How To Remove Permanent Marker From Any Surface (2024)

Who among us hasn’t wondered how to remove permanent marker from something at some point in their life? When my daughter Britta was a toddler, she found a permanent marker while we were packing for a 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 be out of that place the next day!

Fortunately, my determination to get stains out of anything ended up serving me well! I remembered hearing somewhere that rubbing alcohol can remove permanent marker stains from all kinds of surfaces. It worked beautifully, and saved us from losing a hefty security deposit.

But I’m far from the only one who will ever be faced with the fallout of a marker mishap, 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 of almost any surface. No matter what item, surface, or material has been marred by Sharpie stains, you’ll find a way to rescue here.

Looking for pointers on removing pen ink from shirts or slacks? Learnhow to remove ink stains from clothing.

How To Remove Permanent Marker Stains, By Surface

Removing permanent marker ink stains is one of many useful things you can do with rubbing alcohol, but you may also be able to do it with nail polish remover, distilled white vinegar, white toothpaste, or even a dry erase marker! Keep in mind that these markers are called “permanent” for a reason — if you’re lucky, you may be able to remove the ink completely, but some stains may be impossible to remove entirely.

Fabric, Clothing & Upholstery

To remove a marker stain on fabric, try one of the following:

• 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 putting an old towel or 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 listed 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.

Looking for a way to remove permanent marker from a delicate fabric, such as satin or silk? Your best bet is taking it to a dry cleaner!

Carpet

I’ve had great success with using rubbing alcohol to remove marker stains from carpet. 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 & 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.

Note: When cleaning wood surfaces, it’s always smart to do a spot test in an inconspicuous area first to make sure whatever you’re using won’t damage or discolor the surface.

Leather Upholstery & 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

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 & 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 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.

Bonus 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 severalthings 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 withGoo Gone, nail polish remover, or rubbing alcohol.

Metal

For metal surfaces like the exterior of your stainless steel appliances, try rubbing alcohol, a dry erase marker, or regular toothpaste. Black marker stains should wipe right off after applying any of those!

Ceramic Tile

You can clean permanent marker off of ceramic tile with regular toothpaste, aerosol hairspray, or a magic eraser. Smooth tile should be relatively easy to clean, but you may have to use a bit more elbow grease to clean textured tile. (An old toothbrush can make it easier to get into all those nooks and crannies!)

Granite

To remove permanent marker from granite countertops, wipe them off with rubbing alcohol, my homemade granite cleaner, or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid letting any of these options sit on granite for too long, and avoid using white vinegar —vinegar is a great cleaner, but it’s too acidic for granite.

Laminate Floors & Countertops

Vinyl and laminate floors and countertops are both durable and relatively easy to clean, so you can safely use just about any of the methods I’ve mentioned in this post to get marker off of them. Try regular toothpaste mixed with a bit of baking soda, or wipe with rubbing alcohol or a damp magic eraser.

Microfiber Upholstery

To clean stains on microfiber upholstery, including those made by permanent markers, use rubbing alcohol and a damp sponge. Once the stain is gone and the material is dry, brush the area to fluff up the fibers. You may also have success with hydrogen peroxide or nail polish remover, but be sure to test these in an hidden spot beforehand.

Butcher Block

To remove permanent marker from butcher block counters or cutting boards, start by covering the stain with a layer of salt. Cut a lemon in half, then use one of the halves to scrub the salt into the stain. Let the juice-dampened salt sit on the stain overnight, then wash the area with soapy water in the morning.

Dryer Drums

Nothing makes a mess like a permanent marker that has somehow found its way into your dryer. But not to worry — I have tips for removing all kinds of stains from dryer drums! It’s important to avoid using anything flammable in your dryer, for obvious reasons, but a magic eraser should take care of most of the ink.

Have you ever had to deal with a permanent marker stain?