How to easily remove ballpoint pen marks from clothes
Sep 18, 2025
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Ballpoint pen marks stick to the fiber over time, making it difficult to remove them. Therefore, it is important to deal with the stain as soon as possible. Even with simple materials that can be used at home, it can be effectively erased, and damage to the fabric can be minimized if a few precautions are followed. From now on, let's summarize how to easily remove ballpoint pen marks from clothes at home.
1. Using alcohol
Ballpoint pen ink is easily soluble in alcohol, an organic solvent. It is effective if disinfecting ethanol is applied to a cotton swab or cotton pad and treated lightly as if tapping the spot. Dabbing without rubbing is the key to preventing smudging. At this time, you have to support a clean cloth or cotton pad behind the stain to prevent ink from transferring. After that, washing with lukewarm water and neutral detergent makes it much cleaner.
2. Using Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer can be used when there is no disinfectant alcohol. Hand sanitizers usually contain alcohol, which has the effect of melting ballpoint pen ink to some extent. You can drop a product with an alcohol concentration of 60% or more on a small stain, press it with a clean cloth, wipe it off, and wash it. However, products containing a lot of moisturizing ingredients or fragrances may be less effective, so it is recommended to choose products with high alcohol content.
3. First aid with hairspray
If you have to deal with it urgently while you're out, hair spray can also be a way. The alcohol content contained in the hairspray plays a role in reducing stains by dissolving the ballpoint pen ink. After spraying lightly on the spot, wait for a minute or two, wipe it off with a clean cloth, and wash it after returning home. However, in the case of dark-colored fabrics, discoloration may occur, so it is safe to test them first in an unnoticed place, such as the inside of the clothes.
4. Soaking it in milk
Milk can be a surprisingly effective ingredient for stain removal. This is because protein and fat in milk help break down ink components. Soak the area with ballpoint pen marks in milk for about 30 minutes, rub it gently with a soft toothbrush, and wash it to relieve stains. It is particularly suitable for bright colored clothing such as white fabrics and towels. However, not all ink is 100% effective, so it is better to think of it as an auxiliary method.
5. Check laundry labels and precautions
Not all fabrics can be handled the same way. It is safe to leave the cloth marked exclusively for dry cleaning at the laundry without trying too hard at home. In addition, before attempting to remove stains, you should first test the inside of the clothes or on unnoticed areas to ensure that there is no color smudging or damage. When a stain occurs, the biggest principle is to dispose of it immediately without delay.
Ballpoint pen marks can harm the impression of the entire clothes if they are not managed even if the stains are small. You can respond sufficiently with easily available ingredients at home, such as alcohol, hand sanitizer, hairspray, and milk. The most important thing is to respond quickly and choose a way that suits the fabric.
Simple habits that can be practiced at home can keep the life of your clothes. If you don't panic when you have a ballpoint pen mark and apply the right method, you can keep it as clean as new clothes. The habit of dealing with even the smallest stains eventually becomes the smartest way to save and manage clothes for a long time.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
