Permanent Marker Removal 101

We’ve all been there: if you have kids, markers, and walls, at some point the three are going to collide in the worst way. Kids and markers aren’t just teaming up against walls, chances are they’re after clothes, carpets, furniture, and dishes as well! Or maybe you’re the culprit! I’ll admit to my fair share of sharpie accidents, from dropping them on my own clothes to mistaking them for dry erase markers. Whoops. Luckily for us, this list offers cleaning solutions on how to get permanent marker out of pretty much everything! Read on to find out how…

Clothes

Hand Sanitizer. Using a towel, dab hand sanitizer on the stain. Rubbing will further set the stain, so make sure to dab! Place an old towel between the stain and the other side of the shirt to make sure the stain doesn’t accidentally transfer to the other side.

Walls

Toothpaste or Hairspray. Make sure to get the paste, and not the gel. Be careful when scrubbing, so you do not accidentally rub off the paint, or leave a new stain. It’s probably best to dab here too, or use small circles of focused pressure, rather than broad, rough strokes.

Wood

Rubbing Alcohol. Put a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the wood and let sit for a few minutes. Repeat until stain is gone. If you’re worried about a particular stain or varnish, test on a hidden section first.