[Apples555]

Maybe this isn't the right forum. I accidentally left a fountain pen in my shirt pocket and ran it through the wash and now a few of my shirts have stains. Is it possible to get them out?

 

[TerryM]

Maybe this isn't the right forum. I accidentally left a fountain pen in my shirt pocket and ran it through the wash and now a few of my shirts have stains. Is it possible to get them out?

Best answer? No.
If it's a small mark on a white item you may be able to with bleach.

 

[Apples555]

Oh well, live and learn I guess.

Thanks!

 

[JBierly]

Ink from a fountain pen is pretty devastating. You could always take them to a cleaners and ask.

 

[OldMetairie]

Likely no but my best success with ink has come using rubbing alcohol to remove.

 

[smmrfld]

You could try Amodex. It’s about the only thing created specifically to remove ink stains.

 

[215339]

Maybe contact RAVE Fabricare? I've heard good things about them as cleaners.

Haven't used them, but you have to mail it in I think.

 

[Barrister & Solicitor]

Did you dry the shirts in the dryer?

If not, try some of these tricks.

https://www.thespruce.com/remove-ballpoint-permanent-water-based-ink-1900967

 

[Dhaller]

Who cares about the shirts - how is the poor pen doing?

Rather than adding to the laundry list of laundry tips - and as a fellow laundered-pen survivor - I just want to say: make sure to clean the interior of the washing machine, or you could have a surprise on your next wash cycle.

(Yes, one would think all the ink has drained away, but it's not necessarily so; me? I'd take the opportunity to run a null load with some bleach added. One should clean the washing machine on occasion, anyway.)

DH

 

[Apples555]

Thank you for the suggestions everyone. There was one shirt in this wash that I really like. I might give it to a professional cleaners.

Did you dry the shirts in the dryer?

I did. I'll still try to save.

Who cares about the shirts - how is the poor pen doing?

Pen seems ok. I took it apart and ran it under water. The old ink cartridge is probably ruined though.

 

[eagle2250]

Thank you for the suggestions everyone. There was one shirt in this wash that I really like. I might give it to a professional cleaners.

I did. I'll still try to save.

Pen seems ok. I took it apart and ran it under water. The old ink cartridge is probably ruined though.

A real fountain pen is equipped with an ink bladder. Ink cartridges are for wannabe's! LOL. :icon_headagainstwall:

 

[mlenecare]

Don't try to use oxidizers such as bleach or oxyclean to get the stain out. They may degrade the pigments but that won't necessarily remove them. Solvents are the only way to go. Rubbing alcohol probably wont be good enough. Think paint strippers or you could try using dry cleaning solvent. You are looking for things like dichloromethane, tetrachloroethylene, phenylmethanol, maybe naphtha or d-limonene.
You would need to be careful using any of these solvents. Wear gloves and use them outdoors.

 

[Apples555]

Thank you, I'll do that.

A real fountain pen is equipped with an ink bladder. Ink cartridges are for wannabe's! LOL. :icon_headagainstwall:

It was just a cheap Kaweco Sport I use around the office. I do like the idea of using an ink converter.

 

[David J. Cooper]

I took a pair of micro fibre golf pants that I bled on to my dry cleaner, they got the stains out but the next time I wore them the crotch and posterior area blew out while hitting a drive. I finished the round wrapped in a golf towel.

 

[eagle2250]

I took a pair of micro fibre golf pants that I bled on to my dry cleaner, they got the stains out but the next time I wore them the crotch and posterior area blew out while hitting a drive. I finished the round wrapped in a golf towel.

That must have been some drive, eh?

 

[David J. Cooper]

I did put something extra on it but still got. Out driven by 50 yards by a guy 5 years older then me. My wife found the whole thing pretty funny.