How To Remove Ink Stains From Fabric Sofa In 3 Ways

If you want to know how to remove ink stains from fabric sofa, we have three practical steps for you. This article will show how vinegar is a practical yet safe solution to ink stains in most fabric upholstery. However, please remember to check the tag on your fabric couch as it may indicate a specific cleaning method. 

We have also written a more generalized guide for getting ink out of the sofa. Feel free to check that as well, so you’ll have more tips for different types of materials. That being said, here are the effective methods for fabric sofas in particular. 

How To Remove Ink Stains From Fabric Sofa

 

How To Remove Ink Stains From Fabric Sofa Upholstery

Check the care tag of your fabric sofa for its cleaning code. This tutorial is helpful for fabric upholstery with code W or S/W, which means the material allows the usage of water-based cleaners. You also want to test a bit of vinegar on the fabric to check if it won’t cause fading or color transfer. 

 

Step 1. Mix vinegar, dish soap, and water

If the fabric upholstery is code W, removing ink stains is best done with a vinegar solution. Mix a cup of water, two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar, and a tablespoon of dish soap. You can put it on a spray bottle to wet a piece of soft cloth or dip it in the solution as long as you don’t oversaturate the cleaning cloth. By the way, vinegar and soap is one of the most effective solutions to get rid of blue stains on clothes after washing as well.

 

Step 2. Blot the ink stains

You don’t need to use a dripping cleaning cloth to soak the fabric sofa as it will be challenging to dry. Instead, dab the damp cloth onto the ink stain to lift it from the fabric. The cloth will soak the ink, so be careful not to put too much pressure and never make a wiping or rubbing motion that might spread the ink throughout the sofa.

Replace the cloth for cleaning if needed. Once the fabric sofa is free of the ink stain, allow the vinegar solution to sit in the affected area for around 10 minutes. Then, rinse it off with a damp cloth and repeat if you can still notice some discoloration. 

 

Step 3. Allow the sofa to dry

After rinsing the area, wipe it with a dry cloth to soak off the excess moisture. You can even sprinkle some baking soda on the fabric sofa to freshen and help it dry. Allow the baking soda to sit in the cleaned spot for a few hours and then vacuum it off. 

If air drying is insufficient, you can also have a blow dryer at a considerable distance from the spot-treated area. Make sure that the fabric sofa has dried thoroughly to avoid the risk of mold or mildew. And that’s it; you just safely remove ink stains from the fabric couch!

 

What if I can’t use vinegar?

If your fabric upholstery transfers color when you do the vinegar test, you can replace the cleaning solution with dishwashing liquid and glycerin soap. They are mild enough for delicate fabrics, but it would be best that you still check for the cleaning code of your upholstery. Mix glycerin soap and dishwashing liquid at an equal ratio and dilute them with water. 

Dip or spray a soft cloth with the soap solution and dab the ink stains with it. If it’s still ineffective, you can spray a bit of hydrogen peroxide diluted with water onto the affected spot. Dab the ink off until it’s removed, and dry the fabric couch accordingly. 

 

Can Baking Soda Remove Ink Stains?

Baking soda is a safe homemade remedy for ink stains, especially on fabric sofas. Baking soda is also effective for cleaning leather sofas without the risk of damaging the material. So how do you use it to remove ink stains on fabric?

Make a paste with baking soda and water using a 2:1 ratio, and soak a cotton ball with it. Dab the cotton ball onto the ink stains until they’re removed. Allow the paste to sit for a few hours before washing the fabric as usual.

 

Does Hairspray Remove Ink?

If you have hairspray at home, you can use it to remove ink on your fabric sofa. It works the same way as rubbing alcohol eliminates ink stains. However, remember to read the hairspray ingredients because they might stain or fade some materials. 

Test the hairspray first on a hidden portion of the couch before using it directly on the ink stain. Next, allow the alcohol to work the stain for a few seconds before wiping it off with a damp cloth. Finally, let the fabric dry thoroughly or wash it with mild detergent and water.

 

Conclusion

Do not worry if you have ink spilled on the fabric couch. This article shows you how to remove ink stains from fabric sofa using a vinegar solution. You can also replace vinegar with glycerin if the upholstery material is delicate. 

Dab the stain off and dry the fabric couch thoroughly. However, the most crucial part is checking your cleaning tag and ensuring that you test and use the recommended products on your fabric. This will remove ink stains safely and effectively. 

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