In our Ink Stains Removing series, we now will address what needs to be done when ink stains end up on the fabric of your sofa. You could remove ink stains from the fabric of your sofa by hiring a professional to remove the stains.
Now if you are OK with paying around $100 for a humble stain then that’s cool. But Why will you do it? When you can save THAT cost by using simple ingredients at your home. When it comes to maintaining furniture, the toughest part is to remove ink stains.
Yet, if the right ingredients are used, it’s no big deal at all. The easy ways to remove ink stains from your couch (or sofa) also include pillows, fabrics, or even the fabric inside your cars. We also have other posts on removing ink stains from carpets and even from wood. We will begin with the most popular ways of how to remove ink stains from fabric sofa.
To begin with,
- Method 1: How to Remove Ink Stains from Fabric Sofa Using Alcohol
- Method 2: Removing Ink Stains from Fabric Sofa with Vinegar
- Method 3: How to Remove Ink Stains from Fabric Sofa Using Glycerin Soap
- Method 4: Use Hair Spray to Eliminate Ink Stains
- Method 5: How to Remove Food Stains from Fabric Sofa Glass Cleaner
- FAQ
- Final Touch
Method 1: How to Remove Ink Stains from Fabric Sofa Using Alcohol
Ah yes, the classical way to start with removing an inky stain- Rubbing Alcohol.
For a stain that is too strong, rubbing alcohol should be tried first. Fortunately, rubbing alcohol is safe to be used on the sofa fabric as it can do deep cleaning without damaging the fabric of your sofa.
Ingredients:
- Rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl Alcohol)
- Clean white cloth or paper towel
- Cotton Balls or Q-Tips
- Water
How to apply
To clean ink from a sofa with rubbing alcohol, follow these steps: First, apply alcohol to a soft cloth. Gently blot the stain with the alcohol-soaked cloth, avoiding rubbing to prevent spreading the ink. As the cloth absorbs the ink, switch to a clean section or use a new cloth soaked in alcohol.
Gradually rub towards the center of the stain with gentle pressure, stabilizing the fabric to avoid excess movement. Once the stain is removed, clean the area with a water-dampened cloth and allow the sofa fabric to dry.
NOTE 1: Because this is the most effective method, do not pour alcohol over the stain as this will wet the fabric of the sofa and prevent you to blot and drying the stained area.
NOTE 2: Test a section of the sofa before dabbing the alcohol onto the stain. If the fabric does not react to the alcohol then proceed to clean the stained area.
The same way you can remove the ink stains from your carpet within a few minutes.
Method 2: Removing Ink Stains from Fabric Sofa with Vinegar
Previously, we mentioned using plain white vinegar to clean your stain. But for your sofa, there is an edit to the recipe. It is a little challenging to remove ink from any fabric. Thus using plain white vinegar will not work to remove the stain. Vinegar is a life saver solution for removing ink stains in wood surface.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp of Liquid Dish Soap
- 2 tbsp of White Vinegar
- 250ml of Water
How to use the solution:
- Get a piece of a soft cloth and wet it in the vinegar solution that you just created.
- Dab the ink stain area with the soft cloth that you just drenched in the vinegar solution.
- The cloth will get dirty by absorbing the stain. Dab the stain using a different section of the cloth. Use a different piece of cloth if the cloth becomes discolored due to constant dabbing.
- Once the fabric is clean. Let the wet fabric of your sofa sit for 10 minutes.
- Then dip a clean piece of cloth in water and clean the area.
- Repeat the full process if the stain does not disappear.
Method 3: How to Remove Ink Stains from Fabric Sofa Using Glycerin Soap
If the liquid soap does not work then try this method.
Ingredients:
- Glycerin Soap
- Dishwashing liquid
- Water
- Ammonia
How to use the solution:
- In a bowl, mix equal amounts of glycerin soap with the dishwashing liquid with water. Mix well.
- Dip a piece of cloth into this mixture and blot the stain till it fades away.
- If this does not work, put 2-3 drops of ammonia into the mixture. Again dip a piece of cloth into this mixture and blot the stain till it fades away.
