{"id":1235,"date":"2016-06-28T22:29:09","date_gmt":"2016-06-28T22:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/?p=1235"},"modified":"2023-05-25T21:50:51","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T21:50:51","slug":"how-to-clean-up-printer-ink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-up-printer-ink\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean Up Printer Ink"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the unfortunate costs of being able to get great quality prints from your home or office is the risk of spilling ink. While a spill on your desk or table may be easy to wipe up, when it gets on your clothes, carpet, or your person, things get messy fast. Modern ink cartridges are designed to keep ink contained so it doesn\u2019t spill or dry out, but occasionally mistakes will happen. Thankfully, there are easy and inexpensive ways to limit the amount of damage ink cartridge spills can cause. No single cleaning method is foolproof, but getting to work blotting out spills fast—and doing it the right way—can prevent ink from setting in sensitive fabrics, and make it much easier to prevent permanent stains. Here are some of our favorite helpful tips for when you need to clean up printer ink: <\/span><\/p>\n

Remove Ink From Your Hands<\/b><\/h4>\n

Getting ink off your hands is surprisingly easy and there are several approaches you can take (depending on what you have lying around the house, that is). The simplest method is scrubbing with soap and cold water for a few minutes, rinsing and repeating until the ink is gone. This can be a tad bit laborious, as the soap doesn\u2019t actively break up the ink on a molecular level. If you\u2019re looking to wash the ink away faster, hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which starts to break up the ink compounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Removing Ink From Fabric<\/b><\/h4>\n

Getting spilled ink out of your clothes can be a much more difficult task. Unlike your skin, ink is quickly absorbed into fabric and stubbornly sticks there. If you want any hope of getting the stain out, you have to act quickly before it dries. Once the ink is dried, it\u2019s difficult\u00a0to lift out of your garment. Another key thing to remember: use cold water. Warm water will actually push the ink into setting faster. Always use cold water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Step one in dealing with ink on your clothing is diluting the ink with cold water. Dab the spill with a damp paper towel until the ink excess stops coming off on the paper towel. Let it air dry for a minute or so. Your next step is trying to release the rest of the ink from your fabric using a solvent that will break up the stain without damaging or bleaching your garment. Rubbing alcohol will dilute and release the ink, as will hairspray in many cases. Damp two paper towels with your solution of choice and sandwich the stain between the two. Start blotting the stain from both sides to lift the ink. As you are pressing, be sure to keep using fresh parts of the paper towel to avoid re-applying the ink you\u2019ve just removed from your shirt. Repeat this cycle a couple times until the ink is gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Removing Ink From The Carpet<\/b><\/h4>\n

Spilling printer ink on your rug presents a unique challenge, but not one that you can\u2019t handle. Your first step is to blot the stain with a damp paper towel, going from the outside of the ink toward the center. Do this until the paper towel is no longer picking up ink when you apply pressure. Take a cotton towel or rag and dampen it with rubbing alcohol. Blot the ink from the outside inward once again to loosen the ink particles from the fibers in your carpet. If this isn\u2019t breaking up the stain, try using hydrogen peroxide. In most cases, if the ink sets at full dilution it will be near impossible to pull up from your carpet, even using professional grade rug shampooers and stain removers. Working quickly to pull up as much ink as you can before it sets is key. <\/span><\/p>\n

One key takeaway from each of these ink spill scenarios is the importance of working quickly before the ink sets. For this reason, it\u2019s smart to always have the supplies you need to clean up a mess on hand and ready to go. Having rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and\/or clean towels next to you when you replace cartridges will save you from running around hunting for supplies in the event a spill happens. Also, using disposable gloves when replacing cartridges will help you avoid getting your hands messy. In most situations, ink cartridges won\u2019t leak enough where they will damage anything, but if you are refilling a cartridge yourself or replacing a cartridge that isn\u2019t completely empty, it\u2019s best to be prepared.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is no question that printer ink can be stubborn to remove from your hands, carpet, and surfaces, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be done. Remember to act quickly and use appropriate cleaning materials to avoid permanent stains. And if you’re looking for reliable printer cartridge alternative, LD Products<\/a> offers premium printing solutions that won’t break the bank, so you get a quality printing experience at a great price. Happy printing and stay clean!<\/p>\n

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Thank you for reading this post! This article is written by a team of ink experts at LD Product<\/a>s<\/span> - a Long Beach, California-based company that specializes in compatible ink and toner<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 With over 20 years of printing expertise, we\u2019re committed to helping you save money on printer ink without sacrificing quality.\u00a0 If you found this content helpful, we\u2019d be grateful if you supported us by visiting LDProducts.com<\/a><\/span> for all of your ink and toner needs.\u00a0 We appreciate your support!<\/td> <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n