Ink stains turn a perfectly decent shirt into a “maybe I can wear this at home” situation fast. This simple homemade ink remover gives you a quick way to work on the spot before the stain settles in for the long haul. It takes only a few pantry basics and a few minutes of hands-on effort to get started (because of course the pen leaked on the good thing).
Making a small batch yourself costs less than buying a specialty stain treatment just for the occasional ink disaster. Based on current Walmart pricing for white vinegar, bottled lemon juice, milk, and borax, this batch comes out to only a few cents per use, while commercial stain removers usually cost several dollars per bottle. You also control the scent, the batch size, and exactly what goes into the mixture.
You only need 4 materials for this batch: white vinegar, lemon juice, milk, and borax. The formula mixes in a small bowl or jar, and you’ll also want paper towels plus either a paintbrush or sponge for applying it to the stain. The original directions make one small batch for treating ink spots as needed rather than a large stored container.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools and Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Homemade Ink Remover
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🛡️ Safety and Fabric Care
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Estimated Cost
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Ink Remover Recipe
- 📌 Love this Homemade Ink Remover Recipe? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Homemade Ink Remover Recipe
Materials You’ll Need
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon borax
- Several thicknesses of paper towels
Tools and Equipment
- Small bowl or jar
- Paintbrush or sponge
How to Make Homemade Ink Remover
- Combine the white vinegar, lemon juice, milk, and borax in a small bowl or jar.
- Stir until the mixture is well blended.
How to Use It
- Place the portion of fabric with the ink stain between several thicknesses of paper towels.
- Paint the stained spot with the ink remover using a paintbrush or sponge.
- Allow it to set for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Hold the fabric under cool running water.
- Wring the fabric gently.
- Repeat the treatment until the stain is gone.
If you’re working on a washable fabric, treat the stain as soon as you notice it. For stain work in general, the American Cleaning Institute recommends flushing washable fabrics with cool to warm water from the back of the stain and avoiding the dryer until the stain is fully gone, which is a smart rule to follow here too: Stain Removal Guide.
If you deal with a lot of laundry mishaps, you might also like this Spot Remover and these ideas for Make Your Own Laundry Detergents, Stain Removers, Pre-Wash Sprays and More!.
Safety and Fabric Care
- Test the mixture on an inconspicuous area first, especially on colored or delicate fabrics.
- Use cool running water as directed when rinsing the treated spot.
- Do not dry the fabric until the ink stain is completely removed.
- Repeat the treatment as needed rather than overheating or aggressively scrubbing the fabric.
- If the garment care label limits washing methods, follow the label before treating the stain.
Storage
This recipe makes a small fresh batch for immediate use. Since the mixture contains milk, mix only what you need for the stain you’re treating rather than storing leftovers for later.
Estimated Cost
This small batch costs about $0.14 based on current Walmart prices for pantry-style ingredients, not counting reusable tools like the bowl, jar, paintbrush, or sponge. Actual prices vary by brand and store.
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar from a 32-ounce bottle at $1.76: about $0.03
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice from a 15-ounce bottle at $1.94: about $0.04
- 1 tablespoon milk estimated from a low-cost grocery quart equivalent: about $0.02
- 1 teaspoon borax from a 65-ounce box at $6.98: about $0.05
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Great Value Distilled White Vinegar, 32 fl oz
- Great Value Lemon Juice, 15 fl oz
- 20 Mule Team Borax, 65 oz
- Ink Remover Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Ink Remover Recipe
This one works best as a fresh small batch. Since the mixture contains milk, it’s smarter to mix only what you need for the stain you’re treating instead of saving leftovers.
This formula is meant for ink stains on fabric. The original method applies it directly to the stained spot, lets it sit briefly, then rinses and repeats as needed.
Either one works. The directions use a paintbrush or sponge so you can dab the remover right where you need it without soaking the whole garment.
The paper towels give the stain somewhere to transfer while you treat it. Use several thicknesses so the moisture and loosened ink don’t spread to the other side of the fabric.
Let it set for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing under cool running water. That’s the full contact time given for this mixture.
Stick with cool running water for this method. That’s how the directions are written, and cooler water is the safer choice when you’re trying not to push a stain deeper into fabric.
Repeat the treatment. Apply the remover again, let it sit, rinse with cool water, wring gently, and keep going until the stain is gone or no further improvement happens.
Not until you’re sure the stain is gone. Heat can make a lingering stain much harder to remove, so check the fabric carefully before it goes anywhere near the dryer.
Test it on a hidden area first. That’s the safest move anytime you’re treating a spot on fabric that could discolor, fade, or react badly to moisture.
📌 Love this Homemade Ink Remover Recipe? Pin it!
Did you try this project? Tell us what fabric you used it on and whether you had to repeat the treatment a couple of times.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Homemade Ink Remover Recipe
Homemade Ink Remover Recipe
Equipment
Materials
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon borax
- Several thicknesses of paper towels
Instructions
- Combine the white vinegar, lemon juice, milk, and borax in a small bowl or jar.
- Place the portion of fabric with the ink stain between several thicknesses of paper towels.
- Paint the spot with the ink remover using a paintbrush or sponge.
- Allow it to set 3-5 minutes.
- Hold the fabric under cool running water.
- Wring the fabric.
- Repeat until stain is gone.
- This recipe is best mixed fresh because it contains milk.
- Test on a hidden area first, especially on delicate or colored fabrics.
- Do not place the fabric in the dryer until the stain is completely removed.
- Estimated cost is based on consumable ingredients only and excludes reusable tools.
I have one question on this recipe for ink remover, does it work on all types of fabric? Polyester?