How to Remove Ink From Paper?

There have been so many times when you have penned down an application only to make a mistake while writing and find yourself looking for another sheet of paper to start the whole thing all over again (It pains really). It can sometimes be quite annoying to not be able to undo the markings of a pen ink while writing in the journal, filling out a form, signing a document, making a note, and more. But worry not! You don’t have to toss the papers you made errors on in the bin just yet as there is a solution for your ink errors. 

Yes, discarding the writings you made an error on can be a thing of the past once you learn how to remove ink from paper. In this article, we will explore ways in which you can correct the errors that you made in ink and learn how to remove ink from paper so that the document you are working on looks brand new. 

Why Pen Ink Removal From Paper Is So Difficult? 

Pencil marks are erased off the paper so easily but not the pen marks. It is a task to get rid of the ink, even wondered why? Well, when you write with a pencil, the graphite sits on top of the paper and is easily removed by the eraser but the pens use ink which is absorbed by the paper. Thus, it doesn’t easily get off paper as it penetrates deep within. 

Whether it is the water-based ink that penetrates deep into the paper or oil-based ink that sticks to the material quite persistently, it is often difficult to remove ink from the paper until you start removing the paper itself. 

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Weird Hacks To Skip During Ink Removal 

There are many hacks making rounds that boast easy ink removal from paper. However, most of them harm the paper and are misleading. They don’t work effectively and are not worth trying at all. 

Here is a list of things not to try to have ink-free paper!  

• Bleach 
• Ammonia  
• Hair Spray  

The above-mentioned substances prove to be strong chemicals that when used to remove ink damage the paper and cause discoloration.  

How To Remove Ink From Paper?

Here are some of the effective ways you can employ to erase ink from paper! 

1. Sand Paper/Sand Eraser 

Rubbing off the ink with fine-grit sandpaper works to remove the ink marks from the paper. When you use this trick, rub the paper with ink using sandpaper by making small lateral motions. Do not press down too hard with it. Gentle presses would help you avoid major abrasions. Blow gently across the page to do away with any grit, ink, or paper left on the surface to see your progress. If there is still some ink stains left, rub some more. 

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2. Use Blade 

The second hack in erasing is using friction. Rubbing the ink off the paper with a blade best erases the printed letter. The trick is to hold the paper vertically to the area from which the ink needs to be erased and gently rub it using the blade. Ensure that you don’t rub too hard on paper as it can cause the layers of paper to come off which can create a hole in the paper. 

3. Ink Erasing Pens 

Ink-erasing pens come in handy to get rid of the errors you make on paper. Some of the writing pens employ washable ink which can be easily erased with eraser or ink eradicating pens. Hence, they can be used to cover and correct the mistakes easily.  

Also Read:  How To Clean Your Fountain Pen

4. Try Correction Fluid 

Cover the ink errors with fluid that’s a dense, white liquid used massively to erase any unintended markings on paper and help in corrections. Technically, it’s not ink removal but the correction fluid does the trick and achieves our ends of making the paper error-free. Correction fluid can appear dry, clogged, or flaky. Apply proper consistency and let it dry before writing anything on it. 

5. Use Correction Tapes 

Correction tapes are the most convenient and easy option when you want to erase ink in vertical or horizontal strips. It also does the job of covering the errors rather than removing the ink. Correction tape is plain on one side and has adhesive on the other. The most used correction tapes are white, however, other colors are also available to match the paper.

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6. Use Acetone 

Acetone works well in erasing ink from paper. Nail polish remover contains acetone and can remove ink from paper when applied in a small amount using a cotton swab. This is successful in removing regular ballpoint pen ink and works better on blue ink.  

7. Try alcohol For Ink Removal

Ink stains can be removed by rubbing alcohol on paper. Take a small quantity of the cotton swab and apply it to the ink you want removed. Avoid using rubbing alcohol that contains scents or dyes.

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Conclusion

The above-mentioned ways would prove to help save you time and energy invested in a do-over by easy removal of the ink from paper. Know that when you make mistakes on paper or mess up a little, it is not final that the work you have done so far has become useless at all. There are plenty of ways to correct your ink errors or cover them up so that your documents and writing look as good as new. Use one of the methods to erase ink from paper effectively.