An ink stain can ruin an item of clothing. And if you don’t have any industrial stain remover on hand to remove it, try this old wives’ tale that uses a drink you have in your fridge. Everyone has had this kind of mishap: a pen leaking in a pocket, an unfortunate gesture or a child who loves to color with felt-tip pens, and you end up with a nice ink stain on a shirt, t-shirt, dress, jeans or jacket. A clearly visible mark, especially on light-colored clothing, and one that is generally very difficult to remove, especially when the ink has dried well! Fortunately, there are several simple and economical tricks that have proven their worth long before the advent of industrial stain removers.
The great classic is lemon. A few drops on the stain, dabbed gently with a clean cloth, and the natural acidity of the fruit begins to dissolve the pigments. Sometimes you have to repeat the operation, but this method is effective, especially on fresh stains. Another must-have: 70% isopropyl alcohol, also called “rubbing alcohol”.
This product, which can be found in almost all medicine cabinets, acts as a solvent on inks. Simply pour a few drops gently onto the affected area and leave for a few minutes. Then rub gently with a clean cloth to remove the ink from the fibers of the fabric. Be careful not to rub too vigorously, as this could damage more fragile textiles.
For fans of ecological cleaning, a natural and equally effective alternative is to use a mixture of white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. By mixing the two products, you obtain a slightly effervescent paste that gently removes stains. One hour of soaking is usually enough to fade ink marks, before putting the fabric through the machine for a flawless result. This mixture is particularly useful for dry or encrusted stains.
But the real old-fashioned trick is something you can find in the fridge: milk! Surprising as it may seem, this animal product is a formidable ally against ink stains. Cold or warm depending on the type of fabric, it acts deeply and gently to dissolve the ink that has seeped into the fibers, gradually absorbing the pigments.
It is easy to use: start by blotting up the excess ink with kitchen paper. Then immerse the fabric in a suitable container filled with milk (a small bowl, for example). Leave to soak for several hours, replacing the milk as soon as it turns colour. You will see the stain gradually lighten until it almost disappears.
To reinforce the action of the milk, especially on delicate fabrics such as silk, it is advisable to warm it slightly to make it lukewarm. If you want to further enhance the effectiveness of this method, curdle the milk by adding a few drops of lemon or vinegar before applying it to the stain.
Once the stain has faded, all that remains is to put the garment in the washing machine to eliminate the last residues and restore the fabric to its pristine condition. Our grandmothers knew it well: this gentle and natural technique often gives impressive results, even on sensitive materials.
