Keeping the carpet clean and spotless all the time is a must. However, considering that the floor covering is constantly in contact with everyone at home, it is not an easy job to do.
There may come a time when the carpet is covered with dust or stained by spilled ink, food, or drink. While you can solve the former problem by vacuuming, the latter one is harder to deal with, especially if the stain comes from the ink.
If you are wondering how to get ink out of carpet, here are five different ways that you can do to bring back the clean impression of your carpet.
1. What Gets Ink Out of Carpet?
Before starting the cleaning process, you may ask: What gets ink out of carpet? Is there any effective solution to deal with ink stain problem? The answer is, there are various choices of ink stain removal.
They range from common cleaning agents like detergent to less common ones, including rubbing alcohol, ammonia solution, even hairspray, and lubricant.
Different cleaning agents serve different purposes. Choosing the one that is most suitable for your situation should be based on the type of ink as well as the material of your carpet. By doing so, you will not only get the best result but also can perform the cleaning process more efficient.
2. How to Remove Ink from Carpet Using Detergent
Detergent in this regard refers to various types of common cleaning solution, including laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, or cleaning product for carpet in particular.
Either one can be used as cleaning agents to get a water-based ink stain out of the carpet. To do so, dissolve one teaspoon of the cleaning agent in a small bowl of warm water.
After the solution is ready, dab a white towel into it. Then, dab the towel gently onto the area where the stain is located. You can repeat the process if the towel dries, but the stain has not been disappeared.
3. How to Clean Ink Stain on Carpet Using Rubbing Alcohol
You can combine rubbing alcohol and a bowl of lukewarm water to remove permanent ink stain on the carpet. First thing first, dampen the ink stain with rubbing alcohol. Then, lightly blot the stain using a white cloth.
Repeat the process until the stain is transferred to the towel. For the final touch, dip the towel into lukewarm water and dab the carpet to clean any remaining alcohol or stain.
Note that in some cases, permanent ink on the carpet is extremely hard to remove, especially when the stain has been stuck on the carpet for a long period.
Some cleaning agents, including rubbing alcohol, can only reduce the amount of ink stain. When this happens, you can repeat the cleaning process or get rid of the stain using a different method.
4. How to Get Ink Out of Carpet Using Ammonia Solution
If permanent ink stain does not disappear after you clean the carpet with rubbing alcohol, try ammonia solution as an alternative method. You can combine it with detergent to get a better result. Here are the steps that you need to follow.
- Create a detergent solution in a spray bottle by mixing a cup of water and a teaspoon of detergent.
- Spray the solution onto the stain, and then blot it using a clean, white cloth. Remember: blot, don’t scrub! Scrubbing the stain on a wet carpet will only make it worse.
- Let it still for a few minutes while you create another solution by dissolving a tablespoon of ammonia in a half cup of water.
- Spray the second solution onto the stain. Blot it with a different clean cloth until the stain disappears entirely.
- Once the stain is removed, dab the carpet using a detergent solution to wash away the chemical residue of ammonia.
- Rinse the carpet with clean water and let it dry.
5. How to Remove Ink from Carpet Using Hairspray
The chemical contents in hairspray can remove ink stain. You can choose the suitable hairspray according to the type of the ink stain: lacquer hairspray from ballpoint ink, and non-oily hairspray for the permanent one.
The amount of hairspray you need may vary. It depends on several factors, including the material of the carpet, the type of the ink, and how long the carpet has been stained. Just in case the stain is harder to remove than you thought, it is always wise to prepare one or two cans in stock.
As additional kits, you also need a white towel or cloth, a brush, and a vacuum. Here is what you should do to remove ink from carpet using hairspray:
- Spray the hairspray onto the stained carpet to soften the ink.
- While the carpet is still wet, blot the stain using a white towel or cloth.
- Repeat the first and second step until the stain is disappeared
- Once the stained area has dried, brush it gently to clean the carpet.
- Vacuum the carpet, so that the traces of hairspray are clear.
6. How to Clean Ink on Carpet Using Lubricant
Removing ink stain from carpet can also be done using lubricant. However, it would help if you tested it first to a small part of your carpet to make sure that the lubricant is stain-free. If the test is clear, follow these steps to get rid of the ink stain.
- Spray lubricant on the stain.
- Wipe the stain with a sponge that has been dabbed in warm soapy water.
- After the stain disappears, rinse the carpet with warm water to clean any residue of stain, lubricant, or soap.
- Let the carpet dry or vacuum it for faster result.
When it is accidentally spilled on the carpet, ink can be hard to remove. For that reason, the key to getting ink out of carpet is by cleaning it immediately. The longer ink stain stays on the carpet, the harder it is to be cleaned.
Now that you know how to get ink out of carpet using different cleaning agents, all you need to do is take immediate action and clean the stain right away. Therefore, your carpet can go back to its spotless condition.
