Position the ink stain against a paper towel by turning it inside out to absorb the excess ink. Then, using a cotton ball, gently press over the ink to blot excess ink, if any. Pour a generous amount of rubbing alcohol on a cloth, gently dab the ink, and then wash as usual.
If you’ve stained your favorite garment with highlighter ink or makeup, don’t worry! You can easily remove either of these stains with a little elbow grease and common household products such as rubbing alcohol, shaving cream, etc.
In this article, we will teach you how to remove highlighter ink and highlighter makeup in detail. So, let’s dive right in and save what’s left of your piece of clothing.
Does Highlighter Come Out of Clothes: Here’s How
The sooner you tackle highlighter ink stains, the higher your chances of success, so act as soon as you notice the stain.
The following cleaning methods include regular products that can get highlighter ink out of your garments in record time.
Method 1: Rubbing Alcohol
Lay a paper towel or clean towel underneath the stains so that you can absorb any ink that might bleed out of the affected area during the cleaning process.
Make sure the towel faces the back of the stain by turning the t-shirt or whatever you have stained inside out.
Step 1
Dip a clean towel or yellow sponge in rubbing alcohol, then pat the area around the stain so that when you apply alcohol directly to the stain, it will spread into the area that’s already soaked with rubbing alcohol and won’t get any deeper.
Step 2
If you don’t have alcohol at hand, you can also use hand sanitizer. Whether you use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, apply a generous amount of the solution to a cloth and rub the stain.
The highlighter ink will transfer from your garment to the paper towel underneath. If the paper gets soaked with the ink, use a new one.
Keep in mind that rubbing alcohol dries very quickly, so there’s no need to let the stain soak in the solution for a very long time.
Step 3
Once the ink vanishes, spray the affected area with a stain remover and wash your garment as usual in the washer.
Use a warm setting to wash the garment. If there’s no stain after the washing, place your garment in the dryer. If the stain remains, repeat the same process.
Method 2: Ink and Stain Remover
If you opt for a stain remover, make sure you check the instructions on the package. Most commercial ink and stain removers work on dry fabric, so your shirt should be completely dry so that it doesn’t end up diluting the ink and stain remover.
We recommend using Amodex as it’s a very effective ink and stain remover.
Step 1
Rub the stain remover into the ink stain using a dry washcloth, brush, or sponge in a circular motion. Continue rubbing it in until the stain begins vanishing. Apply more of the product if necessary.
Step 2
Once you’re done, toss your garment in the washer by itself or with other treated items. Make sure the stain is gone before putting your garment in the dryer, as dryer heat can set stains.
Method 3: Baking Soda and Vinegar
You can use vinegar and either baking soda or cornstarch. They’re equally effective at removing highlighter ink stains.
Keep in mind that since they’re more natural products, the process might take a little longer as baking soda and vinegar need more time to provide results.
Still, it’s worth a try as they’re cheap and easily available. They can successfully get stubborn stains out of clothes, including red wine stains.
Step 1
First, soak the stain with vinegar. You can drape your garment over a bucket, then apply the vinegar over the affected area.
Step 2
Mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 3 tablespoons of either cornstarch or baking soda. Create a thick paste, and using your fingers, rub it into the stains.
Step 3
Let the paste sit overnight. The next day, shake off the dry leftovers and wash in the washing machine using your favorite detergent.
Method 4: Hair Spray
Hair spray can also help remove highlighter ink from clothes. So, go ahead and get your hair spray but before you use it, make sure it contains alcohol.
Keep in mind that newer hair products don’t have alcohol, but if yours does, you can use it to get stains out of your garments, especially synthetic fabrics.
Step 1
Spray the affected area. Apply a generous amount until the stained area feels wet. Let the hair spray sit for about 15 minutes.
Step 2
After 15 minutes, the hair spray will be hardened and cracked around the edges. So, soak your garment in a sink or tub with cold water.
If the method works, wash your garment as usual in the washer. If the stain persists, repeat the process.
Method 5: Salt and Water
Salt can help remove different stains, including ink, oil, and blood stains, so definitely give it a try.
