If you have the offending pen, go to the website of any online office supply store and search for the name/model of the pen. The product description will tell you if it is a ballpoint, rollerball, or gel pen. You can also check the pen manufacturer’s website for more information, and product-specific ink-removal instructions.
Be sure to tell the dry cleaner what kind of pen caused the stain, or better yet, put the pen in a plastic bag to prevent further staining, and bring it with you.
Prepackaged hand-wipes and some brands of baby wipes will also do the trick in a pinch.
If you are using a wipe, blot the fabric firmly, trying to really squeeze the solvent into the stain. You can also leave the wipe on the fabric, and place something heavy on top of it (like a dinner plate weighted with a book, or can of food) for several minutes.
Alcohol-based products can dry out quickly, so dab/spray more on as needed to keep the stained-area damp long enough for the ink to break down.
If the stain is completely gone, you can launder the shirt as usual. If the stain is not gone, repeat the above method, or try one of the methods for other types of ink.
Your stain should be entirely, or at least mostly gone at this point.
If the stain is responding to this treatment, repeat as needed until the ink is gone, and launder as usual. If the ink is not coming out, continue on to the next step. NEVER mix ammonia with chlorine bleach.
If this method removed some, but not all of the ink, repeat until the stain is gone.
