How to remove Newsprint Ink from Denim
First 60 seconds
Do not reach for a rag and start scrubbing yet. Blot — do not wipe the newsprint ink from the denim, working from the outside edge of the stain inward so it cannot spread any further. A fine loose pigment that transfers on contact and smears wider with every rub, and tightly woven cotton twill that can bleed indigo dye if scrubbed too hard.
What you'll need
- Rubbing alcohol
- Dish soap
- Aerosol hairspray
Step by step
- Test first: dab your chosen agent on a hidden corner of the denim and wait 2–3 minutes to confirm no discoloration.
- Rubbing alcohol: dab with alcohol on a cotton pad, working from the edge in.
- Dish soap: mix a few drops with cold water into a light suds.
- Aerosol hairspray: spray directly on the mark, then blot before it dries.
- Rinse and blot dry with a clean cloth, then press with dry towels and change them until no more transfers onto the towel.
Do not do this
- Hot or warm water. Heat cooks the stain into the fibers, making it permanent.
- Rubbing the spot. It pushes the stain deeper and spreads it outward.
Common questions
Can I use hot water to remove newsprint ink from denim?
Hot water is not usually necessary, but on denim it is safer to stay with cool water regardless, since tightly woven cotton twill that can bleed indigo dye if scrubbed too hard.
Is it safe to scrub the stain out?
Scrubbing usually makes things worse. Blot or lift instead of rubbing, working from the outer edge inward so the stain does not spread.
What if the newsprint ink stain has already dried?
A dried stain takes longer and may need repeated treatments, but the same agents still work — just re-wet the area gently first to reactivate the stain before treating it.