Removing ink stains from vinyl surfaces can be difficult since you must be very careful not to damage your design. Depending on the type of ink and the condition of your vinyl, removing the ink stains can be challenging because vinyl is sensitive to some chemicals. 

Luckily for you, this article provides the right approach to removing ink from specific types of vinyl surfaces such as flooring, couches, handbags, and vinyl heads without damaging them. Keep reading to learn more.

Once you’ve gathered these materials, there are a number of methods you can consider depending on the type of ink you’re dealing with and the state of your vinyl.

Vinyl items, such as records and table runners, can greatly affect their aesthetics once they get ink stains. Don't worry, these 7 methods below will help you easily remove these ink stains and restore your vinyl to like-new condition.

The commonly used rubbing alcohol is isopropyl of at least 70% alcohol concentration. Rubbing alcohol ensures excellent results when removing ink stains because it has the capability of breaking down the ink without being too harsh on most vinyl surfaces. Follow these simple steps to clean ink stains from your vinyl using isopropyl:

Step 1: You must first test the rubbing alcohol on a small part of your vinyl surface. This prevents accidents that might occur such as discoloration or any damage to your vinyl.

Step 2: If the solvent is not reactive to your vinyl, take a piece of clean cloth, even a cotton ball can work in this case. Insert the cotton ball or the cloth in isopropyl alcohol and let it soak for a moment.

Step 3: Now gently rub the soaked part of the cotton ball or the cloth on the stained areas of your vinyl surface in a circular motion. Avoid pressing hard when rubbing or you risk damaging your vinyl surface. As you go on rubbing, some of the solvent will be leaking from the cotton ball or the cloth, have a clean cloth nearby to wipe off the excess solvent. Repeat this process until the ink stains are completely removed.

Step 4: Once all the ink stains are removed from your vinyl, use warm water to wash the solvent residues and dry the surface with a dry cloth. Do NOT use any heating means to dry your vinyl surfaces.

Alcohol can be used in many ways, and it can also be used to remove sublimation ink from T-shirts.

Some ink stains can be a bit stubborn and using rubbing alcohol will not be as effective in removing them. In such cases, you can consider using a mild abrasive compound such as baking soda. Baking soda lets you clean off the ink stains without scratching your vinyl. Now let’s show you how to use it to remove stubborn ink stains:

Step 1: The first step is to come up with the right mixture. Mix some small amounts of water with baking soda in a bowl until it forms a paste-like solution. Now test the paste on a small part of your vinyl surface to make sure it works effectively.

Step 2: Using a soft piece of cloth/cotton ball or even your fingers, apply the paste gently on the stained areas of your vinyl in a circular fashion motion. Alternatively, you can gently scrub the paste on the vinyl surface in circular motions using a soft-bristle toothbrush or non-abrasive sponge and leave it for about 10 to 20 minutes.

Step 3: After the paste has dried, take a damp piece of cloth and wipe it off from the vinyl surface. Confirm if the stains are removed, if not, repeat the process until you’re satisfied with the results.

Step 4: Finally, rinse the vinyl surface with some warm water and dry it with a piece of cloth once all the ink stains have been removed.

White vinegar is considered a mild acid that breaks down ink stains without damaging your vinyl. After the ink loses its strength, mild dish soap is used to clean the ink stains from the vinyl surface. Here's how to remove ink stains from vinyl using white vinegar and dish soap.

Step 1: First of all, make a mixture of white vinegar and warm water in equal proportions. Add some drops of mid-soap dish to the mixture and stir. Now test the mixture on a small part of your vinyl surface to make sure it works perfectly.

Step 2: Once satisfied with the mixture, take a sponge or a soft-bristled toothbrush, dip it in the mixture, and scrub the ink-stained areas in a circular motion until they’re completely gone.

Step 3: Take some warm soapy water and rinse the surface. Pat it dry with a clean cloth. Again, do not use any heat to dry your vinyl surfaces.

A magic eraser such as melamine foam is mildly abrasive and can be used as an ink stain remover on some vinyl surfaces. This method is optional because if you’re not careful enough, you risk dulling the vinyl surface or damaging it. Follow these steps when using melamine foam to remove ink stains:

Step 1: The first step is to wet the melamine foam with some warm water. Wring out the excess moisture from the mixture. Now test mixture on a small part of the vinyl to make sure there are no possible damages.

