First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the ink with a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towels, and don't rub.
- Treat it while it's fresh, before it dries into the finish.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, and stop if color transfers or the finish changes.
- Work from the outside edge toward the center so the ink doesn't spread.
Ink on a bathroom sink is easiest to lift while it's still wet, and start with plain water. Sink finishes don't all handle the same treatment, so the material under the ink decides how firmly you can work. Ink that has dried into the surface may only fade a little, and a few marks may refuse to lift at all.
A mild scouring cleanser works well on ink left in a bathroom sink, as long as you rub gently and rinse often. Skip the mold and mildew remover, since it's made for mildew and won't help with ink. If the color stops fading after a couple of passes, a pro can judge what your sink's surface will take.
Before you start
What sinks can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care4
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
6 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, dry white cloth or white paper towelsLifts wet ink without spreading it (opens Amazon)
- Soft sponge or clothWipes gently without scratching the finish (opens Amazon)
- Mild soap and warm waterThe wiping solution for vitreous china (opens Amazon)
- General-purpose cleaner listed for your sink materialFor ink that is still visible after wiping (opens Amazon)
- Soft abrasive cleaner (enameled cast iron or vitreous china only)For old, stubborn marks, used sparingly with water (opens Amazon)
- Cast iron cleaner made for marks (enameled cast iron only)Removes marks and restores shine
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot up the wet ink
Press a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towel onto the ink and lift it up, then turn to a clean section and repeat. Work from the outside edge toward the center so the mark doesn't spread across the finish.
Step 2 of 6
Test your cleaner first
Put a small amount of the cleaner you plan to use on a hidden spot, such as the inside of the basin near the drain or under the rim. Wipe it off after a moment and check for color transfer or any change in the finish.
Careful. If the color moves or the finish changes, stop and skip that cleaner.
Step 3 of 6
Wipe with a damp sponge
Dampen a soft sponge or cloth with warm water and wipe the spot gently, rinsing the sponge often. On vitreous china, add a little mild soap to the warm water.
Tip. Keep the sponge clean so you aren't spreading ink back over the sink.
Step 4 of 6
Use a cleaner for heavy ink
If the ink is still visible, apply a general-purpose cleaner listed for your sink material and work it in gently over the spot. Use just enough to cover the mark, since extra cleaner doesn't lift ink any faster.
Careful. Avoid aerosol cleaning products on acrylic.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse the sink completely
Rinse the area with plenty of plain water right after you apply any cleaner, so no residue is left behind. Keep rinsing until the cleaner is gone from the spot and the surrounding finish.
Step 6 of 6
Blot the sink dry
Pat the area dry with a soft cloth, then check it in good light. If a faint mark is left, see the stronger treatment further down this section before trying anything else.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for ink on sinks
Choose a general-purpose cleaner labeled for your sink material, and for enameled cast iron, a cast iron cleaner made for marks.
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 sinks, 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
Ink should lift onto the cloth with each blot, and the wet area should look clean and even as it dries. If the mark only looks smeared or duller than the surrounding sink, stop and let the surface dry before deciding on the next step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sinks
Acrylic sink
Stay with the gentle steps on acrylic: warm water, a soft sponge, and a general-purpose cleaner only when the ink is heavy. Skip the stronger treatment further down completely, because acrylic can't take those abrasives.
If the spot looks dull or scratched after cleaning, cleaning won't restore it. Contact the manufacturer's customer service for repair instead of scrubbing harder.
Enameled cast iron sink
Enamel can take the soft abrasive cleaner for an old spot, used sparingly and always with water. Never use steel wool, wire brushes or abrasive pads, because they scratch the enamel and dull it.
For a mark rather than ink, a cast iron cleaner made for marks removes it and restores the shine. Rinse it off and blot dry afterward.
Vitreous china sink
Mild soap and warm water is the wiping solution here, and it comes before any stronger cleaner. Ammonia cleaners can damage this finish, so keep them away from the basin.
For an old stain, the soft abrasive option works only sparingly and with water. Strong abrasive cleaners scratch and dull the surface, so don't reach for them.
Faucet with a PVD finish
Don't use cleaners with ammonia, bleach or acid on a PVD faucet finish, even when the ink ends up near the fittings. Use warm water and a soft cloth there, then dry the fitting.
If the ink sits on the sink's edge right beside the faucet, blot and wipe the sink as in the steps. Rinse any splash off the fitting with plain water.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old ink that has set into the finish needs a stronger approach than wiping, and this option is only for enameled cast iron or vitreous china. Ink that has dried for a while may not come out fully, and some inks are impossible to remove at all. Test the abrasive cleaner on a hidden spot before using it on the visible area.
Apply a soft abrasive cleaner sparingly, always with water wet on the spot, and work it gently in small strokes with a soft cloth. Rinse thoroughly right after and check the spot before repeating.
If the mark is still there after one careful pass, stop rather than scrubbing harder, because harsh rubbing can dull enameled or china finishes. A cast iron cleaner made for marks is the next step for enameled cast iron. Acrylic should not get any of this, and for a dull or scratched acrylic sink, a repair is needed.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on ink on sinks?
Most household remedies don't belong on a sink, and some can damage the finish. Some of these can damage the finish, so keep the harsher options away from your sink.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use abrasive cleansers or solvents on acrylic
Acrylic sinks are damaged by abrasive cleansers and solvents, so both are off the list even when the ink looks stubborn. Stick with the gentle steps, and use the general-purpose cleaner only for heavy ink.
Don't let cleaners sit on the sink
Cleaner left on the surface is exactly what the rinse step prevents, so rinse each one off right away. Overspray on nearby surfaces should be rinsed off too.
Don't scrub the ink into the finish
Harder scrubbing spreads the ink and can scratch the surface, so lift it with light blotting and wiping instead. If it won't come off, move to the stronger treatment only on the sinks it's allowed on.
When to call a professional
If an acrylic sink is dull or scratched, contact the manufacturer's customer service for repairs rather than trying more cleaners. Improper cleaning can also void a cast iron sink's warranty, so stick to the gentle methods here.
Questions
Can ink come out of an acrylic sink?
Sometimes, but gentle steps are all an acrylic sink can take. Blot, test, wipe with warm water and rinse, and never use solvents or abrasive cleansers on it. If a dull or scratched area remains, contact the manufacturer's customer service for repair.
Can I use vinegar on the ink in my sink?
No, skip vinegar. It's unsafe on natural stone and cement grout, so keep it away from those around the sink.
Is bleach safe to use on the sink?
Skip bleach; full-strength bleach shouldn't go on acrylic. Stick with the sink cleaners recommended for this stain. Stick with the cleaners listed in the steps.
Can I use nail-polish remover or another solvent?
No. Solvents aren't allowed on acrylic, enameled cast iron or vitreous china, and they can damage the finish on any of them.
Use warm water and the cleaners listed in the steps instead. If the ink still won't come out with those, the stronger treatment is the only other option, and only on enameled cast iron or vitreous china.
What if the ink has dried?
Dried ink needs the stronger treatment, which is only for enameled cast iron or vitreous china. Some inks may not come out completely, so don't scrub harder if the mark stays.
How do I clean a mark on a cast iron sink?
Use a cast iron cleaner made for marks, which removes them and restores shine on enameled cast iron. Rinse and blot dry afterward.
Ink on other materials
Other stains on sinks
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.