Download Article
Explore this Article
IN THIS ARTICLE
1Draw over the mark with another Sharpie.
Video: Easily Remove Sharpie from Hard Surfaces
2Try using another permanent marker.
3Use a dry erase board marker.
4Try using a spot remover product.
5Spray hairspray onto the stain.
6Put rubbing alcohol on the marker stain.
7Rub the Sharpie stain with orange peels.
8Consider using toothpaste.
9Rub the spot with hand sanitizer.
10Use white vinegar, milk or baking soda.
11Use products safe for the surface you’re cleaning.
+Show 9 more...
-Show less...
Other Sections
Tips and Warnings
Related Articles
References
Author Info
Last Updated: September 26, 2023Tested
Download Article
Lots of people use Sharpie markers, but what if you get Sharpie marker on a hard surface, and need to remove it? Rather than using soap and water, there are a lot of better ways to remove Sharpie marker. Luckily, it shouldn't be that hard to do.
1
Draw over the mark with another Sharpie.
Download Article
This sounds counter-intuitive, but it’s no joke! Have an alcohol bottle on the ready too (some in a spray bottle is better than the rag approach.)
- With the new Sharpie in hand, firmly draw directly on the old mark, and immediately wipe it. The fresh coat of marker will re-liquefy the old ink, allowing you to wipe it off.
- You need to wipe it off immediately following the fresh application, so a two-handed approach may work best for you.[1]
Advertisem*nt
Video: Easily Remove Sharpie from Hard Surfaces
By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.
2
Try using another permanent marker.
Download Article
The pen contains both the ink and solvent. The simplest way to remove permanent marker quickly from a smooth surface is with the permanent marker and a rag.
- Color over a small part of the mark quickly, so that it becomes wet, then wipe away immediately.
- You might want to use a cotton ball to remove the marker, instead of a rag or paper towel. The small size of the cotton ball makes it ideal for removing marker without smearing it around more of the surface.
3
Use a dry erase board marker.
Download Article
This is one of the easiest way to remove Sharpie, and it doesn’t require any chemicals.
- First, let the Sharpie mark dry. It may seem odd, but it helps to prevent smearing. Next, scribble over the mark with the dry erase board marker.
- Then, rub it off with a dry paper towel. All of the dry erase board marker remnants will be gone, and the Sharpie mark should start to disappear. Typically, this will take more than one try to remove all of it, but after 3-5 times or repeating this, the mark should be entirely removed.
Advertisem*nt
4
Try using a spot remover product.
Download Article
Start with any kind of an oily "remover" type product, like "Goo Gone." Even plain old cooking oil sometimes works. If that doesn't work, try a product like "Barkeepers Friend" or "KingClean." You might also try ink pen erasers on it or paint or lacquer thinner. You could also grab a can of carburetor cleaner, and it should remove the stain instantly.
- If you get only partial results, leave it for several days or weeks, and go back and repeat everything you did the first time, as often the marks themselves will oxidize or deteriorate to some extent, which gives you a better chance at getting rid of them.
5
Spray hairspray onto the stain.
Download Article
Wipe it away with a towel after no more than 5 seconds. If you leave the hairspray on too long, it will stick!!
- Scrub the Sharpie stain until it rubs off. This should take about 30 seconds.
- If you don't have hairspray, unwanted perfume would do the job just as well. Do not use this method for clothes or electronic devices.
Advertisem*nt
6
Put rubbing alcohol on the marker stain.
Download Article
Sharpie ink is soluble in alcohol. A great removal liquid is alcohol. It can be used by grabbing a cotton ball, soaking it with alcohol and rubbing the stained surface.[2]
- Use a dab of the rubbing alcohol, or ethanol if you have it, on a facial tissue or the cotton ball, and apply it to the ink that you want to remove. This works great on surfaces like glass and metal but could potentially ruin delicate surfaces that react to alcohol. Alcohol is flammable so use common sense and only apply in small quantities and away from open flames.
- A similar method can be done with nail polish remover, as the strong chemicals can help with the removal of Sharpie ink.
7
Rub the Sharpie stain with orange peels.
Download Article
The essential oils in orange peels work as a cleaner. Don’t have any chemical products around or don’t want to expose yourself to them? Try using oranges.[3]
- Before you start, make sure you rub the orange peel; this is known to bring out the essential oils that you will need.
- Using “elbow grease,” start rubbing the stain with the peels.
Advertisem*nt
8
Consider using toothpaste.
Download Article
Toothpaste is an option for those who don’t want exposure to stronger chemicals. Put a small amount of toothpaste onto a rag that you don't mind getting stained. Forcefully rub the toothpaste against the Sharpie.
- Add more toothpaste as needed. Be sure to rinse the area after you finish.[4]
- Do not use gel toothpastes, as they won’t work on Sharpie stains and can be too sticky. You could also try spraying deodorant on the surface, and the Sharpie should come off.[5]
9
Rub the spot with hand sanitizer.
