If you’ve ever wondered how to get rid of permanent marker ink from something, you’re not alone. When my daughter Britta was little, she found a permanent marker while we were packing to move, and by the time I noticed, she had already used it to draw on the carpet, walls, and furniture of our rental home — and we were supposed to leave that place the next day!
Fortunately, my determination to remove stains from anything ended up being useful. I remembered hearing somewhere that rubbing alcohol can remove permanent marker stains from all kinds of surfaces. It worked wonderfully and saved us from losing a hefty security deposit.
But I’m not the only one who has ever faced the consequences of a marker accident, so I’m taking this opportunity to pay it forward. In this post, you’ll find an extensive list of ways to clean permanent marker ink off almost any surface. No matter what item, surface, or material has been stained by Sharpie marks, you’ll find a solution here.
Looking for tips on removing pen ink from shirts or slacks? Learn how to remove ink stains from clothing.
Permanent Marker Ink on Fabrics, Clothing, and Upholstery
To remove a marker stain on fabric, try one of the following methods:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Aerosol hairspray
- Nail polish remover
- Regular white toothpaste (not the gel kind)
- Dish soap and vinegar
To treat a stain on clothing, start by placing an old towel or a piece of cardboard behind the stained area to prevent the stain from spreading. Using a clean cloth or cotton ball dampened with rubbing alcohol (or one of the other stain removers mentioned above), gently blot the stain. (Don’t rub or scrub the permanent marker stain — it could force the stain deeper into the fibers.) Move to a clean area of the cloth as needed and continue blotting until the stain is fully removed, then rinse well.
To get rid of permanent marker stains on upholstery, try using Dawn and vinegar as a cleaner. Add 1 tablespoon of Dawn dish soap and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to 2 cups of cool water and stir. Use a sponge to apply the solution to the stained upholstery, then let it sit for half an hour before blotting with a clean cloth. Repeat as necessary.
If you’re looking for a way to remove permanent marker from delicate fabric, such as satin or silk, your best bet is to take it to a dry cleaner!
Permanent Marker Ink on Carpets
I’ve had great success using rubbing alcohol to remove marker stains from carpets. Just apply it to the stain, then blot with a clean, damp cloth to lift the ink and alcohol out of the carpet fibers. (As I mentioned previously, it’s important to blot, not rub, to avoid worsening the stain.)
If that doesn’t get all of the ink out, you may be able to use your clothes iron to remove the stain.
Painted Walls
Walls are frequently the victims of permanent marker mishaps, and it can be a little tricky to remove permanent marker from walls without affecting the paint underneath. For your first attempt, try dampening a cloth or sponge with rubbing alcohol or regular toothpaste, then using it to gently rub the stain in a circular motion.
If that doesn’t remove all of the ink, try carefully rubbing the area with a damp magic eraser, or putting a few drops of lemon essential oil onto a clean cloth and using it to wipe the ink. (Lemon oil is a powerful stain remover, which is one of many reasons I like to keep it on hand!)
Wood Furniture and Floors
To remove permanent marker from wood furniture or floors, apply rubbing alcohol or regular toothpaste to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then blot or gently rub the area with a damp washcloth to remove the ink and stain remover, and repeat until the stain is gone
Leather and Leather Accessories
The most effective way to remove permanent marker stains from leather is to treat the stain as soon as possible. Pour a bit of white vinegar on a clean, damp cloth and use it to blot the stain until the ink is gone.
Laminate Furniture and Floors
Removing permanent marker from laminate furniture may be as easy as drawing over the marks with a dry erase marker, then wiping the surface with a wet cloth or paper towel. If that doesn’t work, try wiping it with rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or toothpaste. (If your laminate furniture has a glossy finish, avoid cleaning with magic erasers, as they can easily dull shiny finishes.)
Whiteboards
It’s all too easy to mistake a Sharpie for a dry erase marker, but this is one mistake that’s as easy to fix as it is to make in the first place. To remove permanent marker from a whiteboard, simply color over the permanent marker with a dry-erase marker, and then wipe the board clean with a wet rag.
Books and Paper
Had a child take a Sharpie to a library book? Place something water-resistant behind the page, then use a clean cloth to dab the ink with a small amount of nail polish remover. Lift the nail polish remover and marker off the page by blotting with a clean, dry cloth, and repeat until the worst of the marks are gone.
Additional tip: If you get permanent marker on laminated paper, you can easily wipe it off with a bit of nail polish remover. (This tip is especially useful for teachers, so pass it on!)
Glass
To remove permanent marker from glass surfaces, including windows, mirrors, and dishes, wipe the glass with rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, WD-40, or regular white toothpaste. (The dry-erase marker trick may also work on glass, so it’s worth a try!)
Skin
Whether the marks were accidental or on purpose, you can remove permanent marker from skin fairly easily with nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. If you don’t have either on hand, try applying lotion, shaving cream, sunscreen, or hand sanitizer to the area instead.
Screens (Phone, Tablet, Computer, TV, etc.)
To remove Sharpie from a delicate screen, start by very carefully wiping the marker with a baby wipe. If that doesn’t remove it, try gently dabbing regular toothpaste onto the stain, then let it sit for a few minutes before wiping with a clean cloth. Repeat until the stain is gone. (Resist the urge to try a magic eraser here — there are several things you shouldn’t clean with magic erasers, and screens are one of them!)
Plastic
To remove Sharpie from plastic surfaces, including storage bins, toys, outdoor furniture, and more, wipe the marker with Goo Gone, nail polish remover, or rubbing alcohol.
