How to Get Sharpie Marker Off From Any Surface

_{No matter what you’re trying to remove marker stains from, you’ll find the best way to do it here. Find out how to get sharpie marker off of anything.}

How to Remove Permanent Marker Stains

As a mom, sharpie markers have become my best friend. And because of this, you will find one in our junk drawer, office, and car console. Sharpie permanent markers are one of the greatest inventions. You can mark your items clearly, and permanently, but what if you mark something accidentally?

Or worse, you accidentally leave a Sharpie marker within reach of a toddler who proceeds to mark everything…permanently. Don’t panic, as it turns out there are ways to remove Sharpie marks from all kinds of things. No matter what you’re dealing with, you will find a solution on the list below!

removing marker from almost everything - pictured different colors of markers

Wood Furniture or Flooring

Has your permanent marker bled through the paper onto your wooden table or worse, has your toddler turned the hardwood floor into an art project? There are a few different household items that you can use to remove Sharpie off of wood.

The first household item that you can use to try to remove permanent marker stains from wood is hairspray. Spray the stain with a little hairspray and then wipe it away with a clean cloth. The ink should begin to lift immediately. No hairspray? No problem! You can also use a paste made from baking soda and water. Just rub the paste gently into the stain in circular motions and watch as it fades away.

Please Note: It’s always a good idea to test a cleaning method in an inconspicuous spot first to make sure that it won’t remove the stain, varnish, or seal from the wood.

Hard Plastic

Need to remove permanent markers from a hard plastic toy or container? Take a dry-erase marker and color over the permanent marker marks. Wipe the dry-erase marker off with a dry cloth and the permanent marker should come off with it. Repeat if there is any remaining permanent marker left until it has all been removed.

No dry-erase markers in the house? Then try spraying a little window cleaner on the marks and wiping it off that way. You can also use baking soda and water paste to remove permanent markers from plastic.

White Board

Who hasn’t accidentally written on a whiteboard with a Sharpie instead of a dry-erase marker? It is such an easy mistake, especially if you are not paying attention.

Here is how we are going to remove Sharpies from a whiteboard; We are going to draw some more. This time, cover the permanent marker with a dry-erase marker and then wipe the marks away with a wet cloth. This same trick will remove permanent markers from cars too (off paint only).

How to Remove Sharpie from Fabric, Clothing & Upholstery

Have you accidentally gotten a permanent marker stain on your clothing or couch cushion? Not to worry, there are a few different methods that you can use to remove permanent markers. Chances are you have milk in the house, and that can help you to remove permanent markers from clothing.

Put the garment in a bowl, fill it with enough milk to cover the stain, and let it sit overnight. You may have to do this multiple times to remove the stain completely but the milk will not damage your garment. Once the stain is removed, wash and dry as usual.

Rubbing alcohol is another great way to remove permanent marker stains from clothing. Simply place the stain face down on some paper towels and then use a clean cloth or sponge to dab at the stain with rubbing alcohol. You should see the marker stain transferring to the paper towels as you dab the stain. Replace the paper towels with clean ones until the stain has been removed.

Other options you can use to remove permanent markers from fabric:

Hand sanitizer
Aerosol hairspray
Baking soda/toothpaste – combine to make a paste.
Nail polish remover
WD-40
White vinegar
Cream of tartar

How to Get Marker Out of Carpet

Did you accidentally drop a permanent marker on your carpet, leaving an unsightly stain? No problem, you can remove it with rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth. Start dabbing at the stain with the rubbing alcohol and watch as it starts to fade away.

I have had a really good success rate with plain old rubbing alcohol.

Walls – How to get Sharpie marker off

Did one of your kids decide to create “art” on your painted walls? While they make great a great canvas, no one enjoys wall drawings. Here is how you can remove it quickly without taking the paint off of the walls.

All you need is a Magic Eraser (melamine sponge) and either water or glass cleaner. Wet the Magic Eraser with your liquid of choice and gently start wiping at the permanent marker stain.

It should wipe away fairly easily and leave no trace of the “Sharpie incident”. Please note: Magic erasers will remove the gloss off of any high-gloss paint.

There you have it, now you know how to remove permanent marker marks off of everything, and surprise… you don’t even have to go to the store for special products to do it.