Any legitimate way, that actually works, to get black pen ink out of a white shirt?

[Rabrrrrrr]

Something that actually works - not that old lie of the hairspray and cotton balls, which doesn't work for shit.

The ink is Parker Pen Quink, for the chemists out there.

[supernova]

1. Try soaking it in a solution of Bizz

or Oxyclean and water for a week.

[hobbit709]

2. Dye the shirt black.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. I did that with a pair of shorts that I stained with Kauai clay once -

I knew the clay wasn't coming out, so I just took some more of it and made orange shorts. Looked good!

So it's always a possibility!

And I've always wanted a black french cuff dress shirt... you've gave me some hope that at least the shirt doesn't have to be thrown away!

Of course, it's my Very Most Expensive shirt, too.

[PeaceNikki]

4. Hairspray works for me every time.

Just used it with great success last week on cotton. :shrug:

[Mugu]

5. What type fabric is the shirt made of?

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. Plain old 100% cotton. Broadcloth 100s 2-ply

[HopeHoops]

6. Scissors.

They work on most fabric.

[azmouse]

7. Oxyclean

[petronius]

9. A splash of white ink?

Or just hope no one notices - and when they do you say "Oh, damn! That must have just happened..."

[merh]

10. If the shirt has not been dried yet (drying sets the stain) hair spray normally works

Here are some other suggestions.

Ballpoint Pen Ink Stain Removal
1. Apply lukewarm glycerine. If the fabric is strong enough, tamp with a brush or spoon. Blot, pressing hard on stain. Continue until ink stain is removed. Flush with water.
2. Apply mild detergent solution with several drops of ammonia. Continue to tamp. Flush with water.
3. If ink stain remains, use either chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach. If using chlorine bleach, apply to ink stain and don't allow to remain on fabric for more than 2 minutes. Flush with water after bleach application. Apply vinegar solution to remove excess chlorine, the flush with water. If using oxygen bleach, allow to soak overnight.

http://www.funadvice.com/q/pen_ink_stain_1498

Other suggestions (lighter fluid, alcohol) found at the link.

[UTUSN]

11. 2 words: New shirt. n/t

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

12. I'm too much of a fucking moron to answer your question

Yeah, I'm still smarting from that one betch, but bleach applied directly with a Q-tip usually works on stains like that.

:nopity:

[DFW]

13. Have you tried ordinary scissors? n/t

*on edit

oops--I just saw that someone else had suggested this--obviously it must work!

[Call Me Wesley]

14. Get a Caran D'Ache.

They don't leak. ;)

I don't think you'll get it out at all.

Which reminds of when in class (many, many eons ago,) I lend my Pelikan fountain pen to a classmate sitting behind me, since she obviously forgot to bring some writing material to school with. After 15 minutes, she started to scream, and I turned around. Both of her hands and the sleeves of her shirt were covered in nice black permanent ink. What she did was to play with the pen while listening to the teacher, turning around on the end, emptying the whole tank.

[arcadian]

15. I'm pretty sure burning the shirt would do that.

[struggle4progress]

16. Big spot: SOL. Small spot: I would try a variety of things, one after another

The ink probably has different components that may succumb to different things. Don't rub the spot too much or you might get permanent texture changes at one place in the fabric

Wet. Rub gently with a wet bar of ordinary soap. Soak in hot water. Rinse and repeat

Try soaking the spot with a mixture of rubbing alcohol with a few drops of dish detergent

Try soaking the spot with hydrogen peroxide

Try one of the spray-on laundry spot removers

Don't rule out repeated cycles through the washing machine with hot water, detergent, and various additives. I'd try laundering with ammonia. I'd try laundering with bleach from the bottle. I'd try laundering with something like oxyclean. I'd try laundering with a different powdered bleach

[jmm]

17. Try rubbing alcohol

When a sharpie exploded in the pocket of my favorite jeans this summer I figured if it can get marker off of counters why not try it on clothes? I kept blotting the ink out with some alcohol and rinsing the pocket until the mark disappeared.

[SeattleGirl]

18. I agree with PeaceNikki -- hairspray does the trick.

I've used it for years if I need to get an ink stain out.

Don't know why it works; I just know it does.