Your Ultimate Guide to Removing Permanent Marker from Anything

I have received several comments and e-mails from my wonderful followers asking how to remove permanent marker from certain items. Having two kids of my own, I know the struggle of trying to remove permanent marker. After scrounging the internet for resources I finally came up with a ‘go-to’ list to help you remove permanent marker from just about anything.







The Ultimate Guide to Removing

Permanent Marker From Anything

 1. LEATHER UPHOLSTERY

Materials:

  • Aerosol Hairspray
  • Leather Conditioner
  • White Vinegar
  • Clean Rags

Directions:

  1. Using the aerosol hairspray, dampen a clean rag and gently wipe the marker stain. Switch tocleaner sections of the rag often and apply more hairspray as needed. 
  2. Using a clean, damp rag, wipe the area to remove any residue. Continue this process until all oFthe hairspray has been removed. 
  3. Once the cleaning is complete, be sure to apply a leather conditioner to restore moisture thatwas lost during the cleaning process.

2. MICROFIBER UPHOLSTERY

Materials:

  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Clean Towel
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Oxy Clean Spray

Directions:

  1. Add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to a towel and scrub the stain for approximately 10to 15 minutes. 
  2. Apply some rubbing alcohol to a second clean towel and scrub the stain for another 10 to 15minutes. 
  3. Using a clean, damp towel, continue scrubbing until the stain has been removed. 
  4. Remove any excess moisture by pressing firmly with a clean, dry towel.

3. ALL OTHER UPHOLSTERY

Materials:

  • Rubbing Alcohol, Windex, or Clear Nail Polish Remover.
  • Clean Towel
  • Dry Absorbent towel

Directions:

  1. Apply a small amount of one of the above items to a clean towel. I find that towels that closelymatch the color of your fabric work best (Light colored or white towels for light colored fabricand darker or black towels for darker colored fabric). 
  2. Using the wet (not soaked) part of the towel, pat the stain firmly. Continue patting and and addsolution as needed until stain is gone. Keep in mind that you do not want to soak your couch. 
  3. Once the stain has been removed you need to soak up the excess moisture from your upholstery.Use a clean, dry, and absorbent towel. Pat firmly until most of the liquid has been absorbed. 
  4. Place furniture outside or in a well ventilated area until completely dry.

4. WHITE CLOTHING

Materials:

  • Bleach

Directions:

  1. Mix a small amount of bleach with water and apply to the stained area. Soaking may berequired but keep in mind that bleach may eat away at some fabrics so keep a close eye on it.Once the stain has been removed wash immediately.

5. SATIN CLOTHING

Materials:

  • Thick Cloth or Towel
  • White Vinegar
  • Milk
  • Borax
  • Lemon Juice
  • Sponge

Directions:

  1. Lay your towel or thick cloth down. This is to protect your surface area from any stains. 
  2. Mix 1 tbsp each of the milk and white vinegar with 1 tsp each of the borax and lemon juice. 
  3. Apply mixture directly to your stain and let sit for 10 minutes. 
  4. Dampen your sponge with cold water and dab the stain until it has been removed.

6. ALL OTHER CLOTHING

Materials:

  • Acetone, Rubbing Alcohol, or Citrus Fruit
  • Clean Cloth or Cotton Ball

Directions:

  1. For most fabrics, I would suggest spot-cleaning the area with citrus fruit (orange, lemon, orlime). Squeeze the juice onto a clean rag and pat over the area or cut the fruit in half and dab thecut side over the stain until the stain has disappeared. Wash immediately. 
  2. For more delicate fabrics such as silk and satin, dilute the citrus juice in water before applying itto the fabric. Wash immediately. 
  3. If you are working with sturdier fabrics dampen a cotton ball with acetone or rubbing alcoholand pat onto the stain until the stain disappears. Wash immediately.

7. CONCRETE FLOORING

Materials:

  • Tape and Plastic
  • Goggles
  • Citrus-Based Biodegradable Chemical Remover
  • Stiff Brush
  • Pressure Washer

Directions:

  1. Cover and protect any drains, vents, and electrical outlets with plastic and tape before startingthis process. 
  2. Wear plastic goggles to protect your eyes. 
  3. Using a stiff brush, apply a citrus-based biodegradable chemical remover. 
  4. Scrub the area well to break up the stain. Following the directions on the pressure washer usethe lowest setting and spray your area. Start at one end and work in a back and forth,overlapping motion.

8. CARPET

Materials:

  • Rubbing Alcohol or Non-Oily Hairspray

Directions:

  1. Moisten the area with rubbing alcohol or non-oily hairspray and blot with a white towel. Youwill notice the stain being transferred to the towel. 
  2. Once cleaned, moisten the area with water and blot dry.

9. HARDWOOD FLOORING

Materials:

  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Clean Towel

Directions:

  1. Apply rubbing alcohol to clean cloth. 
  2. Rub the cloth directly on the stain and continue until the stain is removed.
  3. Rinse area with water and pat dry.

 

10. TILE, VINYL & LAMINATE FLOORING

Materials: (any one of the following)

  • Magic eraser 
  • Dry Erase Marker

Directions:(try any of the following methods)

  1. Magic eraser – Dampen the magic eraser with water and scrub over the stained area until the stain has been removed.
  2. Dry Erase Marker – Color over the stain with a dry erase marker then wiping it off with a cloth.

