First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the ink with a clean, dry white cloth. Don't rub.
- Wash the spot with soap and lukewarm water while the ink is fresh.
- Stop if the skin turns red, itches or swells.
- Moisturize while the skin is still damp.
Ink on skin and hands usually lifts easily when you wash it soon after it lands. Pen ink is non-toxic on skin, but it can stain it, so a mark that has sat for a while may need more than soap. If the skin stays red, dry or irritated after you clean it, stop and get medical advice.
Printer ink and cartridge ink on fingers usually come off after a few rounds of warm soap, so skip the hard scrubbing. Pen ink from skin calls for the same gentle approach, with a short rest between rounds. If it still shows after several rounds, give the skin a day and try again rather than reaching for something harsh.
Before you start
What skin & hands can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care4
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Hot water
6 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, dry white cloth or white paper towelsLifts the wet ink and shows you when it is coming off. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid soapLifts the ink off the skin during the wash.
- Lukewarm waterWarm enough to help the wash, and safe on skin.
- 70% isopropyl alcohol with no added color or fragranceFor a mark that stays after washing, rinsed off afterward. (opens Amazon)
- Cotton ballLets you apply the alcohol with light dabbing instead of rubbing. (opens Amazon)
- Hand cream or ointmentMoisturizes the skin while it is still damp.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot the ink away
Press a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towel onto the ink to lift the wet part. Don't rub; blot from the outside edge toward the center so the stain doesn't spread. Switch to a fresh section of cloth as it picks up color.
Step 2 of 6
Wash with soap and lukewarm water
Wet the area with lukewarm water and work mild soap into a lather with your fingertips. Pen ink can be washed off with soap and water, so this is the step that does most of the work.
Rinse well and pat the skin dry. For a chemical product such as hair dye, rinse first with room-temperature water for 15 minutes, then call a poison center at 1-800-222-1222.
Careful. Hot water is not safe on skin; use lukewarm or warm water
Step 3 of 6
Check the spot in good light
Look at the spot in good light and pat it dry with a clean cloth. If color still transfers to the cloth, keep washing; if the spot looks clear, skip the alcohol and go straight to moisturizing.
Step 4 of 6
Dab rubbing alcohol on a stubborn mark
If a mark remains, dab a cotton ball soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol with no added color or fragrance onto the spot. Use light dabbing, not rubbing. Then rinse thoroughly with plenty of cool water.
Tip. Test a small hidden patch of skin first and stop if the skin reacts.
Careful. Leaving rubbing alcohol on the skin can cause an irritant rash, so rinse it off with cool water
Step 5 of 630 seconds
Gently exfoliate intact skin
Only do this on intact skin that isn't sunburned. Use small circular motions for about 30 seconds, then rinse with lukewarm water.
Careful. Never exfoliate open cuts, wounds or sunburned skin, and don't over-exfoliate, which leaves skin red and irritated
Step 6 of 6
Moisturize while the skin is damp
Apply hand cream or ointment to the skin while it is still damp from the rinse. Work it in gently so the skin feels comfortable again.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for ink on skin & hands
Pick a mild liquid soap for the wash, and a 70% isopropyl alcohol with no added color or fragrance if a mark stays.
Amazon Basics 70% Isopropyl Alcohol First Aid Antiseptic
These are the everyday supplies the steps above use, in the versions most people buy on Amazon.
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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →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
Lifting ink shows up as color on the cloth, and the spot gets lighter with each blot. Once the cloth stops picking up color and the skin looks clear after washing, the stain is gone. If a faint mark stays after washing, stop, let the skin rest, and use the alcohol only once.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your skin & hands
Printer ink
Printer ink often covers more of the hand than a pen mark, so work in sections rather than trying to clear it all at once. Start with the thickest part of the smear and move outward to the lighter edges.
Keep fresh paper or a clean cloth under your hand so you can see what's lifting. Once the color stops transferring, wash the whole hand, not just the spot, so no ink is left in the creases between the fingers.
Cartridge ink
Cartridge ink often ends up on the fingertips and under the nails after you've handled a cartridge, so those spots need the most attention. Work the wash into each fingertip and along the nail edge before anything else.
Don't go straight to the alcohol for those areas. Wash first, check the spot, and dab alcohol only where color still shows, then rinse it off.
Pen ink
Pen ink is the easiest of these to lift, because soap and water are usually enough on their own. Give the soap a chance to work before you judge the result.
