First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot fresh ink with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towels.
- Act while it's fresh, before any laundering, since washing can set ink.
- Keep a clean, dry cloth ready so you can keep blotting with fresh material.
- If you can't tell the fiber or fill, blot only and get the care label checked before anything wet touches it.
Ink on a pillow is a dye or pigment in a liquid or paste, and no single remover works on every type. The cover can take water, and solvent and abrasive methods only with care, while hot water and chlorine are off the table. Machine-drying a stained pillow makes the mark more permanent, and some inks are almost impossible to remove.
Test any solvent on a hidden seam of the cover first, since blue ink can spread if you go in too hard. Keep the pillow out of the dryer until the mark is completely gone, because heat sets it in. If it has set, an enzyme pretreater or a solvent spot remover for pillows is the next thing to try.
Before you start
What pillows can take
Use with care6
- Water
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid2
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
5 items
What you'll need
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- Clean white cloths or white paper towelsWhite material shows you whether color is lifting. (opens Amazon)
- Commercial solvent-based cleanerIt does the main lifting pass; follow the product directions.
- Butyl alcoholIt handles the ink that is left after the solvent pass.
- Soft brushIt loosens ink in the fibers without roughing up the shell. (opens Amazon)
- Absorbent pads and a few booksThey draw out moisture and keep the spot flat while it dries.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Read the label and blot
Check the care label and find out whether the pillow is foam, down or a washable fill, because that decides which parts of these steps you can use. Then blot the ink with a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towels, working from the back of the stain onto an absorbent pad. If there's no label, do only the blotting and get the fiber checked before anything wet touches it.
Step 2 of 6
Test a hidden spot first
Dab a small amount of the solvent cleaner on a hidden spot, such as the inside seam or the back of the pillow. Watch for color moving onto the white cloth, and stop if it does or if the fabric changes.
Step 3 of 6
Sponge with the solvent cleaner
Sponge the stain with a commercial solvent-based cleaner, following the product directions. Change the pad as it picks up ink, and keep the stain and pad moist with cleaner until no more ink comes out, then blot thoroughly and let it dry.
Careful. Solvent cleaners are flammable, so work in a ventilated room with no flames, pilot lights or sparks, and keep the cleaner out of the padding.
Step 4 of 6
Lift the rest with alcohol
If ink remains, apply a few drops of butyl alcohol to the spot and cover it with an absorbent pad moistened with alcohol. Change that pad as it picks up ink, sponge again with alcohol, then blot thoroughly and let it dry.
Step 5 of 6
Brush lightly and rinse
Agitate the spot lightly with a soft brush, then blot dry. Rinse it with clear water and blot dry again.
Tip. Use a fresh section of cloth for each blot so you aren't spreading ink back in.
Step 6 of 6
Weight the spot and dry
Place absorbent pads about 1/2 inch thick on the area, weight them lightly with books, and let it stand for several hours. Remove the pads and books, then air dry the pillow thoroughly.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for ink on pillows
Look for a commercial solvent-based cleaner made for fabric, and buy butyl alcohol rather than rubbing alcohol.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on pillows, 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 before using any heat. 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
Ink lifting onto the cloth or pads with each pass means the steps are working. Stop once the pads come up clean, and don't keep pushing on a faint mark, because that's when the shell gets damaged.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pillows
Down or feather pillows
Down-filled pillows need the lightest touch, so treat only the shell and never bleach or iron the pillow.
Never twist or wring it when wet; press the water out instead. When hand-washing, use a soft brush in problem places and let it dry completely.
Foam, memory foam or hybrid pillows
These can't be washed or soaked. Never fully submerge them, because the foam can't release all the water it absorbs.
Keep moisture to the shell only and let the pillow dry completely before use. Trapped water can grow mold in the foam.
Washable polyester or cotton pillows
Wash the pillow only after the ink is completely gone, since laundering can set what's left. If the label allows machine washing, use cold water on a gentle cycle.
Tumble it on low or air-fluff it, and check that the center is completely dry before use.
Silk, satin or acetate shells
These fibers are the most sensitive on a pillow. Alcohol damages acetate and acrylic, and ammonia damages silk, so skip the alcohol step on these shells.
If you can't confirm the fiber, blot only, don't guess, and take it to a professional cleaner.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old ink on a pillow is much harder to lift, because it has had time to bond with the fibers. Old ink on a pillow has no special treatment, so the basic cleaning is the safest path.
If the ink has dried, repeat the alcohol pass once the spot is dry, using a fresh pad each time. Don't push harder or add other cleaners to it.
Never put the pillow in the dryer to loosen it, because heat makes the stain more permanent. Permanent inks are almost impossible to remove, so a faint mark may stay. The maker's guidance is to replace a pillow when its stains or smells can't be removed.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on ink on pillows?
Most home remedies don't belong on a pillow. Some have their own surface limits, and others are meant for different stains like wine. Each of the remedies that follow has a reason it doesn't belong on a pillow.
Helps1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put the pillow in the dryer.
Heat can make a stain more permanent, so a stain that's still visible shouldn't see the dryer. Wait until it's completely gone before you use low heat.
Don't use hot water or chlorine bleach.
Neither is safe on a pillow, even as a last resort. Chlorine bleach can't be used at any stage on this surface.
Don't mix cleaners.
Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other acids, or rubbing alcohol, since the mix can give off toxic fumes. Rinse each product out with plain water before you move to the next one.
Don't scrub or soak the spot.
Hard rubbing spreads the ink into the surrounding fabric, and soaking pushes it deeper into the padding. Blot and work from the outside edge toward the center so the stain doesn't spread.
Don't twist a wet down pillow.
Twisting or wringing can damage the down, so press the water out gently instead. Wet down takes longer to dry, so give it extra time.
When to call a professional
If the stain is still visible after the steps, or the shell is dry-clean only, take the pillow to a professional and discuss the method first, since dry cleaning can strip the down's natural oils. For feather pillows, a cleaner can remove the feathers and sterilize them with UV light, which is a job well beyond spot cleaning.
Questions
Can blue ink come out of a pillow?
Often, yes, if you act while it's fresh and the shell can take a solvent cleaner. Blot it first, then work through the steps in order and test a hidden spot before each cleaner. Some inks can't be fully removed, so a faint mark may be left on a stubborn stain.
Can I wash an ink-stained pillow right away?
No. Laundering can set ink, so treat the stain first. If the label allows machine washing, you can wash it once the ink is gone, using cold water on a gentle cycle.
Can I speed up drying with a hair dryer?
Avoid it. Never use high heat on a pillow, and only a low setting is acceptable after the stain is completely gone. Air drying is the safer choice while the spot is still damp.
How long does a pillow take to dry after treatment?
Plan on several hours under light weight, then air dry until the center is completely dry. The center is the last part to dry, so check it by feel before using the pillow.
What if I don't know the fabric or fill?
Don't guess. Blot the ink, skip any wet cleaner, and check the care label or the maker's information before going further. If there's no label, take it to a professional cleaner and describe the fill.
When should I replace the pillow instead?
Replace it if a stain or smell won't come out after the steps, since it can't be fully refreshed. Check the new pillow's care label first so you know how to treat the next spill.
Ink on other materials
Other stains on pillows
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.