First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot wet ink with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel. Don't rub, because that spreads it.
- Treat it while it's fresh, before it has time to dry on the glass.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first and stop if the color moves.
- Work from the outside edge toward the center so the ink doesn't spread.
Ink on glass is a dye or pigment carried in a liquid or paste, and no single remover works on every type of ink. Glass can take plain water, so you have room to start gently and only step up if the mark is still there. Some inks may be impossible to remove, and ink that has dried for a long time is the hardest case.
When you remove ink from glass windows, start with plain water and a soft cloth. Save anything stronger for a mark that's still there after a couple of passes. Keep the cloth clean for the last wipe, since a dirty one just smears the ink back across the pane.
Before you start
What glass, windows & mirrors can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care7
- Hot water
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
7 items
What you'll need
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- Cloth or spongeFor the warm ammonia wipe and the final wash (opens Amazon)
- Warm sudsy water with a few drops of ammoniaThe first wipe, which lifts most ink (opens Amazon)
- Clear waterTo rinse the glass between steps
- Clean, dry clothTo wipe the glass dry without streaks
- All-purpose spray cleanerFor ballpoint and stamp pad ink, except red (opens Amazon)
- Absorbent padTo hold ammonia on any trace that remains
- Soft plastic or nylon padIf you need light scrubbing on glass tile, never metal (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Wipe the glass with ammonia water
Dip a cloth or sponge in warm sudsy water with a few drops of ammonia added. Wipe the whole glass surface so the ink starts to lift onto the cloth.
Careful. Keep the water warm, not hot, because sudden temperature changes can break glass.
Step 2 of 5
Rinse and dry the glass
Rinse well with clear water to clear off the soap and ammonia. Wipe the glass dry with a clean cloth before you check what's left.
Step 3 of 5
Spray ballpoint or stamp pad ink
For ballpoint or stamp pad ink, apply an all-purpose spray cleaner and wipe it across the spot. Follow the directions on the label and let the spray do the lifting rather than pressing harder.
Careful. Don't use the spray cleaner on red ink.
Step 4 of 5
Lift any trace with ammonia
If a trace of ink is still there, lay an absorbent pad moistened with ammonia over the spot. Hold it until the ink starts to come up, then lift the pad away.
Step 5 of 5
Wash and dry the glass
Rinse well, then wash the glass with a cloth dipped in warm sudsy water. Rinse again and let it dry.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for ink on glass, windows & mirrors
Choose an all-purpose spray cleaner for the ballpoint and stamp pad step, and check its label before you spray.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
e-cloth General Purpose Cloth
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on glass, windows & mirrors, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The ink should lift onto the cloth and leave the glass clear after the final rinse. If a faint gray film remains, repeat the ammonia pad step on that spot before you move on.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your glass, windows & mirrors
Ballpoint pen ink
Ballpoint is one of the inks the spray step covers, so it gets the full sequence. Use the spray after the first wipe, then the ammonia pad only if a trace is left.
If a faint mark remains after the pad, go back to the spray and wipe once more before the final rinse.
Stamp pad ink, not red
Non-red stamp pad ink is covered by the spray step, the same as ballpoint. Follow the full sequence in order and spray after the first wipe.
If the color still shows after the spray, move on to the ammonia pad. Check the glass in good light before you rinse.
Red ink
Red writing and stamp pad ink is the exception in the spray step, so skip the spray for it. Start with the warm ammonia wipe, rinse, and move to the ammonia pad if a trace is left.
Test the ammonia wipe on a hidden corner of the glass first, and stop if the color moves onto the clean glass.
Felt-tip marker and India ink
The spray step is written only for ballpoint and stamp pad ink, so start with the warm ammonia wipe for marker or India ink. Test the spray on a hidden spot before using it, and stop if the color moves.
If the wipe and the pad don't lift the ink, it may be one of the inks that can't be fully removed. Accept a faint mark rather than scrubbing harder.
Glass tile
Glass tile needs gentle handling, so use a cloth or a soft plastic or nylon pad if you need to loosen the ink. Keep the same order of wipe, spray, pad and rinse, and skip any metal tool.
Rinse fully so no cleaner film is left on the tile before it dries.
Mirrors
Ink on a mirror needs more care than ink on a window, because the edges and backing can be damaged. Put the spray and the ammonia on a cloth and wipe, rather than spraying the mirror directly.
Keep the ammonia away from the mirror edges, and don't use vinegar-based cleaners on the same surface.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old ink that has been on the glass for days is harder to lift, because it has had time to set into the surface. Work through the steps again, starting with the warm ammonia wipe, and leave the ammonia pad on the spot longer before lifting it. Repeat until the ink stops coming up on the cloth.
If the ink has dried and still shows after that, go around again with the same pad rather than switching to harsher tools. Scratches are a worse problem than a faint mark, so keep the cloth and pad soft.
Some inks are simply not removable, and that is the honest answer for stubborn ink. A faint mark left after several careful rounds is often the most you can get without damaging the glass.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on ink on glass, windows & mirrors?
Many household remedies come up in ink advice, but most are meant for fabric or other surfaces. Warm sudsy water with ammonia already handles what works on glass, so skip the rest. Ammonia and a spray cleaner are the options worth trusting on glass.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub the ink
Rubbing spreads the ink across the glass and can leave a bigger mark. Blot or wipe in light strokes from the outside edge toward the center.
Don't scrape with metal
Metal blades, steel wool and scouring pads can scratch the glass and leave lines that look like ink. Stick with a cloth, a sponge or a soft plastic pad.
Don't mix ammonia with bleach or vinegar
Chlorine bleach and ammonia give off toxic fumes, and vinegar or other acids should stay away from ammonia too. Rinse each product out with plain water before you use the next one.
Don't use fluorine cleaners on glass
Cleaners with fluorine compounds can damage glass, ceramic and stone. Read the label before you buy a spray for this job.
When to call a professional
If the ink has been on the glass for a long time or doesn't move after every step, stop before trying harsher methods. A professional glass cleaner can look at the pane and advise on what's left. Tell them the ink type first, since that decides what they can try.
Questions
Can ink come out of glass after it dries?
Often partly, and some inks may be impossible to remove completely. Repeat the ammonia pad step on the spot and leave it on longer before lifting it. Stop if the glass starts to feel rough.
How long should the ammonia pad stay on the spot?
Keep it there until the ink starts to lift, then check the glass. If nothing moves, repeat the wipe rather than pressing harder.
Is vinegar a good option for ink on glass?
Vinegar isn't the right tool for ink on glass. No. Skip vinegar and stick with the ammonia wipe.
Why does the method rinse twice?
The first rinse clears off the ammonia and spray. The final wash and second rinse remove any film left behind, and drying the glass fully prevents streaks.
Can I use the spray on marker or India ink?
The spray step is written only for ballpoint and stamp pad ink, so test it on a hidden spot before using it on marker. Start with the warm ammonia wipe for those inks.
How do I know the ink is gone?
Look at the glass from a slight angle in good light after the final rinse. If you see no colored line or film, the job is done.
Ink on other materials
Other stains on glass, windows & mirrors
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.