How to Remove Ink from a Lamp Shade

Table of Contents:

You Will Need
Steps to Remove the Stain
Additional Tips and Advice

Alicia asked: How do I remove ink from a lamp shade? I recently purchased a Winnie the Pooh lamp for my daughter’s room. The shade has Pooh bear designs on it, but in parts, has ink splatters. How can I safely remove these stains?

Ink on decorative lampshades can be tricky to remove. While the ink you want to remove may come out, it may take some of the decorative print with it. Use great caution as you proceed to clean. It is best to always spot test a hidden area first to see how colorfast the original design is. Then, to spot clean ink from lamp shades, give this classic home remedy a try.

You Will Need:

Rubbing alcohol
Q-tips or cotton swabs
Lint roller or vacuum cleaner with brush attachment
Lint free cloth

Steps to Remove the Stain:

If the lamp shade is dusty, first remove the dust with a lint roller (flat shades) or a vacuum with a brush attachment (pleated shades).
Once you’ve removed any loose dust, soak the end of a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently dab it directly against the ink.
Switch to a clean swab frequently, taking care not to transfer ink from the swab to the lamp shade.
If the shade is fabric and gets too wet, press a clean, lint free cloth against the surface to blot away excess moisture.

Additional Tips and Advice

Test for color fastness in a hidden area before you begin.
Do not rub cotton swabs or cloths against the shade. Doing so may damage the fabric and/or spread the ink stain. Always use a gentle blotting or rolling motion instead.
For some types of fabric, you may have better luck with hairspray than rubbing alcohol. To control the application of hairspray and avoid spraying areas of the lamp shade unaffected by ink, dip the Q-tip directly into the spray bottle or, for an aerosol can, spray it directly into the lid and dip the Q-tip in the bowl.