First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the ink with a clean, dry white cloth, and don't rub.
- Treat it while it's fresh, before any wash or dryer cycle.
- Pretest any remover on a hidden spot and stop if color transfers.
- Work from the outside edge toward the center so the mark doesn't spread.
Ink on plastic depends on the type of ink, since ballpoint and stamp pad ink need a different start than felt-tip or India ink. Plastic can take water, so warm washing is a safe place to begin, and solvent only with care. Avoid scrubbing or heat, because the surface can't take either, and some inks may never come out completely.
Keep scrubbing light on a plastic water bottle or phone case, since hard pressure can leave scratches. Let warm water do the work and resist the urge to push harder. If the ink has dried in, try a mild cleanser before reaching for anything stronger.
Before you start
What plastic & tupperware can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care2
- Hot water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid2
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- All-purpose spray cleanerLifts ballpoint and stamp pad ink when used as the label directs. (opens Amazon)
- Household ammoniaUsed on an absorbent pad for traces and in the warm sudsy wipe for felt-tip and India ink. (opens Amazon)
- Absorbent pad or white paper towelsLifts ink out of the surface without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- Soft cloth or spongeCarries the warm sudsy water over the mark without scratching. (opens Amazon)
- Warm water and a little soapMakes the sudsy water for washing and the felt-tip wipe.
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Spray ballpoint and stamp ink
For ballpoint or stamp pad ink that isn't red, spray an all-purpose spray cleaner onto the mark and follow the label directions. Let the cleaner sit on the ink, then blot with a clean white cloth. For red ink, start with the warm sudsy water from the wipe step on a hidden spot to see how it reacts before treating the visible mark.
Step 2 of 5
Lift any trace with ammonia
If any trace of the stain remains, cover the area with an absorbent pad moistened with ammonia. Hold it in place until the mark starts to lift onto the pad, then check the area.
Careful. Never mix ammonia with chlorine bleach, vinegar or other acids, or rubbing alcohol. Rinse each product out with plain water before using the next one.
Step 3 of 5
Wash the spot with suds
Rinse the spot well with clear water. Then wash it with a cloth dipped in warm sudsy water and rinse again.
Step 5 of 5
Rinse and dry the surface
Rinse the whole area well with clear water so no soap or cleaner film is left. Wipe it dry with a soft cloth, then check the mark in good light before deciding whether to repeat.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for ink on plastic & tupperware
Pick an all-purpose spray cleaner for ballpoint and stamp pad ink, and keep household ammonia on hand for the pad and wipe steps.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on plastic & tupperware, 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 mark should lighten with each pass, and the plastic should look clear with no tacky film left behind. If color moves onto your cloth or the mark stops lifting, stop and rinse the spot before trying again.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your plastic & tupperware
Plastic Surfaces and Clear Plastic
Clear plastic such as acrylic can't take solvents or abrasive cleansers, so skip any solvent and stick to the spray cleaner, the ammonia pad or the warm sudsy water. Pretest the spray cleaner on a hidden edge first.
On a solid plastic surface that isn't clear, the steps apply as written. The ammonia pad is only needed if a trace remains.
Plastic Phone Cases
Check whether the case is silicone or hard plastic first. Silicone can't take window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia or abrasives, so use only warm sudsy water on a soft, slightly damp lint-free cloth and accept that it may not lift every trace.
Hard plastic cases can follow the steps as written, with a hidden-spot test on the inside edge first.
Plastic Bags
Thin plastic bags need a light touch, so blot rather than rub and keep the cloth only lightly damp. Test the spray cleaner or the warm sudsy water on a hidden corner first, and stop if color transfers.
Rinse the spot with clear water once the mark is gone, then let the bag dry flat.
Plastic Water Bottles
A water bottle takes the same steps as any plastic container. Wrap a cloth over a finger to reach a narrow neck, and work from the outside edge toward the center.
Rinse the inside well with clear water once the mark is gone, so no cleaner is left in the bottle.
Plastic Tablecloths
Lay the tablecloth flat and work one section at a time, so the cleaner stays where the mark is. Test a hidden corner or the hem first before you start.
If the mark is large, repeat the matching step in small sections rather than soaking the whole cloth, and rinse and dry each section before moving on.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old ink that has been on plastic for days is harder to lift, and the steps above may only fade it. Repeat the matching step on the same spot once, since a second pass often lifts more than the first.
Dried marker or felt-tip on hard plastic lids can respond to isopropyl alcohol applied on a cloth. Test a hidden spot first before using it.
If the mark has been through a dryer, a hot car or other heat, it is probably set, and you may not get all of it out. Some inks simply won't come out completely, so a faint mark is a realistic result. Don't push harder with stronger products to chase it.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on ink on plastic & tupperware?
Kitchen remedies come up often for ink on plastic, so here is how each one stacks up. Warm sudsy water is the one approach that suits plastic, and none of the others is reliable for this ink.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't wash or dry before treating
Washing can set ink into the plastic, and heat from a dryer sets stains further. Treat the mark first, then clean the whole item once it's gone.
Don't use abrasive cleansers or scrub pads
Plastic can't take abrasive cleansers or scrub pads, so the soft cloth and warm sudsy water do the work. If the mark needs more force, use the set-in option rather than scouring.
Don't put plastic near a flame or heat
Plastic lids and containers shouldn't go on or under a flame, stovetop or broiler, and they should be vented or offset in a microwave. Glasses shouldn't be left in extreme heat such as a hot car either.
Don't keep going once the color moves
If color transfers onto your cloth or the mark changes, stop and rinse the spot. Check it in good light before any second pass.
When to call a professional
Ink on plastic usually needs a pro only when the item is valuable or hard to replace, or when the mark won't lift after the gentlest step. Try that step first, then ask a cleaning specialist before anything stronger.
Questions
Is acetone needed to lift ink from plastic?
No. Ballpoint and stamp ink lift with the spray cleaner, and felt-tip and India ink lift with warm sudsy water and ammonia, so acetone isn't needed. Start with the step that matches your ink type and only go further if a trace remains.
How do I get ink off a plastic phone case?
Hard plastic cases can follow the steps above. Silicone cases need a gentler approach, so check the material before you start.
Can I get ink off a plastic water bottle?
Yes, the steps above apply, with a cloth wrapped over a finger for a narrow neck. Rinse the bottle well when you finish so no cleaner is left inside.
What should I do about ink on a plastic grocery bag?
Use the matching step above on a hidden spot first. Blot rather than rub, and keep the cloth only lightly damp.
Can I use this on a plastic tablecloth?
Yes, work on one section at a time using the matching step above. Test a hidden corner first, and rinse each section before moving on.
Does this work on clear plastic or acrylic?
Yes, with the same steps and no solvents, since acrylic can't take them. Start with the step that matches your ink type and test a hidden spot first.
What if the ink is old and dried?
Some inks won't come out completely once they've dried. Repeat the matching step on the same spot first, then consider the isopropyl alcohol option on hard plastic lids after a hidden-spot test.
Ink on other materials
Other stains on plastic & tupperware
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.