Whether it is from a pen or ink cartridges in your printer, you probably have dealt with messy ink stains from time to time, especially on your hands. While you can sometimes wash it off with water and soap, there are just some stubborn ink stains that would love to linger in every bit of your hand.
Therefore, how to get ink off your hands effectively and effortlessly?
Lucky you, there are clever yet simple solutions you can try to remove printer ink or pen ink stains from your hands. The best part is that some products you can use are easily found among your household items. Keep on reading and find out which tips and tricks work best for you!
Contents
6 Easy Solutions to Try to Get Ink Off Your Hands
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following tips and tricks have been tested and proven effective against ink stains. However, results may vary based on the intensity of ink stains and the type of ink (printer ink, fountain ink, pen ink, etc.,). It is also crucial to try these solutions on a small area of your skin first to avoid any reactions or irritations, particularly if you have sensitive skin or are suffering from eczema.
Tip 1: Remove Ink Stains with Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is one popular and effective way to deal with your ink stains, particularly the ones from printer ink. Although this natural ingredient is usually present in skincare products due to its countless benefits, it also works like magic on stubborn ink stains.
Things You Will Need:
- Tea tree oil
- Loofah or clean cloth
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Apply a few drops of tea tree oil to your skin. Rub it in your hand and massage it until the ink stains start to fade.
- If the ink stains have already dried out and seemed difficult to remove, you can use a loofah or cloth to rub them off.
- Repeat the process until the ink disappears.
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
Tip 2: Use Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing or Isopropyl alcohol has been among the ultimate cleaning solutions to eliminate stains, including ink stains. Since it is a strong solvent, it can effectively remove ink stains even on your skin. Fortunately, this is not difficult to find as every home seems to have a rubbing alcohol for cleaning and sanitizing.
Things You Will Need:
- Rubbing alcohol
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Pour or spray rubbing alcohol all over the ink stains on your hands.
- Rub it in your skin as when you would when washing your hands.
- You can apply lotion afterward to prevent your skin from drying.
Tip 3: Apply Baby Oil or an Oil-based Makeup Remover
Contrary to the drying effects of rubbing alcohol, baby oil or an oil-based makeup remover can remove ink stains on your hands while keeping them soft and smooth. But besides the skin benefits, these oils can break down ink stains and soften them, making them much easier to wipe and rinse off afterward.
Things You Will Need:
- Baby oil or an oil-based makeup remover
- Tissue paper
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Apply a generous amount of baby oil, enough to cover the ink stains on your hands.
- Rub it in your hands until the ink breaks down and softens.
- Wipe them off with tissue paper or a paper towel. Then, rinse your hands under running water and dish soap.
- If the ink stains are still visible, repeat the process.
Tip 4: Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
It can be quite cumbersome how to get printer ink off hands, especially when the stains have gone awfully messy and seem difficult to remove. Thus, one of the best products to use is the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, which is innovatively designed to remove all kinds of stubborn stains, including printer ink!
Things You Will Need:
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- Dry towel
Step-by-step Instructions:
- This product looks like a sponge and softens up when wet. Basically, you just have to wet the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser under running water or a bowl of water.
- Squeeze it to release any excess water.
- Rub it in your hand until you remove all the ink stains.
- Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them with a towel.
Tip 5: Bleach and Water Solution
Bleach is one of the staple laundry items that can effectively deal with tough stains, including ink. Therefore, you can try this procedure for an awful lot of stains on your hands that you desperately want to get rid of.
Just a heads-up, bleach is a chemical product that should be used cautiously. For this step, you can try chlorine bleach (used for all-white clothes or fabric) or non-chlorine and oxygen-based bleach (color-safe bleach).
Things You Will Need:
- Bleach (chlorine or non-chlorine type)
- Basin
- Dry towel
- Lemon or orange
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of bleach in a gallon or 10 parts of water. Remember not to use concentrated bleach and pour it all over your hand. This strong chemical product may cause skin irritations.
- Apply the solution to your hands and rub them together until the ink stains disappear.
- Wash your hands with clean water and soap afterward.
- Bleach can dry the skin when applied and leave an awful chemical smell. You can squeeze lemon or orange into your hands to get rid of the smell. You may also apply lotion after washing your hands.
Tip 6: Baking Soda and Water Solution
Baking soda is an all-around household item that can be used not only for cooking but also as an effective cleaning product. When it comes to tough ink stains on your hands, a mixture of baking soda and water will do the trick.
Things You Will Need:
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 2 tablespoons of water
- A bowl or basin
- Dry towel
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of water in a bowl or basin. Mix them until they form into a paste.
- Wet your hands under running water. Then, apply the paste to your hands and rub them until the ink stains disappear.
- When all the ink stains are gone, wash your hands with water and soap. Dry your hands with a towel.
Prevent Ink Stains and Spills on Your Hands
You can simply wear gloves to protect your hands. But of course, you won’t have and normally do it when writing with a fountain pen or any type of pen. Perhaps, one of the best ways to avoid any spills or ink stains is to check your pens from time to time for any ink spills or leaks.
When refilling or changing ink cartridges, it is imperative to wear gloves and check the instructions of your printer or ink cartridges when doing this. In this way, you can avoid any messy stains on your hands. You may also look for cartridge refill kits compatible with your printer for hassle-free and messy-free refilling.
Conclusion
There you have it! With these easy and effective solutions, you can get through your dilemma on how to get ink off your hands and get them clean and ready for your next tasks! Although there are a ton of tips and tricks to try, the methods mentioned above are the best and easy ways that can work on your ink stain problems.
If you have tried these suggestions, share them with us! Let us know which ones worked for you or other ways that you think should also be on this list!