How to Clean Permanent Marker

{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }

Lynn December 1, 2007 at 4:04 pm

No one knows why this works, but it does. If you get permanent marker or ink on a hard surface and you need to get it off, spray the ink with hairspray, let the hairspray set for thirty seconds and then wipe it off. Most of the ink will come off with it, and you can clean the rest off with soap and water.

Lynn December 1, 2007 at 5:40 pm

It really does work on everything, including marker messes. Rub the mark with the Eraser and it will just disappear. Some surfaces don’t like the Eraser much, though, so check the package before you use it on something important.

Lynn December 1, 2007 at 5:40 pm

My sister got some marker stains off her couch by using nail polish remover. Just dab the remover all over the ink, then blot off the ink and remover with a rag – don’t rub, you’ll end up smearing the marker and making a bigger mess. If the smell bothers you, spray the couch with Febreeze.

Lynn December 1, 2007 at 5:41 pm

My daughter and her friends just love doodling on each other’s arms and hands with whatever marker they can find, so we’ve had to do this a lot. You can take off the marker skin art with Noxema, even if they used a Sharpie. Rub the Noxema in, then rinse it off with cold water. Keep doing it until the artwork is gone.

Lynn December 1, 2007 at 5:41 pm

This is the only product I’ve ever found that will really get permanent marker marks off of anything, including clothing. It’s great stuff, but you have to be careful using it because it has very strong fumes. Follow the instructions on the package exactly and the marker stain will come right off of whatever it happens to be on.

Roslyn Gilhuly March 2, 2008 at 4:32 pm

To remove permanent marker from hardwood floors, simply spray bug spray on the area, leave for 10 seconds, and wipe off. Just be careful to wipe the area down with water or another floor cleaner after you’ve removed the ink. The bug spray residue will make the area slippery.

Toni April 24, 2008 at 8:04 pm

Rubbing alcohol and cotton balls.

Dab the cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and apply to mark lightly. The permanent marker stain is gone almost immediately. Rinse with plain water on a clean dish cloth.

Jane July 15, 2008 at 6:42 pm

To remove permanent marker from a dry erase board:
Color over the permanent marker with a dry erase marker,
it will wipe right off.

Allana September 15, 2008 at 4:39 am

Use hairspray. It works great. Just get an old rag and dab the clothes with hairspray. It will take a very long time. But eventually it will come off.

Hope This Helps!!

jayanti.g.Shankar September 21, 2008 at 12:41 am

Use Vinegar, dip soft cloth in vinegar and rub it on the marker stain, repeat the process if the stains are stubborn..it does help.

Naveen December 6, 2008 at 7:32 pm

Rubbing Alcohol available in the Pharmacy Section of most stores (Target , K-mart , Walmart ..) definitely works in getting rid of permanent marker stains on hardwood floors.

zoey alveraldo December 7, 2008 at 9:56 pm

if you use calone it will actullay come off just let it stay for 1 min. and it’s off

if no luck with that you can use hairspray or an eraser and erase away

Marlene December 26, 2008 at 12:40 am

BLACK Sharpie marker on oak table. Mr Clean Magic Eraser wiped it off as though it was never there! The finish was slightly dulled but after a spray with furniture polish it was as good as new.

Amber February 21, 2009 at 11:38 pm

Spray some chlone(however u spell it!). I got it on this leather type surface. Sprayed some and worked fab. Toothpaste dosen’t always work or dry erase markers, or nail polish remover(Worked O.K.), or Mr.Clean dry erase thang haha. Something like AXE!!!!!

Danielle February 27, 2009 at 4:28 pm

My 2 year old got a hold of a thick black permanent marker and covered EVERYTHING in the living room. Toothpaste was amazing. It got it off of the hardwood floors, entertainment center, plastic toys, coffee table, rocking chair…every non-fabric surface.

Tom April 16, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Finger nail polish remover – takes seconds to remove from metal. Quick and perfect removal

steve April 18, 2009 at 4:12 pm

it ''works''

all you need is alcohal on hard wood surfaces poor on let it sit there maybe two minutes use cotton ball or rag problem is gone

Leland May 31, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Hairspray!

I just got done using hairspray to take it off a white board!!! It took me less than 5 min. I would recomend this method to anyone, over and over again!

Paula October 15, 2009 at 11:25 am

After finding Black Sharpie on leather chair, skin, clothing and a table, I used alcohol to remove ALL the stains. It didn’t dull the leather or the finish on the table.

Twihard Adri November 7, 2009 at 10:19 pm

Okay, so I got a pink shirt. Next day, TOTTALY ruined with permanent marker. Used my Oxie Clean degergant, didn’t work. Tried vingar and water mixed together, now you can barely see the stain!! Can only see if you look super close. I will and forever recomend this to anyone who askes!!

hank November 15, 2009 at 8:19 pm

Sharpie red out of cotton

dipped white cotton piece of cloth (wash cloth) in rubbing alchol. Wet stained area with alcohol. Kept blotting ink area with clean cloth areas. stain completely lifted

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