Removing Ink From A Rug

[Budlet]

I just ran over a black pen with the vacuum and it has left a stain on the rug. The rug is a wool berber. Anybody know what the best way of removing it? Thanks

[KARL]

Get hold of sufficient quantity of isopropyl alcohol, wet a small piece of cloth in it and continue wiping the are allowing it to get well wetted (add more alcohol as necessary). Have another clean piece of cloth to hand and wipe/rub the area for the purpose of lifting the colourant off. This may need sustained effort, do not rub too hard. If this does not seem to be working then try something else - remember the wetting may take a while to have its effect. You should see the colourant appear on both cloths fairly quickly.

[woofgang]

what kind of pen?

[gness]

I have removed ink from a pale carpet using hairspray....but do test a hidden part with the hairspray first.

[mallyh]

if you google remove stain from carpet it shows mix 1 teaspoon of washing liquid with luke warm water etc

[Maydup]

Karl - how does one get hold of a supply of isopropyl alcohol in real life or in lockdown?!

[Maydup]

Would vodka work just as well?

[Budlet]

Woofgang - it was a bic biro

[Budlet]

Going to try your suggestion first mallyh. What is it in hairspray gness that removes ink then? Fingers crossed

[TonyV]

read somewhere that white wine will work.

[douglas9401]

One contacts Screwfix Direct and uses their still operating click-and-collect service, Maydup.

Vodka might work but if it came to that I'd just ignore the mark. :-)

[TheDevil]

"Would vodka work just as well?"

No, not pure enough

[Old_Geezer]

I'm sure that the supermarket sells biro removal stuff.

The trouble with using hairspray is that your carpet ends up with a permanent quiff !

[Maydup]

I dont think a trip to Screwfix is an essential journey myself. I would dig about in the cupboard and hope to find an old stain removing product or in the shed for some methylated spirit. Failing that rub with soapy water.

[gness]

Must be the alcohol, Budlet. Google.... does hairspray remove ink. Some will say not but it's always worked well for me. No harm in experimenting on something that doesn't matter first.

[KARL]

Never confuse isopropyl alcohol with anything you might consider drinking - the two are radically different. I would not put faith in normal (ethyl) alcohol performing anything like as well, even if pure. Hairspray contains a residue which will be left on the rug but it's up to you. Ballpoint ink will often dissolve in stuff like paraffin - you will want to wipe it off once dissolved.

[Budlet]

Thanks for all your answers. I have tried the washing up liquid which looks quite promising. I will wait until it dries and maybe have another go. Thanks again

[TonyV]

Karl only an hydrogen and oxygen atom apart.

[TonyV]

I would keep going with washing up liquid then and a rinse with water, do you have lots of kitchen roll to soak up the water?

[Budlet]

I have enough kitchen roll to keep at this stain. It is slowly disappearing

[Electrochem]

https://www.stain-removal-101.com/remove-ink-stains-from-carpet-with-wd40.html