Many times we tried desperately to remove the ink stains without any results. The stains are damaging the look on whatever material they occur. Try some tips on how to clean the ink stains on different surfaces.

FOR GRASS, FLOWER, AND FOLIAGE STAINS on non-washable materials try sponging with denatured alcohol or benzene. Rinse by sponging with clear water.

Ink stains, pencil marks and crayon hieroglyphics have a way of getting around the place easily if there are small fry in the family.

INDELIBLE PENCIL. Water will spread a stain made by an indelible pencil, so don't try it. Sponge the stain with alcohol, or diluted alcohol, or soak the material in it, after making sure by testing that the dyes will stand it. Remaining traces may be washed out, or sponged away with soap and water, or bleached. Use household bleach on white cottons and linens, excepting those with crease-resistant finishes. Apply it directly to the stain and let it remain no longer than one minute. Rinse promptly and thoroughly. Government home economists recommend using an anti-chlor solution as a final rinse (two tablespoonfuls of white vinegar in a cup of water) to stop the destructive action of the bleach. Materials that household bleach might damage can be sponged with peroxide containing a little sodium perborate.

LEAD PENCIL MARKS can sometimes be erased off or washed off fabrics. Sponge woolens with a half-and-half solution of water and alcohol.

FOR CRAYON MARKS on washables, apply soap or detergent and hot water. If traces remain, sponge them with diluted alcohol. Crayon marks on non-washable materials can usually be sponged off with carbon tetrachloride or other cleaning fluid.

INK STAINS while tough, are not hopeless. There are many kinds of writing ink and the removal method depends somewhat upon the kind that has made the stain. Most ballpoint inks can be removed by sponging the stain repeatedly with acetone or cleaning fluid. Acetone is harmless to most fabrics, but it damages acetate, Dynel, and Arnel. Some inks will wash out, while others are set by washing. If you can test the ink by making a similar stain on a piece of fabric of the kind you want to wash, do that first.

INK ON RUGS. Washable inks can be removed by using a damp absorbent cloth. For ballpoint inks, use cleaning fluid. For permanent inks, consult a professional cleaner.

INK ON CLOTHES AND LINENS. Modern textile chemists today say that the safest first step toward removal of all stains caused by writing inks (other than ballpoint) on clothing and table linens, is to soak the stained fabric in cool water for thirty minutes, or even overnight. After soaking, rub them with soap or a synthetic detergent and wash in warm suds. If traces remain they can be bleached. Use household bleach on cottons, linens, and synthetics with special finishes. On special finishes use a sodium perborate hot bleach solution, made by adding a tablespoonful or two of sodium perborate to a cup of very hot water. Treat any remaining yellow stain like an iron rust stain. (See Index.)

AMMONIA TREATMENT FOR INK. Certain types of ink can be removed or made inconspicuous by sponging with an ammonia solution. Use one tablespoonful of ammonia to a cup of water. Sponge the stain repeatedly because the ink stain tends to reappear as the fabric dries. Use the ammonia treatment for silk, wool, and Vicara, and wrinkle-resistant cottons, which would be damaged by household bleach, or by the sodium perborate solution applied hot. Sponge silk, wool, or Vicara, first with cool water to remove as much of the ink as possible, then with the ammonia solution. If the stain does not disappear completely sprinkle it with a non-precipitating water softener such as Calgon, place a wet pad of cotton on it, and let this remain for an hour or longer. Finally rinse the cloth carefully. If the spot still shows, make a hot solution of commercial dye stripper, apply a few drops, and rinse promptly. Most dyes will stand this quick treatment, but test colored cloth first in an inconspicuous place, such as a seam. You may have to repeat the process. A yellow stain remaining should be treated as an iron rust stain. (See Index.)

We should avoid using water on the pencil stain, as it will spread the stain. But try to sponge the stain with alcohol. Crayon marks can be washed using detergent and hot water. While ink stains even it is tough, but can be tried. Use some ink removal or cleaning fluid. For grass, flower of foliage stains, try hot water with soap or detergent, if the fabrics are non-washable try sponging with alcohol. Washable ink can be removed from the rugs using damp absorbent cloth. For ink on clothes and lines soak the stained fabric in cool water for thirty minutes, or even overnight. After soaking, rub them with soap or a synthetic detergent and wash in warm suds. Certain ink can be removed using ammonia solution.