Step 2: Now carefully rub the stained areas with the mixture in a circular motion. Make sure you don’t over-rub because the abrasive nature of melamine foam can dull your vinyl surface.

Step 3: Now dip a piece of clean cloth in warm soapy water and wipe any residues from the surface.

This method is best for stronger ink stains. All you need is a non-acetone nail polish remover from any local cosmetics shop around you and follow the following steps:

Step 1: First test the nail polish remover on a small part of the vinyl to see if there are any possible damages it might cause.

Step 2: Now use a soft cloth or a cotton swab dampened with the nail polish remover to gently rub over the ink stains. Repeat until all the ink stains are completely removed.

Step 3: Rinse the area with some warm water and wipe clean with a dry cloth.

This method is mostly preferred when dealing with older and stubborn stains. You can use the olive oil in your kitchen or purchase one from the local stores. Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Dap a soft piece of cloth with olive oil drops and gently rub on the stained area in a circular motion.

Step 2: Have a spare clean cloth to wipe off the excess oil as you repeat the process until the stain is completely removed.

Step 3: Now use a piece of clean cloth and warm soapy water to clean the ink residues and the oil from your vinyl surface.

You can also use ink & dye removers such as Geist especially when dealing with different types of leather materials such as Aniline, Suede, Nubuck, and PU. Here is how you use ink & dye removers on your leather vinyl surfaces.

Step 1: Ink & Dye removers react differently to vinyl surfaces. The first thing to do is to test the Ink & Dye Remover on a small part of the area you want to work on to check if there are any possible damages caused.

Step 2: Now take a piece of clean cloth or a sponge and gently dab the Ink & Dye Remover on the ink stains. Let the ink set in for a while or as per the instructions on the Ink & Dye Remover bottle or box. This is to give the chemicals in the ink remover to break down the ink stains.

Step 3: Now clean the spot with a soft cloth and warm soapy water. Repeat the above process if the ink stains still persist.

Step 4: Damp a cloth in soapy warm water and clean the surface to remove any residues of the ink remover. Make sure you follow all the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the ink & dye remover you’re using.

The ink stain-removing methods provided in this guide can give you the results you want at the moment. However, how you apply the steps in each method will determine if you’re going to have damage or not. This ranges from the component you use as your cleaning material and how you do the actual cleaning.

When using rubbing alcohol as a cleaning solvent, you need to avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach, acetone, or any other strong solvents. Harsh solvents will damage or discolor your vinyl so it’s advisable you stick to gentle solvents such as vinegar and isopropyl. 

Always test the solvent you’re about to use on an inconspicuous part of your vinyl before starting the cleaning process. This way, you can know what to expect when you apply the solution to the entire stained area.

Make sure you are using soft materials when rubbing on ink stains because abrasive materials can scratch and damage your vinyl surface. Use soft cloths, sponges, or soft-bristle toothbrushes for your rubbing and scrubbing. When dealing with big surfaces, divide your stained area into small sections and work from section to section. Focusing on a small part at a time ensures you don’t spread the ink to other areas of the vinyl. 

Ensure you have enough time to work on your stains if the stained area is big or seek help from a friend or a family member. Rushing the process will not give you the results you want especially when dealing with stubborn ink stains.

Always act fast when you stain your vinyl surfaces because fresh ink stains are much easier to remove compared to older stains. You should also regularly wash your vinyl surfaces with mild soap and warm water to prevent ink stains from building up over time. This will make your future ink removal processes much simpler and easier. 

Always keep your stained vinyl surfaces from high heat because heat increases the strength of the ink making it difficult to remove. You should cover your vinyl surfaces to prevent possible ink spills. Ensure unused pens and markers are capped and stored away.

Now that you know how to make your vinyl surfaces clean without damage or discoloration, gather the materials we’ve recommended and start making your designs look new again. Make sure you keep the tips provided in mind so that your ink-removing processes are always easy with satisfactory results. Your vinyl ink stain problems have been solved, kindly share this knowledge with friends and family so that they can be helped too.