use water on

the stain before or after the multiple applications of Amodex.

 

Another product that is good for removing really bad stains is called KissOff.

It is stocked by art supply stores and is a white solid in a tube that you

rub on the stain with paper towel behind the stain, then rinse. Repeat.

This one also takes more than one application.

 

I would NOT recommend Ink Nix for any kind of fabric, as it seems to

contain abrasives. It is meant for your hands. The abrasives will

wear the surface of fabric. It would be like using sandpaper or

beating the clothes on a rock.

 

For future incidents (washable), you might want to note some steps.

 

(1) If you can, go and sponge the stain with cold water right after it

happens. (Have saved shirts with spilled coffee this way, and that's

a tough stain.) The water from this initial emergency sponging will

probably dry before you get to step 2.

 

 

(2) Pre-treat with Amodex or KissOff. It's best to do this soon.

 

(3) Launder, but use warm or cold water.

 

(4) Check before putting into the dryer, as you might want to re-treat

or re-wash.

 

For dry cleanable items, I've had good luck by telling the dry cleaner

exactly what stain it was. (An unfortuate incident with copier toner

on an expensive plaid jacket ocurred. By telling the dry cleaner

it was toner, they were able to get it out.)

 

 

 

[searcher18]

Consider switching to Diamine ink. It comes out of clothing by soaking in very hot water. I keep Amodex for back up for occasions when I get tempted by another type of ink. Buy the Amodex now so that you can have it for the next spill. Buying it after the fact maybe too late.

[rogerb]

Grey shirt, red ink?

 

My money's on your having to buy a new shirt (after trying a selection of the above suggestions)

 

BTW, JAB is having a Winter Clearance Sale!!!

Edited January 19, 2011 by rogerb