Step 1
Mix 1/2 cup of salt with enough water to create a thick paste. Then, apply the paste to the stained area of your garment. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing with cold running water. Finally, wash as usual in the washer.
Step 2
If this method doesn’t work, pour a spoonful of dry salt into the affected area and let it sit for about 55 minutes. Then, submerge the stain in a small bowl of milk.
Let the garment soak overnight. The next day, rinse the milk out under cold running water and wash as usual in the washer using your favorite laundry detergent.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t use salt on dry-clean-only materials. Also, get all of it out of your clothes, as lingering salt could cause damage to most fabrics.
Extra tip: Adding 1/2 cup of table salt to your wash can prevent bleeding ink when washing brand new clothes for the first time.
Method 6: Lemon Juice
Lemon juice can successfully remove different stains, including ink, sweat, and even mildew. Lemon has a strong whitening ability, so it’s great for lightening light-colored garments.
Step 1
Cut a lemon in half and rub it gently across the stain. Then, use a handheld steamer or steam iron. Hold the unit close to the fabric, so the steam saturates the stain, then rinse under water.
Step 2
If the above step doesn’t work, fill a small bowl with lemon juice. Make sure it’s fresh, as fresh juice works best for stain removal. If you don’t have fresh lemon juice on hand, you can also use bottled lemon juice.
Step 3
Then, put the stained part of your clothing piece into the bowl so that the highlighter ink stain can soak in the juice. If it’s a fresh stain, let it soak for about 1 hour. If it’s a stubborn stain, let it soak overnight.
Step 4
Afterward, use 1 tablespoon of salt to rub the juice into the affected area and remove the stain completely. Finally, rinse under cold water and wash as usual in the washer with your favorite detergent.
Method 7: Laundry Detergent
If you don’t have any of the products above, you can try regular laundry detergent to remove highlighter ink stains, especially if they’re water-soluble.
Remember that washing your garment probably won’t remove the stain in full, but applying undiluted laundry detergent directly onto the stain can get the job done.
Step 1
If it’s a fresh stain, blot as much of it as possible using paper towels or clean towels. Then, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of your favorite laundry detergent onto the stain.
Step 2
Avoid rubbing the stain, as this can set the highlighter ink even deeper into the fibers of your garment.
Step 3
Make sure it’s completely covered in laundry detergent and let it sit for 15 minutes. Finally, wash your garment as usual in the washer with no other clothes.
Otherwise, the ink could transfer onto other clothing items during the wash. Once it’s done, make sure the stain is completely removed before putting it in the dryer.
If it’s not, repeat the same process until the stain vanishes.
Method 8: Dry Cleaning Solvent
If you stain a very expensive dry-clean-only garment, you should use a dry cleaning solvent to remove the stain as other products can damage the material.
Most dry cleaning solvents usually have tetrachloroethylene, a chemical also known as perchloroethylene. They’re also flammable and toxic, so act with care.
WARNING: Don’t put a garment treated with a dry-cleaning solvent into the washer or dryer as the heat can ignite the flammable chemical. Instead, wash your garment by hand.
Step 1
Test the dry cleaning solvent on a hidden part of your stained garment to ensure it doesn’t damage the fabric. If you don’t see any discoloration, blot the stain using a cloth soaked in the solvent.
Step 2
Continue blotting until the stain vanishes. Apply more solvent if necessary. Finally, wash your garment by hand.
How to Get Highlighter Makeup Out of Clothes?
You can get highlighter makeup out of clothes using makeup remover wipes or clear adhesive tape. If it’s a liquid highlighter, use mild soap and water.
Shaving cream can also help remove it, especially if it’s a tough stain.
Apply a small amount of shaving cream to the stain, let it sit for 10 minutes, and wipe away with a white cloth dipped in water or rinse under cold water.
FAQs on Does Highlighter Come Out of Clothes
Does highlighter wash out of clothes?
Unfortunately, highlighter ink doesn’t simply wash out of clothes. You need to lift the ink stain with common cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, lemon juice, or laundry detergent and then wash as usual in the washer.
Does rubbing alcohol bleach clothes?
Luckily, rubbing alcohol doesn’t bleach clothes. Therefore, you can use this product to get stains out of clothes, including highlighter ink stains.
