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When you get a new tattoo, it’s important to take precautions so that the ink doesn’t stain your clothes and sheets. This is especially true if you’re getting a large or intricate tattoo. But even if you do everything right, accidents happen and sometimes the ink still gets on your clothing. If this happens to you, don’t panic! There are several ways to remove tattoo ink from clothes without ruining them. In this blog post we’ll cover some of those strategies as well as how to clean up spills on carpeting & sheets.
How to get tattoo ink out of clothes & fabric
Before washing the clothes, soak the affected area with baby oil or pre-moistened baby wipes for several minutes. This acts as a solvent and helps break up tattoo pigments so they can be washed away easier by normal detergents during the wash cycle.
You should also use a laundry stain remover like “Shout”, “Carbona Ink Out”, or “Tattoo Goo” spray ink cleaner. It’s also important to keep in mind that different fabric types respond better with certain solvents. For example, denim can stand up against oil based cleaners while silk doesn’t do as well with those kinds of solutions. Acetone nail polish removers are best used on cotton fabrics because they’re the safest when you don’t know the fabric content.
The clothes can then be washed normally after they’ve been pre-treated with one of the cleaners above.
How to get tattoo ink out of sheets
First, apply baby oil to the stained sheet and let it soak in. Then, use a soft cloth to blot over the tattoo ink stain until it disappears before washing as usual.
Use hydrogen peroxide or baking soda (for dark colors only). For stubborn stains such as those on white sheets you can try using either an oxygen based bleach like hydrogen peroxide, or natural cleaning agent like baking soda that’s meant for removing tough grime from surfaces. Simply apply these directly onto your sheet before washing.
Check if they’ve removed the ink stain after laundering by putting them under direct sunlight outdoors (if there is still some residue of old tattooed ink left, this should make it more visible). If it’s not all gone yet repeat the process one more time.
How to get tattoo ink out of mattress
The process for removing tattoo ink from a mattress is similar to sheets. Use hydrogen peroxide or baking soda as a pre treatment (for dark colors only). For stubborn stains such as those on white mattresses, you can try using either an oxygen based bleach like hydrogen peroxide, or a natural cleaning agent like baking soda.
Apply an adhesive remover like Goo Gone to a small area before doing any scrubbing. You can also let it sit for a few minutes before scraping with something like an old credit card or playing card. If this doesn’t work, you may need to use mineral spirits instead (this will remove all types of ink).
Then scrub away at the stain with a brush. After the stain looks to be gone, rinse it with fresh water.
How to get tattoo ink out of carpet
When you have a tattoo ink stain on carpet, the first thing you need to do is blot it up with a clean white cloth. If using a wet vacuum, make sure that it has been cleaned out, because if it’s full of debris it can ruin internal components of the vacuum.
For severe stains, it’s best not to handle it yourself because you could end up transferring it from one part of the carpet to another. Instead, call a professional cleaner like Chem-Dry who will know what kind of stain removing products work on that particular type of carpeting and how long they need to soak for optimal results. For example, most carpets respond well when treated with dry cleaning chemicals which pull away greasy and oily stains without excess moisture or water damage. The downside is that these types of cleaners can be pricey but once again, prevention is key! Be sure not take precautions before getting inked so you don’t have any mishaps.
How to get tattoo ink out of couch
Apply an adhesive remover like Goo Gone to a small area before doing any scrubbing. You can also let it sit for a few minutes before scraping off with something like an old credit card or playing card. If this doesn’t work, you may need to use mineral spirits instead (this will remove all types of ink). Blot away excess moisture from fabric after cleaning, sprinkle cornstarch over affected areas and let dry completely overnight before vacuuming up all remaining residue.
Apply hydrogen peroxide or baking soda (for dark colors only) because bleach can ruin couch materials.
Conclusion
In general, the process for getting tattoo ink out of clothes, sheets, and carpets is very similar. Use a pre treatment to lift the stain, blot the stain with a cloth, scrub the affected area, then dry with a vacuum.
Have any better suggestions? Let us know in the comments below.
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