If you keep a pen in your purse, it's likely to eventually leak or mark the inside of your bag. Using some common household items, you can remove ink stains from your purse lining without needing to get it professionally cleaned. Here are some suggestions on how to get the ink stain out yourself.

Things You Should Know

  • Use hairspray or rubbing alcohol to remove ink stains from a purse lining.
  • Alternatively, dab at the stain with a cloth soaked in soapy water.
  • Whichever method you use, pull the lining outside of your purse if possible so it's easier to access the stain.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Hairspray Method

This method would work best if most of the affecting lining of your purse can be pulled out, in order to ensure that the surrounding inner area will remain free of the hairspray. If the material of your purse is leather, be careful not to get the hairspray on the purse exterior, as it might damage the finish of your purse.

  1. 1
    Turn the lining out of the purse as much as you can.
  2. 2
    Place several layers of paper towels or a clean cloth under the part of the lining with the spot.
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  3. 3
    Spray some hairspray directly on the ink spot. If the lining does not pull out of the purse so much, or if you are concerned about getting hairspray on other parts of the purse, you can also spray the hairspray on a Q-tip and rub the stain with it.[1]
  4. 4
    Dab at the treated spot with a dry cloth or paper towels.
  5. 5
    Dab at the spot with a sponge, Q-tip or cloth dipped in clean water.
  6. 6
    Repeat the process until the ink stain disappears. You may have to do the process several times in order to get the stain off completely.
  7. 7
    Let the purse lining air dry.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Rubbing Alcohol Method

Rubbing alcohol is a common household product that can be used for ink stain removal.[2]

  1. 1
    Turn the lining out of the purse as much as you can.
  2. 2
    Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol.
  3. 3
    Rub the cotton ball gently over the stain. If the ink stain is a bit stubborn, you can also saturate it directly in alcohol for about 30 minutes.
  4. 4
    Blot the spot with a sponge, paper towel or cloth dampened with clean water.
  5. 5
    Repeat the process until the ink stain disappears.
  6. 6
    Let the purse lining air dry.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Dishwashing Liquid Method

This method will be most effective if you can pull out most of the inner lining of your purse, as it might be more difficult to blot off detergent if the lining remains inside the bag.

  1. 1
    Turn the lining out of the purse as much as you can.
  2. 2
    Pour a small amount of mild dish washing liquid or laundry detergent into a dish.
  3. 3
    Dab the detergent at the ink stain with a clean cloth.[3]
  4. 4
    After, blot the spot with another cloth dipped in clean water.
  5. 5
    Repeat the process until the ink stain disappears.
  6. 6
    Let the purse lining air dry.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can I use nail polish remover instead of rubbing alcohol when removing ink stains?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Nail polish remover is not the same thing as rubbing alcohol. If it has acetone, it can very well eat through the material. Do not use nail polish remover.
  • Question
    How do I clear the ink stains from a school bag?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    I used the alcohol method on mine and it worked well, so I recommend you try that.
  • Question
    Can vinegar remove ink stains?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Vinegar won't be as effective as rubbing alcohol on removing ink stains from a purse. It's also really easy to use. Turn the lining inside out as much as you can. Dip a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol and rub it gently over the stain. If the stain is super stubborn, let it soak for 30 minutes. Then, blot the spot with a sponge, paper towel, or a cloth that's damp with clean water to soak up the rubbing alcohol. Keep adding rubbing alcohol and dabbing it up until the stain is fully lifted from the purse. Then, let the purse air dry before you use it again. That's it!
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Warnings

  • Always make sure to test out the cleaning solution on a small spot of your purse, to make sure that it does not ruin the material. This is especially important if the outside material of your purse is leather.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You’ll Need

  • Hairspray or nail polish remover
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Dish washing liquid or laundry detergent
  • Clean cloth or paper towels
  • Sponge
  • Cotton balls

About This Article

Hannah Madden
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Hannah Madden is a writer, editor, and artist currently living in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, she graduated from Portland State University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Hannah enjoys writing articles about conservation, sustainability, and eco-friendly products. When she isn’t writing, you can find Hannah working on hand embroidery projects and listening to music. This article has been viewed 276,605 times.
11 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 18
Updated: December 22, 2022
Views: 276,605
Article SummaryX

To remove mild ink stains from a purse lining, start by pulling as much of the lining out of the purse as you can. Then, dip a clean cloth into a small amount of soap, like laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid, and dab at the stain with the cloth. Next, use another clean cloth dipped in water to dab the ink stain again. Repeat the process until the stain goes away before allowing the lining to dry and placing it back inside the purse. For more ink stain removal tips, like how to remove ink using hairspray or rubbing alcohol, keep reading!

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