# How do I get ink out of the carpet?? Crap! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466 "2005-10-29T15:22:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/1 "2005-10-29T15:22:29Z")
Dammit all! One of my adorable kitties knocked a ball point pen off the table and so that one of my adorable dogs could enthusiastically chew the shit out of it and get ink all over my tan berber carpet. AAAAARGH!!! How do I get the ink (black) out of the carpet? It looks like hell and it’s not even in a spot where an area rug would “tie the room together.” Help me please!! ---
**Author:** ![John\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@John\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_F)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/2 "2005-10-29T15:57:30Z")
I think you better call a pro carpet cleaner or repair person. Ink is…ink. :eek: I’m pretty sure it’s set into the fibers and might need to be bleached out and re-dyed, cut out and replace a section, or use some “super duper ink remover” that they don’t sell at the grocery store. What if you do dissolve some of it and it just spreads out to a larger area? :eek: I say go with a pro on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/3 "2005-10-29T16:05:28Z")
I’ve heard that rubbing alcohol can help ballpoint pen ink. Might depend on the fiber. If you’re worried about it spreading, you could try blotting it from the center of the spot and see if you can get some ink up. But I’m the stubborn type when it comes to not calling in a professional. :-p ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/4 "2005-10-29T16:08:36Z")
Hairspray. Seriously. Works wonders (try it first in an area not easily visible, of course, to ensure that the spray itself won’t leave a stain…). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/5 "2005-10-29T16:10:42Z")
I heard about the alcohol and the hairspray deal but I’ve been afraid. The hairspray deal is wierd because I always thougth hairspray was a fixative. No? ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/6 "2005-10-29T16:24:00Z")
I think that most hair sprays have alcohol in them, so maybe that’s why it works? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/7 "2005-10-29T16:33:25Z")
I read “chew and shit it out” I was reading the responses thinking “It was inky shit, might that not require something else to deal with it?” Sorry, about that maybe you’ll get a giggle out of that later. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/8 "2005-10-29T16:49:04Z")
I second the hairspray idea. I have used it many, many times to get ink out of clothes, and it has always worked for me. You should get a big can of Aquanet (test a spot first, of course) and go to town. ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/9 "2005-10-29T16:51:14Z")
Oh, and my preferred method is to drench the spot, let it soak in for about thirty seconds, blot it up, repeat as necessary. Follow with some sort of cleaner. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/10 "2005-10-29T16:54:51Z")
Carbonara has a number of stain removers (in tiny, little expensive plastic bottles). The ink remover works pretty well, although I would make sure I had a _lot_ of absorbent rags to blot up the ink once the remover makes it liquid, again. The Carbonara line can be found in many supermarkets as well as Jo-Ann Fabrics. (I would also test it under the couch or somewhere to be sure that the stain remover was not a worse problem than the ink.) ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/11 "2005-10-29T16:56:38Z")
Cut a square around the offending spot and remove it. Cut an equal square from under a sofa or someplace inobscure and exchange them. Put carpet tape around the seams where you cut so the squares stay put. I think this is the best solution. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/12 "2005-10-29T17:12:36Z")
There are numerous citrus-based cleaners on the market that work well. You may have to go to a carpet cleaner to find it. Or go to your local Home Depot and see if they have [Goof Off](http://kitchen.goodsbestbuy.com/NCTR_901586_NPG_56), which is pretty powerful stuff (it took wood stain out of my carpet). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/13 "2005-10-29T17:45:34Z")
Natural cleaning people recommend a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar. Test it first. Remember, PERMANENT INK means PERMANENT ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/14 "2005-10-29T19:51:13Z")
Before attacking the stain, I’d suggest taking another portion of the same ink, applying it to a piece of waste carpet and then experimenting with various solvents to determine what’s the most effective solvent and extraction method. ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/15 "2005-10-30T01:05:38Z")
The Martha Stewart stain removal guide I have here recommends for ballpoint ink: “Rub glycerin into area; let stand 15-20 minutes; use dish-washing detergent and water sparingly” for nonwashables, and for washables, the same glycerin routine or spraying with hairspray and flushing with water. I don’t know if this works, but I can vouch for the same guide’s advice on chewing gum, blood, and tea stains. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/16 "2005-10-30T07:42:39Z")
Our guide dog puppy did something similar. We’ve tried carpet cleaner, rubbing alcohol, hairspray, and a professional carpet cleaner, and none worked well. A bit comes off with any of these methods, but it would take ages to get it all off, if ever. Luckily, our carpet is old and dreadful, but I’ve refused to buy new until we have no more dogs. If anyone finds a good solution, please post it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-ink-out-of-the-carpet-crap/328466/17 "2005-10-31T13:43:11Z")
UPDATE!! Well, I decided to try the alcohol method. I sprinkled the alcohol over the stains and let set for 30 minutes. I then started dabbing it with paper towel (plain white.) I kept reapplying alcohol and dabbing, and dabbing, and dabbing. IT WORKED!!! I’m ecstatic! The spot had been so obvious and right at the beginning of my dining room so it was glaringly obvious. Now it looks good as new. Thanks to everyone for all your help!!! (Oh, by the way, it was a ballpoint pen, Papermate type, not permanent. If it had been permanent the dog would’ve been grounded for life.)