Pen ink is non-toxic on the skin, but it can still leave a stain, so there's no reason to skip the wash. If a faint line is left after one wash, repeat the wash before you reach for alcohol.
Ink on skin
If you can't tell which ink it is, treat it as a standard ink: blot, wash with soap and lukewarm water, and check the spot. Start with the first wash and move to alcohol only if a mark stays.
If the ink has spread across a large area, work from the edges toward the center so it doesn't move further across the skin. Check the cloth as you go, since it will show you when the ink is lifting.
Ink on fingers
Fingertips and the skin around the nails hold ink longest, so give those spots extra time in the wash. Use your fingers to work soap into the creases and along the nail edges.
Blot the fingertips last, after the rest of the hand is clean, so you aren't pressing ink back into cleaned skin. If a mark stays under a nail, repeat the wash before you try any alcohol.
Ink pad
Ink pad stains often cover a broad area of the palm or fingers, so wash the whole hand rather than one spot. Work the lather over the palm and the back of the hand, then rinse thoroughly.
Check the palm and the side of the hand for leftover color before you call it done. Once the hand looks clear, moisturize the whole hand.
Gel ink
There is no separate method for gel ink, so start with the same blot and soap-and-water wash. Keep the alcohol for a mark that stays after washing.
If the skin reacts or the mark won't clear, check with a dermatologist before trying anything stronger.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Ink that has been on the skin for a while is harder to lift than fresh ink, so don't expect the first wash to clear it. Repeat the soap and lukewarm water wash, and give the skin a break between rounds so it doesn't get irritated.
Dried ink that is still visible after a few washes can get one stronger step: the alcohol dab, tested first and rinsed off with cool water. Gentle exfoliation is the last option, and only on intact skin that isn't sunburned.
After several washes, if the ink is still there, stop rather than scrubbing harder, because the skin will get irritated before the ink gives up. Some marks won't come off completely, and that's a realistic outcome for old or dried ink. If the skin stays irritated or dry, see a dermatologist.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on ink on skin & hands?
Most home remedies for ink are built for fabric, so only a few belong on skin. Soap and lukewarm water come first on skin, with rubbing alcohol for a mark that stays. The others don't belong on skin.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub or scrub hard
Rubbing pushes the ink further across the skin, and scrubbing can spread oily residue. Keep your pressure light at every step, and blot instead of rubbing whenever the ink is wet.
Don't wait to wash it off
Treat it while it's fresh, because ink that has been left to dry is harder to lift. Start the wash as soon as you notice the mark, even if you're in the middle of something else.
Don't mix cleaners on your skin
Bleach mixed with ammonia or toilet bowl cleaner gives off poisonous gas, so never combine them. Rinse each product off with water before you try the next one.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
A faint tint stays after washing and alcohol.
Moisturize and keep washing gently with soap and water rather than escalating. Pen ink can stain skin for a while.
The skin feels tight and dry.
Apply hand cream or ointment to damp skin after every wash. If dryness doesn't improve, see a board-certified dermatologist.
Ink got near the eye.
Don't rub it. Contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for ink in the eyes.
The skin stings after alcohol.
Rinse right away with plenty of cool water and switch to soap-and-water washing only.
When to call a professional
Call a poison center at 1-800-222-1222 if you're unsure about a product that got on your skin. See a dermatologist if a reaction is severe or lasts, or if dry skin doesn't improve.
Questions
Does ink stain skin, and how long does it last?
Ink can stain skin, and pen ink is non-toxic on the skin but may still leave a mark. How long it lasts depends on how quickly you wash it, so start right away and don't let it dry.
How do I remove ink from hands without alcohol?
Use soap and lukewarm water alone. Blot the ink first, then wash the hands well, and many marks come off without alcohol. Save the alcohol for a mark that stays after several washes.
What if ink gets in my eye?
Rinse the eye with water and call a poison center at 1-800-222-1222 for advice. Don't rub the eye, and don't try to clean it with any product on your own.
Can ink that has dried on skin still be removed?
Dried ink is harder to lift, and no stronger method is recommended for skin where the ink won't wash off. Keep to gentle washing and stop before the skin gets irritated.
Is it safe to use the same method on a baby's hands?
Use only soap and lukewarm water on a baby's hands, and skip the rubbing alcohol. If the skin looks red, irritated or dry afterward, ask a pediatrician.
What if my skin gets red or itchy after cleaning?
Gently wash the product off and stop using it. See a dermatologist if the reaction is severe, or if cool compresses or petroleum jelly don't relieve it.
Ink on other materials
Other stains on skin & hands
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.