The title pretty much says it all except to ask HOW I can get rid of the mess? A professional cleaning for the carpet was quoted at $150 but the carpet only cost $200. However, the carpet was bough on a trip to Greece so I’d like to keep it for sentimental value.
The carpet is wool. Anyone know a REALLY good do-it-yourself home cleaning remedy for this?
Hairspray and a prayer
I’d try water, water, and more water. Soak the damn thing, and blot as much of the ink up as you can. Use a LOT of water - basically take a bucket, and pour it on the rug until it’s absolutely soaked. It’s probably the best you can do without paying for the professional cleaning and/or ruining the rug.
I have a gorgeous high-end oriental wool rug, and the place I bought it from told me the water thing. They also specialize in cleaning high-end and antique carpets, so I think they’re pretty reputable.
We’ve had some surprising success with that Oxyclean stuff from the TV. Clorox is starting to sell a version of it, too.
$.02 - B
You say it was a black ink pen, but don’t mention the manufacturer etc. You might try calling the Bic or Waterford or whatever consumer help lines. There’s a lot of different kinds of black ink out there, and the best way to clean it up will depend on what the ink’s made of.
Is it carpet or a rug? If it’s carpet you could cut out any permanent stain and sew in a replacement piece. However, as another owner of a Greek rug, I’m afraid you may be skwooed.
How would a floor lamp look right in that exact spot?
Rubbing Alcohol is usually your best bet. Don’t saturate the entire stain though. It will just bleed the ink deep down.
Work in small parts and blot up with either good quality paper towels or cotton rags.
Also, most pet supply stores sell good carpet cleaning sprays. They work pretty well. Just read the back of the label to see if it takes care of ink.
Another thing…when (and hopefully if) you do get the stain up, rinse the area well with water. This will prevent “ghost stains” from appearing.
After you douse the spot with the aforementioned cleaners, (I recommend you look for one with trichloroethyline,1,1,1) don’t rub the spot. That will spread it. Instead, cover it with a white rag or paper towel, and stomp on it. Replace with a fresh piece, and restomp. When no more stain comes up, redouse and restomp. I did this procedure when Mrs. Nott lost her grip on a can of dark brown wood stain onto a tan carpet. I grabbed a bottle of a stain remover I’d bought in a pet store. We were astonished to see the stain come out completely.
Don’t use a colored rag; it may bleed into the carpet.
If all else fails, you can do what my professional carpet relative once did for me:
He cut two exactly matching circles, one around the stain and the other from under the couch, and swapped them. Worked perfect, and you really couldn’t tell where the patch was.
Really. 
Peace,
mangeorge
Oxyclean will remove it. My grandson took a permanant ink felt tip pen and left red spots in out less than one year old carpet. Oxyclean and some clean rags got it all out. I saturated the pile and let it soak for a few minutes then used a clean rag to soak up the cleaner. It took 3 times and the ink was gone.