11.OTHER HARD SURFACES

Materials: (any one of the following)

  • Magic eraser 
  • Toothpaste and baking soda
  • Pencil Eraser 
  • Dry Erase Marker
  • WD-40

Directions: (try any of the following methods)

  1. Magic eraser – Dampen the magic eraser with water and scrub over the stained area until the stain has been removed.
  2. Toothpaste and baking soda – Mix 1 part toothpaste with one part baking soda and apply a small amount to the stain. Using a clean cloth, rub in a circular motion. This may take a little bit of work but it should come off.
  3. Pencil Eraser – Rub the eraser over the permanent marker to erase it.
  4. Dry Erase Marker – Color over the stain with a dry erase marker then wiping it off with a cloth.
  5. WD-40 – Spray some WD-40 on the affected area and scrub with a clean cloth.

12. ELECTRONIC SCREENS

Materials:

  • Baby Wipes

Directions:

  1. Gently rub the wipe over the marker until the stain has been removed.

OTHER PRODUCTS TO TRY:

• Hand sanitizer

• Bug spray

• Lighter fluid

• Sunscreen

• Baby wipes

• Hair spray

*Tip: You
can also reverse the process and use permanent marker to HIDE many marks and stains. Permanent markers now come in a wide variety of colors. Find a
color that closely matches the fabric or surface you are trying to fix and use the marker to color over
the area.

 

Related posts you may enjoy:

 

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This post originally published on DIY Home Sweet Home March 2012

35 thoughts on “Your Ultimate Guide to Removing Permanent Marker from Anything

  1. My honey collects and sells OLD video games. He bought some old Nintendo games, that a child had written his name on. In order to sell them, we needed to find a way to remove the permanent marker without damaging the plastic. We tried the magic eraser. It removed the marker ….but also removed the finish on the game. I just want to warn others out there, if your trying to remove names and personal info from plastic collectibles…DONT DO IT!!! It will mess up the plastic. Just a heads up!

    1. I've used the magic eraser multiple times on various cartridge games with no problem.

    2. I used hair spray on an expensive Neiman Marcus wood blazer and got all of the black magic marker stain out. I am soooo surprised and happy. I was about to cry thinking that my jacket could not be saved. Thank you soooo much, Judy.

    1. Try hairspray or hand sanitizer. Make sure you test in a small unnoticeable area first.

  2. yes the pen stains are gone but now how do you get rid of the stiff residue left behind

  3. The all purpose cleaner 'Awesome' takes almost any stain out, including permanent marker & lipstick

  4. Thank you for more ideas on how to remove permanent marker from the MIL's stone fireplace before she gets home from work tonight! :/

  5. Thank you for more ideas on how to remove permanent marker from the MIL's stone fireplace before she gets home from work tonight! :/

  6. Thank you for more ideas on how to remove permanent marker from the MIL's stone fireplace before she gets home from work tonight! :/

  7. Thank you for more ideas on how to remove permanent marker from the MIL's stone fireplace before she gets home from work tonight! :/

  8. Wow. I had this meeting where I needed to look perfect because the big boss (who's a real asshole) is coming in. I got my hubby so scared I'd get in trouble for my shirt not being white enough that he bleached the shirt and faded out the patches. I try to fix it with marker and it worked well until I tried to fill in the letters. It bled. Ugh. The hand sanitizer seemed to work at first but the ink bled onto the white shirt and it is purple now. I will have to try it when I have access to running water and can maybe just bleach it again. Bad Part: The ass is still gonna see my shirt but in much worse condition than just the bleaching.

  9. My nephew wrote on a couple pages on a very expensive coffee table book with a sharpie. Any suggestions for removing it?

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  11. 91% Isopropyl alcohol will take the magic marker off of CD cases with ease and causes no damage to plastic.

  12. I just tried some of these things, but the one that worked for me was mothers aluminum polish. It took it off effortlessly! Try it people

  13. rubber works on white board, letters writen 5 months ago with permanent marker disapperar in minuts, thanks awesom solution

  14. Thank you so much. Red and Green permanent markers were just used to make two wonderful Teenage Ninja Turtles though on a very expensive, light beige table. I figured the table was done for. I was really skeptical, even after reading this. While it took a little bit of time, toothpaste and baking powder did the trick and it looks good as new

  15. OMG this is a lifesaver!! We got a diary for school and i messed up writing my name neatly and then i found this!!! Thank GOD i found this

  16. Fast Orange will do the trick , FAST! GETs marker off furniture, counter tops, floors and more.

  17. Thanks for all the ideas. I just got a vintage wooden table at Goodwill. They priced it great-all over the wood.I'll try the Magic Eraser first and then go to the more intense methods. A tip for permanent marker on dry erase boards-a Clorox wipe takes the marker right off and leaves the board clean.

  18. This might sound stupid, but how do I know if my car indoor roof is microfiber or regular fabric?

  19. my nephew write in our cover set. i use acetone to removwe it. but it did'nt work it became to messy. the ink spread everywhere. what should i do my mom will angry if she knows it?

    1. Try applying rubbing alcohol directly to the stain and let sit for a few minutes then run through the washing machine. If you don't have rubbing alcohol then hand sanitizer or hair spray may work.
      ** alcohol could cause a bleaching effect. If this happens then try to find a permanent marker that matches the color of the shirt and color it in.

  20. Good idea. Just wondering how long I will be dabbing this shirt with alcohol for. I've been at this permanent marker stain for a while and there's minimal improvement

    1. Hmm. Good question Sharon.
      When I tried it on a shirt of mine I dabbed it for a few seconds then let it soak in for a minute or two. At that time the ink had faded but was still there. I ran the shirt through the wash using cold water then hung it up to dry. They I tried the alcohol again and the stain disappeared. Your results may vary depending on the type of fabric and ink.
      Let me know if it works. Good luck!!

  21. How do I get a black sharpie stain out of a black and white zebra chair. I tried peroxide, alcohol, and goof off. Some of stain came off but then it begin to bleed and got bigger.

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