How to Get Sharpie Off a Dry Erase Board

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If someone used permanent marker or pen on your whiteboard, you may have to try several methods before the stain is removed. Fortunately, most ink marks can be removed with household products or with ingredients easily obtainable from drug stores.

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1
Trace over the permanent ink with a dry erase marker. Choose a black dry erase marker, or the darkest color you own. Cover the permanent ink completely with the dry erase ink, which contains a solvent that may dissolve the stain. Give it a few seconds to dry, then erase with a paper towel or clean white board eraser.
- If the white board or eraser are not reasonably clean (apart from the permanent ink), this method may leave smudges. These can be removed with any of the steps described below.
- You may repeat this method until the ink stain is fully removed. If you see no sign that the ink is coming off after two attempts, try one of the steps below.
2
If that doesn't work, try rubbing alcohol. Most inks are made liquid by an alcohol solution. Fill a spray bottle or dampen a cloth with a small amount of 70% isopropyl alcohol or 100% ethyl alcohol. Place the whiteboard in a location with good air flow, and apply the alcohol over the stain. Wipe the board dry with a dry, clean, non-abrasive cloth, using a circular motion to loosen the ink.^[1] Rinse the whiteboard with a slightly damp paper towel, then dry with a second towel or cloth.
- Warning: pure alcohol is flammable. Keep away from heat and ignition sources.
- Plenty of household products contain alcohol and can be used for this purpose. If you don't have rubbing alcohol, try using hand sanitizer, hair spray, aftershave, or perfume. Avoid products that contain coloring or feel sticky to the touch.
3
Use acetone or nail polish remover if the stain persists. If none of the above methods work, use acetone or nail polish remover, which contains mostly acetone. This is a harsh chemical that creates dangerous, flammable fumes, so always work in an area with good air flow. Apply to the stain with a cloth, rub clean, then rinse the board with water and dry. This may cause damage to whiteboards with a lacquer finish or a wooden frame, but is one of the most effective methods for removing stains.^[2]
- If acetone gets on your eye, immediately wash your eye under lukewarm, gently flowing water for 15 minutes. Hold your eyelid open and do not stop to remove contact lenses.^[3]
- Acetone on your skin should be washed off for 5 minutes, but is unlikely to cause harm beyond irritation.
4
Purchase a whiteboard cleaning solution if necessary. If your white board won't respond to any of the above treatments, purchase a high quality cleaning product recommended by white board manufacturers. These can be especially effective if you use them along with a magic eraser.^[4]
- Lightly scrub at the marker residue, but don't press down hard—you could damage the coating on the white board.^[5]
5
Be skeptical of other solutions. Some people report success with an abrasive cleaner such as baking soda, toothpaste, scouring powders, or harsher chemicals. While this may remove the stain, it could also damage the white board surface, making future dry erase ink harder to erase. Many ammonia-based household cleaning products such as Windex are suitable for daily cleaning, but not recommended for heavy application.^[6]
- While soapy water or white vinegar will remove light stains, they are unlikely to get rid of any marks your dry erase marker cannot.^[7]

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Question

Are magic erasers abrasive?

Eduardo Peralta is a House Cleaning Specialist and the Manager of Best Maid House Cleaning based in San Jose, California. With over five years of experience, Eduardo and the Best Maid House Cleaning team specialize in home deep-cleaning, post-construction cleaning, and green and eco-friendly cleaning services. Best Maid House Cleaning is fully licensed and insured.

House Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Yes, they are! Be careful when using them on your white board, giving it only a light scrub with water or another cleaning solution.

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If there are indentations from the pen being pressed into the whiteboard, you may need to rub harder. This damage to the surface will make future dry erase marks harder to erase in that area as well.
Try these solutions to remove permanent marker from other hard, nonporous surfaces, such as glass, but don't use acetone or nail polish remover on plastics.

Do not mix household chemicals. If you've tried one step in this article and want to proceed to the next, make sure the board is dry first, and use a fresh paper towel.
Unlike permanent markers or felt-tip pens, ballpoint pens may have caused damage and indentations with their sharp tips, which unfortunately will make your white board harder to erase in future.

Things You'll Need

Spray bottle (optional)
Paper towels or clean cloth
One or more of the following:
Dry erase marker
Rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, aftershave, or perfume
Acetone or nail polish remover
High quality white board cleaner

References

About This Article

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Reader Success Stories

Sehgin Hangsing

Aug 17, 2018

"The cheapest and quickest way to remove a permanent marker in a white board is by using Colgate as you suggested..." more