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What to do when messy newspaper ink gets on your clothes and furniture

Love reading the morning paper but hate all the ink stains and smudges? Here's how to save your outfits and furniture from newspaper ink.
/ Source: TODAY

As many a newspaper reader has learned, ink from the pages may literally rub off on you, your clothes and even on your couch, leaving you with a big mess in a small amount of time. But you don’t have to forego reading your favorite daily because of a few stains. Just follow the cleaning advice of Molly Maid President Meg Roberts and your newspaper experience will be anything but bad news.

How to remove newspaper ink from clothes

  1. First, turn the garment inside out. Squeeze a few drops of anti-grease liquid dish soap onto the back of the stained area and work it in.
  2. Let it sit for five minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush.
  3. Machine wash using the warmest water the fabric allows.
  4. Make sure the stain is gone before putting the garment in the dryer or else the stain may set.

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How to remove newspaper ink from furniture and upholstery

  1. First, squeeze a few drops of anti-grease liquid dish soap onto the stained area.
  2. Because newspaper ink transfers easily, focus on the stained spot. For dry clean only materials, cover with tissue paper and iron on a low setting to transfer the ink to the paper.
  3. Next, rinse out the stain remover.
  4. Blot the stained area with cool water and a clean white cloth. Allow the item to air dry or dry it with a hair or clothes dryer.

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How to remove newspaper ink from carpets

  1. Wet a corner of a clean white cloth with rubbing alcohol.
  2. Starting at the edge of the stain and working towards the center, blot (don't rub) the stained area. Note: the cloth may need to be rewetted with more rubbing alcohol.
  3. Allow the alcohol to sit on the stain for about 30 minutes.
  4. To avoid damage to the carpet, rinse the area with a mixture of ¼ cup of vinegar and 1 quart of warm water.
  5. If the stain is gone, rinse with clean water and let dry.
  6. If the stain persists, cover it with shaving cream and let sit for 15 minutes.
  7. Then, proceed with the vinegar and water mixture.