How to Remove Ink from Carpet

Co-authored by Haim Shemesh and Eric McClure

Last Updated: May 6, 2022 References Approved

Did you spill some ink all over your beautiful carpet? An ink stain may feel like the end of the world for your carpet, but don't worry—we've done the research and this is actually a super easy problem to solve. In this article, we’ll walk you through all of the best options and explain how to get your carpet back in tiptop shape.

1

Rubbing Alcohol

For any ink, rubbing alcohol will get the stain out no problem. Grab a clean sponge and load it up with a spoonful of rubbing alcohol. Gently blot the stain repeatedly until the ink lifts. Then, rinse the area with water.^{[1]
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- Isopropyl alcohol will work if you don’t have any rubbing alcohol around.
- Denatured alcohol may work if the ink is extremely stubborn. This may leave some discoloration behind, so spot test it first!

2

Hydrogen Peroxide

If you find an old permanent ink stain, hydrogen peroxide will fix it. Grab a clean cotton towel and pour a little hydrogen peroxide into it. Blot the ink stain thoroughly with your towel until the ink comes up. Clean the area with water to flush out the peroxide and let the carpet air out overnight.^{[2]
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- This may strip dye out of your carpet, so spot test it first in an area you don’t care about.

3

Dish Soap

For water-based inks, you don’t need anything tougher than soap. Mix 1-part dish soap with 1-part water and load up a sponge or rag. Pat the inky spill or stain repeatedly with your sponge or rag until the ink starts lifting out. Repeat this process until the ink is gone and pat the area dry with paper towels.^{[3]
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- You can use shampoo or laundry detergent instead of dish soap if you prefer.^{[4]
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- If the ink won’t come out all the way, scrub the soaped-up area with a clean toothbrush to work it out of the fibers.

4

Shaving Cream

For permanent inks, the emulsifiers in shaving cream will do the job. Grab a can of shaving cream and spray the ink directly with a thick bead. Grab a sponge, load it up with water, and wring the excess water out. Dab the cream into the carpet with the sponge and wipe the excess foam up. Repeat this process as needed until the ink is gone and use a vacuum to clean the carpet thoroughly.^{[5]
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- Dry the carpet with a clean rag or paper towel when you’re done.

5

Cornstarch and Milk

For stubborn permanent ink, cornstarch and milk are a safe bet. Mix a few spoonfuls of cornstarch with enough milk to form a thick paste. Lay the paste on top of the ink stain, and leave it for a few hours. Then, use a dry toothbrush to scrub the cornstarch off of the carpet. The ink should be totally gone. Vacuum the area when you’re done to lift up any crumbs.^{[6]
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6

Hair Spray

For ballpoint ink, alcohol-based hair spray is perfect. Lay a paper towel down flat over the ink to absorb the ink, and spray the paper towel liberally with your hair spray. Wait a minute or so and the ink should transfer to the paper towel. Discard the towel and blot the area with a wet sponge. Once the hair spray is gone, wipe up any residue with warm water a towel.^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
State of Michigan
Official website for the State of Michigan
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- This may not work if there’s no alcohol in the active ingredient for the product you’re using.^{[8]
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7

WD-40

The oil and solvent in WD-40 will strip ink without staining the carpet. Spray the ink directly with a quick spritz of WD-40 and wait 30-45 seconds. Then, load up a sponge with warm, soapy water and wring the excess out. Blot the WD-40 with your soapy sponge until the ink comes out, and lift the excess water and soap out with a clean paper towel.^{[9]
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- The WD-40 won’t leave a stain behind, but it might leave a residue or texture. Warm water and a rag should soak it up no problem if it bothers you.

8

Bleach

This will discolor your carpet, but if it’s white, it may not matter. You can use chlorine- or oxygen-based bleach for this. Put on gloves and pour a tiny dollop of bleach on to a paper towel. Blot the stain over and over again until the ink comes out.^{[10]
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- Even if your carpet isn’t white, the discoloration from the bleach may be preferable to the ink stain, and depending on the pattern of your carpet, the bleach may not stand out.^{[11]
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  Expert Source
  
  Haim Shemesh
  Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
  Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}

9

Commercial Carpet Cleaner

There are products designed specifically for this that will work. Swing by any home improvement or big box store and look for any commercial carpet cleaner that mentions inks on the label. Follow the instructions on the product to apply it to your carpet. Typically, you just spritz the area with the cleaner, wait a few minutes, and wipe the area with a rag or paper towel.^{[12]
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10

Water

If the stain is from a washable or child-safe ink, just use water. Did your child got a little too excited with their art supplies? Good news—this one is a breeze. Simply load up a rag or sponge with clear water and blot the area repeatedly. This kind of ink is designed to be easy to clean up.^{[13]
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- If it leaves any residue or stain behind, use a small drop of dish soap and warm water to blot the remaining ink out.

11

Vacuum

For powder ink and pigments, just vacuum the mess up. Do not get powder or pigmented ink wet! That will only make the ink harder to lift out. Instead, simply vacuum the area multiple times to lift out as much of the pigment as you can. Once you’ve lifted out the pigment, you’re done!^{[14]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I remove dried computer cartridge ink from carpet?

Community Answer

The shaving cream works best, helped with a light agitating from a soft toothbrush. Leave the foam on for a few minutes for stubborn stains.
Question

How do I remove an ink stain that has been sitting for 3 months?

Community Answer

Get some carpet shampoo and rub it in with a brush or cloth. Let it dry for an hour or so, then hoover it up. You may have to do it multiple times to fully eliminate the stain.
Question

Could you be more specific in what type of water to use?

Community Answer

Use lukewarm fresh water. Tap is fine, just make sure it’s about room temperature.