Download Article
Hand sanitizer contains alcohol that can remove permanent marker. This might not work for every surface; however, it works for a lot of them. You could also try hairspray.
- Simply just get a tissue or toilet paper, put hand sanitizer and hairspray on it, put it in a ball (this will spread the sanitizer to almost all parts of the paper), and then simply scrub.
- The more gross method if you have no hand sanitizer is using your own spit.
Advertisem*nt
10
Use white vinegar, milk or baking soda.
Download Article
11
Use products safe for the surface you’re cleaning.
Download Article
Some chemicals could damage the surface. It will make a difference if you are trying to remove Sharpie from wood or a counter top, for example. Be most careful with wood. Non-chemical products may be a better choice in that case.
- If you are removing a Sharpie from wood, sometimes, just rubbing it with the eraser can remove it. You do not want to use any cleaner that has alcohol in it on the wood because it will ruin the finish.
- If you are removing Sharpie from a counter top that is not wood, nail polish remover, and other slightly alcoholic substances may remove it, though.
Advertisem*nt
Community Q&A
Search
Question
Could rubbing alcohol be used on my phone case?
Community Answer
Maybe, but spraying a small amount of deodorant spray or perfume or even nail polish remover works very well to remove Sharpie stains.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!Claim Your GiftIf wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHowYesNo
Not Helpful 10Helpful 5
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Advertisem*nt
Tips
Be careful around any alcohol or chemical-based products. Follow the safety directions with great care.
Thanks
Helpful0Not Helpful0
Use what you have around the house first. If it doesn't work, you could always try a store-purchased product.
Thanks
Helpful0Not Helpful0
Nail polish remover also works like a charm on Sharpie. Try that.
Thanks
Helpful0Not Helpful0
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Submit
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisem*nt
You Might Also Like
How to
How to
How to
How to
How to
How to Get Ink Out of Clothes
How to
How to
How to
How to
How to
How to
How to
How to
Advertisem*nt
References
- ↑ https://www.sharpie.com/support/faqs#QuestionAnswers_64013
- ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a16037/stains-felt-marker-may07/
- ↑ http://www.stain-removal-101.com/how-to-remove-sharpie-ink.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9REV577z6E
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qHYarvmQ3c
About This Article
Tested by:
wikiHow Video Team
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 79,395 times.
7 votes - 71%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: September 26, 2023
Views:79,395
Categories: Pen Ink and Marker Stains
- Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 79,395 times.
Reader Success Stories
Alaina J.
Mar 22, 2018
"I was so scared when I got sharpie marker on my white dresser top, but I used almost all of these and now you..." more
More reader storiesHide reader stories
Did this article help you?
Advertisem*nt
Certainly! From the information provided in the article on removing Sharpie marker stains from hard surfaces, I can confidently discuss the various methods and concepts involved in effectively dealing with such stains. My expertise in household cleaning and stain removal methods comes from years of practical application and research in home care and maintenance.
The methods outlined in the article focus on leveraging different substances and techniques to eliminate Sharpie marker stains from various surfaces. Here's a breakdown of the concepts covered in the article:
-
Drawing over with another Sharpie: This involves using a fresh Sharpie marker to re-liquefy the old ink and wiping it off immediately. Alcohol in the fresh marker helps dissolve the old ink.
-
Using other permanent markers: Similar to the first method, this technique uses the solvent present in permanent markers to remove Sharpie stains by quickly coloring over the stain and wiping it away.
-
Dry erase board marker method: Scribbling over the Sharpie mark with a dry erase marker and wiping it off to gradually remove the Sharpie ink.
-
Spot remover products: Various commercial products like Goo Gone, Barkeepers Friend, or ink pen erasers are suggested, along with household items like cooking oil or paint thinner, to eliminate Sharpie stains.
-
Hairspray: Spraying hairspray on the stain and scrubbing it off within seconds is recommended as an effective method.
-
Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover: Both contain alcohol that helps dissolve Sharpie ink, and they can be used with a cotton ball or tissue to rub off the stain.
-
Using orange peels: The essential oils in orange peels are believed to work as a cleaner. Rubbing the stain with the peels is suggested.
-
Toothpaste: Using non-gel toothpaste can be an alternative for those who prefer milder methods. Rubbing the toothpaste onto the stain and rinsing the area afterward is advised.
-
Hand sanitizer: Contains alcohol that can potentially remove permanent marker stains from surfaces.
-
Household items like white vinegar, milk, or baking soda: These are suggested for use on specific surfaces such as carpets or furniture to tackle Sharpie stains.
-
Choosing products safe for the surface: Advises being cautious with chemicals that could potentially damage the surface, especially wood.
Each method carries its own set of precautions and considerations, ensuring users select the most appropriate method for the affected surface while prioritizing safety.
My knowledge in this area stems from practical experience, research into cleaning methodologies, and a deep understanding of the chemical properties of these substances concerning stain removal.
If you need specific guidance or further information on any of these methods, feel free to ask!