Removing Ink Stains.
Tear blotting paper in pieces and hold the rough edges on the ink when it is freshly spilled. If you have no blotting paper at hand, cover the spot with Indian meal; or, the liquid ink may be absorbed by cotton batting. The first care should be to prevent the ink from spreading. If ink be spilled upon a carpet, cut a lemon in two, remove a part of the rind, and rub the lemon on the stain. As the lemon becomes stained with the ink, slice it off, and rub with the clean part. Continue this until the stain is removed.
If the stained article be washed immediately in several waters and then in milk, letting it soak in the milk for several hours, the stain will disappear.
Washing the article immediately in vinegar and water, and then in soap and water, will remove all ordinary ink stains.
Washing at once in water and then in liquid citric acid or oxalic acid is another mode. Oxalic acid is very corrosive and should be removed from the article by a thorough washing in water. If, after the washing, the article be wet with household ammonia, any acid remaining will be neutralized.
No matter what substance be used to remove ink, the stain must be rubbed well. If the article stained be a carpet on the floor, use a brush. As the acids often affect the colors in a fabric, it is wise to try the water and milk or the water and vinegar method before resorting to the acids. Chemicals should always be the last resort, unless one be rather familiar with their action.
My own experience is that it is a most difficult matter to remove the stains of some kinds of black ink if they have stood for a few hours; whereas, other kinds, notably stylographic ink spots, can be removed easily with soap and water.