- Once the fabric is clean. Dip a clean piece of cloth in water and clean the area.
- Repeat the full process if the stain does not disappear.
Method 4: Use Hair Spray to Eliminate Ink Stains
Hairspray is pretty underestimated by many. If you do not have to rub alcohol then you can resort to using a hairspray.
Hairspray contains alcohol, which explains why it is equally effective to clean stains. But, a lot of hairsprays may have a low amount of alcohol. This means such types of od alcohol will not work against stains. So if you DO use a hairspray, then use one that has high rates of alcohol.
Ingredient:
- A Hairspray (one that is alcohol-based)
How to use the solution:
Take your hairspray, spray a generous amount directly on the stained area, and wait for around 40 seconds. After 40 seconds grab a piece of damp cloth drenched in water and wipe the area for a few seconds. Your sofa should be good as new!
Method 5: How to Remove Food Stains from Fabric Sofa Glass Cleaner
I thought I should share this extra tip because ink isn’t the only thing to stain the fabric of your sofa. My family often likes to sit on the couch with a heavy dinner if there is a soccer game. So getting grease and food stains on the sofa is common. I like to use this trick to remove the greasy stains from the food.
A window glass cleaning solution is commonly used for cleaning glass, window glass, and mirrors. Personally, I have also used window glass cleaners for cleaning the bathrooms in areas that were hard to clean.
The list has been updated tough. A window glass cleaner can also be used for cleaning the food stain on your sofa. We were shocked when we found out that this worked out so well.
Ingredient:
- A small potato brush (the kind of brush used for brushing dirt from vegetables )
- A regular Window glass cleaner.
How to use the solution:
Spray a generous amount of glass cleaner over the area of your sofa. Then using a small brush(I call it the potato brush)brush over the area but not by pushing deep into the fabric.
I brush all over the fabric in all different directions. And guess what? The stains go away. No need to even use a water-soaked cloth to clean the area. Just leave it to dry.
FAQ
Can I use these solutions for removing stains from a leather sofa?
Oh no, do NOT use the above-mentioned solutions on leather-based sofas. These solutions will work only on micro-fibers. Besides, alcohol works well on micro-fibers.
Do I have to instantly clean the stained area as recommended in other articles?
In previous articles, we recommended instantly attending to the stain as fast as possible. Well, you can still remove the stain after a few days IF you are using rubbing alcohol.
Hairspray, a window glass cleaner comes next in line for removing dry ink stains, although you may need to wait a little longer for the ink to come out. However, for the vinegar and glycerin solution, you will have to work fast as soon as the stain is on the sofa.
What type of fabric will the above-mentioned solutions work on my sofa?
I like to use Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the stain on my sofa. Generally speaking, the higher the alcohol content, the higher the chances to remove the stain.
What type of fabric will the above-mentioned solutions work on my sofa?
You can use a soft rag or cloth for removing the stains. If you do not have one then you can use a soft towel to remove the stain. When removing stains, I like to use a light-colored fabric (preferably white).
The reason? You can see if the cloth is soaking up the colored stain. If it does then you will know your efforts are working for removing the stain. If not, then you can try to use a different solution to remove the stain on your sofa. On the other hand, a dark-colored cloth will make it difficult to tell if the stain is being soaked away by the cloth.
Can I use water to remove ink stains from my fabric sofa?
Water alone might not be effective in removing ink stains. Instead, use rubbing alcohol or a commercial ink stain remover specifically designed for fabric surfaces. Water can sometimes spread the ink, making the stain worse.
Final Touch
Another suggestion is to remove the fabric of your sofa and wash them in your washing machine with warm water. Of course, if your sofa does not have this feature then simply follow anyone of the steps above that works for you.
I also like to use a vacuum cleaner to clean the sofa. Although it does not remove stains from a sofa, it does help to make your sofa look clean.
Lastly, it is highly recommended to test a section of your sofa before proceeding to remove the stain using any one of the above-mentioned solutions.
You can also read our content for more helpful information, thank you.