SpotZeroEmergency Stain Triage
New stain

Ballpoint inkon wool & cashmere

Water
Cold water only (< 30°C)
Urgency
Act within the hour
Fibre care
No heat, no enzymes, no agitation — it felts

Phase 1: Immediate first aid

Use what you have right now. Nothing to buy.

  1. Blot & isolate

    Don't wet it. Slip a folded sheet of kitchen roll under the stain so the ink has somewhere to go. On wool: pat, don't rub — friction starts felting.

  2. Pantry pre-treatment

    You need

    15 ml Surgical Spirit / Isopropyl

    Surgical Spirit / Isopropyl: Around 70% strength, from any pharmacy. Not methylated spirits.

    Called something else where you are?
    Surgical Spirit / Isopropyl
    🇺🇸 🇨🇦Rubbing Alcohol
    🇬🇧Surgical Spirit / Isopropyl
    🇦🇺Isocol / Rubbing Alcohol
    🇳🇿Isopropyl Alcohol / Rubbing Alcohol
    🇩🇪Reinigungsalkohol / Isopropanol
    🇫🇷Alcool à 70°
    🇪🇸Alcohol isopropílico / Alcohol de farmacia

    Method

    Dab it on with a cotton pad — dab, don't rub — and move to a clean part of the pad as the colour transfers. Patch-test first; it can lift dyes and some wood finishes.

  3. Final flush & wash

    Rinse in cold water without agitating. Press the water out in a towel and dry flat, reshaping as you go. Don't tumble-dry.

Phase 2: Deep restoration

If a faint shadow remains after the initial rinse, or for fabrics that cannot tolerate water agitation:

Residual ghost-ring or dry-clean-only fibre?

Normal washing often won't shift the last trace of a set-in stain. Treat it with a targeted spotter before it goes anywhere near tumble-dryer heat — heat locks in whatever is left.

Professional grade

AlbaChem Dry Spotter

Solvent-based spotter for grease, oil, wax, make-up and ink. Works without water, so it suits fabrics that can’t be wet-cleaned.

Apply a few drops with a cotton bud, tamp gently, then flush as the label directs. Patch-test first.

Easy to find 🇬🇧
  • Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils
  • Vanish Oxi Action

Most oxygen stain removers aren't safe on silk, wool or leather — check the label, or go to a professional.

Build your laundry first-aid kit

Top 3 essential spotters for next time — one for each stain family.

  1. AlbaChem Dry Spotter
    Grease, oil, wax, make-up, ink
  2. Alba-Pro
    Blood, urine, grass, chocolate
  3. Alba-Tan
    Wine, coffee, tea, tomato, curry

Always patch-test on a hidden area first. Never mix bleach, ammonia, vinegar or peroxide together. For valuables, see a professional cleaner.