There’s nothing quite like getting a new tattoo, with the excitement and elation that you feel before, during, and after. However, what happens when it stains your clothes? That would certainly be a bummer. So before you get inked, take note of how to get tattoo ink out of clothes before they get ruined!
Why Do People Get Tattoos?
Tattoos have been a thing since ancient times. It has a fascinating history that has lasted for thousands and thousands of years.
In some parts of the world, tattooing has been part of their tradition and culture. The process of tattooing and its meanings depend on each community or tribe. Some people got tattoos to symbolize victories in battles, the enemies they have killed, to commemorate a significant event, rituals, and whatnot.
Nowadays, people getting tattoos do it for various reasons. For example, here are some of the main reasons why people get tattoos these days:
- A tribute to a loved one who has passed away
- Self-expression
- Express creativity
- Remembrance of a milestone in life
Of course, there are other reasons why some people choose to get inked. Whatever the reasons are, people are free to do whatever they want with their bodies. After all, their bodies are their temples.
What’s In A Tattoo Ink?
When you are planning on getting a tattoo, there’s one essential component. There would be no tattoo session without the tattoo ink. But this was not always the case.
In the old days, people didn’t use machines and inks. Traditional tattooing involved using various pointy tools handled manually. At first glance, you might get an impression that those were torture devices. But in reality, those were the tools used in inking someone then.
If you are getting a tattoo anytime soon, it’s important to know the ingredients of the tattoo ink. Remember that when you get tattooed, the ink penetrates both the outer and deeper layers of your skin. You have to know what goes into your body!
There are two main ingredients – the carrier and colorant. The carrier is usually a fluid that might contain some of these liquids:
- Water
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Witch Hazel
- Glycerine
- Methanol
The carriers are mixed with pigments to make the ink. The colorants or pigments are added to add color or hue to the ink. These pigments might come from either natural sources such as minerals or from synthetic ones.
Remove That Tattoo Ink From Your Clothes
After getting inked, there might be times when mishaps happen. Due to the freshness of the tattoo, the ink might accidentally transfer to your clothes. If this happens, don’t panic! If you want to save your clothes, there are some things you can do to remove the ink. Take a look at some of these tips and remember them if this happens to you! [11 Ways To Get Ink Stain Out Of Clothes]
1. Water To The Rescue
If the stain is still very fresh, you can use water to soak up the stain. Apart from water, you would be needing a rag or towel. You can try dampening the rag or towel in water and then using it to blot the ink stain. While this process won’t totally remove the stain, it absorbs some of the ink, lessening the remaining spatter on the clothes.
2. Use Nail Polish Remover
Some nail polish removers contain acetone. And this particular chemical can remove tattoo ink stains from clothes. If you are going to use this method, do not pour the nail polish remover directly on the stains. When using acetone-based products, you must proceed with caution. If there is high exposure, it can be harmful to your body.
The first step is to get a cotton ball and then pour a small amount. Once the cotton is soaked, try placing it on top of the stained area for about a minute or two. After that, you can try blotting the stain.
If that doesn’t get rid of the stains just yet, you can try repeating the process. When you have managed to remove the stains, you should wash your clothes. Follow the washing instructions found on the label. Apart from making sure your clothes are clean, this also gets rid of chemicals.
3. Combine Baking Soda and Water
When we usually talk about removing stains, baking soda is one of those products that we can always trust. And it’s no different when it comes to removing tattoo ink out of our clothes.
Making the Baking Soda and Water paste is so easy. All you have to do is mix two parts of baking soda with one part water. Mix these two ingredients well until they form a paste. Once you have got that down, get some and dab it on the ink stains. You should wait until the paste dries on top of the stains. This process would help speed up the removal process.
4. Pour Some Vinegar
While it might not be the best method to use, it’s still worth a try. It might work best if the ink stain has not dried up yet. The acidity of the vinegar would help remove the stain.
If you want to make a more potent concoction, you can mix the vinegar with baking soda. By combining these two ingredients, it would create a paste. When your paste is ready, spread it on the stained parts of your clothing. Let it dry and rinse with lukewarm water.
5. Rub That Alcohol
Isopropyl Alcohol is one household item that can help remove ink stains on your clothes. Using this as a stain remover is pretty straightforward.
You can take an old cloth or rag and then pour some alcohol on it. Once it’s soaked, you can dab the damp rag on the stained portion of your clothing. The alcohol would help dissolve the ink stain and make its removal easier.
6. Spray That Stain Away
Not all of us have bottles of hairspray at our disposal. But if you happen to have a can at home, you can use it to remove tattoo ink stains from your clothes.
The active ingredient in hairspray that can remove a stain is alcohol. However, before you start using this, check the ingredients list of the hairspray that you have. Some hair sprays no longer contain alcohol. So you are better off using other removal processes if your hairspray does not have any alcohol content at all.
7. Buy A Oxygen Based Cleaner
If you aren’t comfortable using these DIY tattoo ink removal, you can always check out if you have any oxygen based cleaner in your laundry area. Known as Oxygen Bleach, it is a much safer alternative to chlorine bleach.
There are so many varieties available in the market, and it helps if you already have one at home. In cases when tattoo ink stains your clothes, you can use it as soon as possible. You don’t have to worry about your clothes bleeding because you can safely use Oxygen Bleach on colored clothes.
You shouldn’t pour the cleaning agent directly on the stained portion; instead, dilute the Oxygen Bleach with water. Once you have diluted the mixture, that’s the time you can soak the blemished piece of clothing. You can try leaving it for an hour. However, if that doesn’t work, you can try soaking the clothes longer.
Avoid Staining Your Clothes With Tattoo Ink
When getting a tattoo, there are a couple of things you should remember before you do it. These are just simple reminders that would help you in the long run!
One major tip that you should take note of is to wear something loose during your tattoo session. If you are getting a tattoo on an area usually covered by a piece of clothing, don’t wear something tight.
Wearing something like that can rub against the freshly tattooed skin, causing the ink to bleed or slowing down the drying process. The tattoo ink can also stain your clothes, leaving you to think about the best way to remove it. Imagine if you have to deal with these kinds of things after going through the whole tattooing process. Talk about stress!
Wearing something you don’t mind soiling is a simple life hack that you can do to avoid any tattoo ink stains setback. There might be some loose-fitting old clothes in your closet that you can take advantage of. You can make the most out of these clothes while your tattoo heals.
Erase That Tattoo Ink Out Of Clothes STAT!
When you are dealing with any kind of stain, time is of the essence. You want to get that smudge as soon as you can. The same thing applies when you are trying to figure out how to get tattoo ink out of your clothes. As the stains wait for no one, you have to wipe them out immediately!
Jessica Oliver is a fashion enthusiast with more than ten years of experience in the industry. She previously managed her own clothing store in New York before becoming a mother of three. With a passion for sustainability and a desire to share clothing care and recycling tips.