TIL that a stubborn ink stain on a thrifted denim jacket isn't the end of the world

I was so pumped to find this vintage Levi's denim jacket at my local thrift spot, perfect fit and everything. But then I noticed this huge blue ink stain on the sleeve, and my heart just sank. I almost put it back, thinking it was ruined, but something made me take it home anyway. Spent hours online searching for fixes, tried rubbing alcohol, hairspray, nothing worked. Was about to give up when I stumbled on a forum thread about using milk to lift ink stains. Sounded crazy, but I soaked the stain in whole milk overnight, and it actually faded significantly. Followed up with a gentle scrub with dish soap, and now you can barely see it. So glad I didn't let that stain stop me, and now I have a killer jacket for basically nothing.

2 comments

2 Comments

drew_park8h ago

You know, I used to roll my eyes at these old wives' tales about cleaning, thinking they were just placebo effects. In my experience, commercial stain removers were the only reliable fix, so hearing about milk for ink stains seemed absurd. But after reading your success with the denim jacket, I'm reconsidering everything. I once had a red wine spill on a cotton tablecloth and, in desperation, used white vinegar and salt, which worked surprisingly well. Your mileage may vary, but it makes me wonder how many other kitchen staples are secretly cleaning powerhouses. I guess sometimes the simplest solutions are hiding in plain sight.

troyh349h ago

Heard about using milk for ink stains from an old laundry book my mom had. It explained how the fats in whole milk can break down certain dyes without harming the fabric. I tested it on a white shirt after a pen leaked in my backpack, and it lifted the stain right out. Your jacket rescue mission totally proves that sometimes the weirdest solutions are the best. Makes me want to dig through more of those old household tips for forgotten gems. What's the most unexpected item you've found useful for cleaning something?

-1