How to Get Printer Ink Off Your Hands

Replacing printer ink cartridges shouldn’t be dirty business but once in a while it can be. When you remove an old ink cartridge and the thing leaks all over your hands, you’ll want to clean it up quick. Sometimes good ol’ soap and water will do the trick but if the stain proves to be more stubborn then don't worry - there are a few household items you can use to get rid of the mess.

Here are a few things you may have lying around your home to help you remove ink from your skin:

Tea Tree Oil

This essential oil is great for your skin, it helps reduce acne and it also helps remove printer ink from your hands.

Put a few drops on a clean dry cloth and scrub away. Keep doing so until the ink has been removed. The smell can be quite abrasive for some, so be sure to use it in a well ventilated area. The odor won't cause you any harm, it just has a distinct smell that most people find quite unpleasant.

Hair Spray

There are certain ingredients in hair spray that are known to dissolve printer ink, predominately the alcohol they contain. Give your hands a spray and let it sit for a few seconds to loosen the ink. Rub the area a bit and then rinse your hands with soap and water. We should note that this trick relies heavily on your hair spray containing alcohol. So, if your hair spray is the non-alcohol variety, then opt for another option on this list. Like...

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing Alcohol is great for removing ink stains on your hands and on fabric. You'll want to use a clean cloth and rub the liquid into your skin gently until the ink is removed. Again, wash your hands afterwards and be sure to moisturize. With respect to fabric, make sure to test the area you're trying to clean up first. Don't just douse the carpet or your couch in rubbing alcohol. Once you know it'll be ok, apply the alcohol to the area and let it sit for a few minutes, then start blotting it with a clean cloth making sure to use clean areas of the cloth so you don't reapply the ink to the fabric you are trying to clean up.

Glass Cleaner

The ammonia in glass cleaners is particularly good at dissolving printer ink that gets on your skin. Just spritz some glass cleaner on the ink and let it sit for a bit. Then commence rubbing your hands to get the ink out. Give your hands a rinse and you should be good to go.

Baby Oil

The oily texture breaks up the toner or ink stains on your skin while leaving you feeling baby soft. Just dab some on and scrub with a cloth to remove the ink on your skin.

Bleach

When all else fails, use bleach but be sure to dilute it. Use 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and soak your hands for a bit. The bleach should remove the remaining ink from your hands. After you have cleaned your hands and washed them thoroughly with soap and water, be sure to moisturize. Bleach is quite strong and must be used with caution.