How to Get Pen Out of Clothes (Even After It's Been Washed)
To get pen out of clothes, blot the mark (don't rub), put a paper towel under it, then dab it with rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer until the ink lifts onto the towel. Rinse with cold water, rub in a little liquid detergent, and wash as normal. Check it's gone before it goes anywhere near a dryer, because heat sets ink.
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First: don't rub it
Your instinct is going to be to scrub. Don't. Rubbing pushes ink deeper into the fibers and spreads it into a bigger smudge.
Instead:
- Blot gently with a tissue or paper towel to lift any wet ink.
- Put something absorbent under the fabric (a folded paper towel or old cloth) so the ink has somewhere to go.
- Work from the outside of the stain inward so it doesn't spread.
- Keep it away from heat, including hand dryers, hair dryers, radiators and tumble dryers, until it's fully gone.
Always test any product on a hidden spot first, like an inside seam, especially on colored or delicate fabric.
Ballpoint and biro ink
Ballpoint ink (in the UK, most people just call it biro) is oil-based, which is why water alone doesn't shift it. Alcohol dissolves it.
How to get ballpoint pen ink out of clothes
- Lay the stained area over a paper towel.
- Dab rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) onto the ink with a cotton pad or clean cloth.
- Keep dabbing with a clean part of the pad; the ink should transfer.
- Move the paper towel underneath as it picks up ink.
- Rinse with cold water.
- Rub a drop of liquid laundry detergent or dish soap into the spot, leave it for a few minutes, then wash as usual.
Does hairspray remove ink?
It's an old trick that sometimes works, because older hairsprays had lots of alcohol in them. Many modern formulas have less alcohol and more sticky stuff, so results vary and can leave residue. Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer is the more reliable pick.
Gel pen and marker
Gel pen ink is water-based with pigment, so it behaves a bit differently.
How to get gel pen ink out of clothes
- Rinse the back of the stain under cold running water to push ink out the way it came in.
- Rub a little liquid detergent into it with your fingers.
- Leave it 10-15 minutes, rinse, and repeat.
- If a mark is left, try dabbing rubbing alcohol like you would for ballpoint.
Glitter and metallic gel pens can be stubborn. It might take a few rounds.
How to get marker or Sharpie out of clothes
- Washable markers (the kids' kind): cold water and detergent usually does it.
- Permanent markers like Sharpie: rubbing alcohol is the go-to. Dab, blot, repeat, and be patient. Some permanent ink won't fully come out, especially on light fabrics.
- Highlighter: treat like gel pen first, then alcohol if needed.
| Ink type | Water-based or oil-based | Best first fix |
|---|---|---|
| Ballpoint / biro | Oil-based | Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer |
| Gel pen | Water-based pigment | Cold water + liquid detergent |
| Washable marker | Water-based | Cold water + detergent |
| Permanent marker | Solvent-based | Rubbing alcohol, many rounds |
| Fountain pen | Water-based | Cold water, then detergent |
Quick fixes in class
Pen exploded in your pocket in the middle of a lesson? Here's how to get pen out of clothes in class with what's probably already in your bag or your friend's.
- Hand sanitizer: the best quick fix. Most gels are alcohol-based. Put a tissue behind the fabric, squeeze a little on, and dab with another tissue.
- Wet wipes: some have alcohol in them and can lift fresh ink. Dab, don't wipe.
- Tissue + cold water from the sink: for gel pen, rinse from the back.
- Leave it alone if you have nothing: a half-attempt with rubbing can make it worse. Just blot and treat it properly at home or back at the dorm.
Then, tell yourself it's not that deep. Nobody's looking at your cuff as hard as you are.
Here's the thing nobody says: when your favorite white shirt gets ruined, you realize you have no idea what you'd wear instead. WORN is being designed to show you, after a month of one-tap outfit photos, the four things you really wear, and what to wear tomorrow from your own clothes. Start my outfit diary
If it's already been through the wash
Found the stain after washing? Don't panic. How to get pen ink out of clothes after it's dried is harder, but often still possible, as long as it didn't go in the dryer.
How to get pen out of clothes after drying (air-dried)
- Put the fabric over a paper towel.
- Soak the stain with rubbing alcohol and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Dab and blot; you'll see ink slowly moving to the towel.
- Rinse cold, apply liquid detergent, and wash again.
- Repeat before drying.
If it went in the tumble dryer
Heat sets ink, so this is the toughest case. Try the rubbing alcohol method a few times, then soak overnight in cold water with an oxygen-based stain remover (follow the label). It may fade rather than disappear. Be honest with yourself about whether it's still wearable.
When a whole load gets inked
If a pen exploded in the machine, check the drum for ink before the next wash. Wipe it with a cloth and rubbing alcohol, and run an empty cycle if needed. If you share a machine at uni or in a dorm, the next person will thank you. For other laundry mysteries, see white stains on black clothes after washing.
Uniform shirts and white fabrics
School shirts and white work polos are ink magnets because of pockets and pens in hand all day.
- White cotton: rubbing alcohol first, then an oxygen-based stain remover soak. Chlorine bleach isn't always a fix and can make some ink turn yellow, so try it last and only on fabric labeled bleach-safe.
- Polyester uniform shirts: these respond well to alcohol, but check the label and test first.
- Blazers and jumpers (UK) / sweaters (US): these often need gentler treatment. Dab lightly with alcohol and if it's wool or dry-clean-only, take it to a cleaner.
- Jeans: ballpoint on denim usually comes out with alcohol and a detergent wash.
Stop it happening: keep pens in a pencil case, not your shirt pocket, and always cap them. Check pockets before every wash.
If your uniform or tights also have holes to deal with, how to fix a hole in leggings covers stretchy fabric repairs.
Keep your go-to clothes in rotation after you get pen out of clothes
Now you know how to get pen out of clothes, including the washed-in kind. WORN is a waitlist page for a planned outfit diary app, not built yet: one photo a day, private by default and deletable in one action, and after a month it shows the pieces you actually wear. Add your email for one message when it opens.
FAQ
Does hand sanitizer get pen out of clothes?
Often, yes. Most hand sanitizers are alcohol-based, and alcohol breaks down ballpoint ink. Put a tissue behind the stain, dab sanitizer on, blot, then rinse and wash.
How do you get pen ink out of clothes after it's dried?
If it hasn't been through a dryer, soak the spot with rubbing alcohol, blot it onto a paper towel, then rinse, add detergent and rewash. Dryer-set ink is harder and may only fade.
Does ink come out in the wash?
Washable marker and some gel pen often does. Ballpoint usually doesn't come out with detergent alone, so pre-treat it with alcohol first. Never dry a stained item until the mark is gone.
How do you get biro out of a school shirt?
Put a paper towel behind the stain, dab it with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, blot until the ink transfers, then rinse cold and wash. Keep it out of the dryer until it's fully gone.
How do you get Sharpie out of clothes?
Dab rubbing alcohol onto the mark over a paper towel and blot repeatedly, changing the towel as it picks up ink. Then wash with detergent. Permanent marker can take many rounds and may not fully come out.