The only thing worse than finding out that your favorite pen has sprung a leak, is looking down and realizing that the same pen has left ink stains on your hand and favorite shirt. Getting the ink off your skin isn’t a problem. All you have to do is use some hot water and some soap and scrub your hands. If the ink is proving particularly difficult to remove you can use Goop, a super strong hand cleaner, and a nail brush to remove the stains.

Getting the ink out of your clothing is a little more complicated, but it isn’t impossible. Your favorite shirt isn’t ruined, it just needs a little TLC. Don’t sit around and wait until you have extra time to deal with the ink stain, this just gives the stain time to set. You need to deal with the stain as soon as you first see it.

Stain Fighting Pens

The best thing to get ink stains out of clothing are those little pens that are filled with stain remover fluid. These little things can be kept in a purse or briefcase, and when you get an ink stain all you have to do is rub the stain fighter into the stain. The detergent will make sure that the ink doesn’t soak into the fabric fibers until you have a chance to get home and put your clothing in the washing machine. Keep an extra stain fighting pen in your desk draw and in your car’s glove box.

An Alternative use for Hairspray

If you don’t have a stain fighting pen handy, spray hairspray on the stain. Allow the hairspray to sit on the stain for a few minutes and then rinse the area with cold water. Use wet paper towels to blot the stain. If you don’t have any hairspray, white vinegar makes a great stain lifter.

Never rub an ink stain, rubbing grinds the stain into materials fibers. Only use cold water when you are dealing with an ink stain, hot water causes the stain to set. When you are satisfied that you have gotten the ink out of your clothing allow the spot to air dry.