Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Remove waterproof marker from fabric and upholstery
• Method 2 of 4: Remove permanent marker from the skin
• Method 3 of 4: Remove permanent marker from wood and paint
• Method 4 of 4: Remove permanent marker from plastic and whiteboards
• Tips
• Warnings

A permanent marker is a very useful tool, but can sometimes accidentally cause a lot of damage. Sometimes you can stain your skin, walls, floors or furniture with a waterproof marker and it seems like you can never remove those stains again. If you've created stains with waterproof ink, there are several methods you can try to get rid of those stubborn and annoying stains.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Remove waterproof marker from fabric and upholstery

1. Treat clothing with a stain remover. Stain removers work effectively to remove a variety of stains, and some can even remove stains caused by alcohol-based waterproof inks.
   • Place the fabric, stain side down, on several paper towels. The paper towels should absorb some of the ink, so you may have to put down new paper towels during the process.
   • Apply the stain remover to the back of the stain. This removes the ink from the top of the fabric instead of penetrating further into the fabric.
   • After applying the stain remover, wash the fabric with detergent in cold water. Do not use hot water, do not dry the fabric in the dryer and do not use an iron. The heat can permanently set the stain into the fabric.
2. Go to the dry cleaner. If none of these methods have helped to remove the stain, or if the fabric is very delicate, you should ask a professional to remove the stain for you.
   • In addition to the stained fabric, take the waterproof marker that caused the stain with you to the dry cleaner. This way, the professionals at the dry cleaner have more to work with and can better determine how to remove the ink from the fabric.
3. Try white vinegar. Vinegar is acidic, and acids are caustic enough to remove many types of stains, including most stains caused by waterproof inks. Household vinegar has only a mild caustic effect and is therefore mild enough to use on your carpet and upholstery.
   • Pour enough white vinegar on the carpet to cover the stain completely.
   • Lay a towel flat over the stain. Use the palm of your hand to gently pat the stain with the towel until you see the stain disappear. Do not rub the stain.
   • When the stain is completely gone, you can spray a little water on the carpet to help remove the vinegar residue.
4. Wash with stain remover and carpet shampoo. Just as there are stain removers for clothing, there are also stain removers specifically designed for carpeting and upholstery. Continue the process by blotting the ink stain with a shampoo intended for carpet or upholstery.
   • Apply the stain remover directly to the ink stain. Let it soak in for as long as stated on the packaging.
   • Blot the stain with a clean towel. Don't rub it.
   • When you're done, you can clean the area with a shampoo intended for carpet or upholstery. However, do not use a steam cleaner to apply the shampoo. The heat can permanently set the stain into the fabric.

Method 2 of 4: Remove permanent marker from the skin

1. Apply rubbing alcohol. Because permanent markers contain alcohol-based ink, a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol or an alcohol cleansing pad for the face will usually remove most of the stain.
   • Soak a small area of ​​a paper towel or a clean rag with rubbing alcohol.
   • Rub the area with the alcohol-soaked material. The ink should disappear during rubbing.
   • Remove any alcohol residue by wiping the area with a clean, wet cloth.
2. Try a hand disinfectant. If you have sensitive skin or don't have rubbing alcohol at home, you can try a hand disinfectant. These agents contain a lower concentration of alcohol and thus can still work effectively to remove alcohol based inks.
   • Apply a dollop of disinfectant to the ink stain.
   • Use your hand to rub the disinfectant into the skin until you see the ink become liquid and disappear.
   • Wipe it off with a clean cloth or paper towel.
3. Soak the skin in water. Soaking your skin in warm, soapy water for about ten minutes will soften your skin and wash away the stain. If the ink stain is already setting into your skin, you may need to gently exfoliate the top layer of skin to remove the darkest part of the stain. You can use coarse salt or sugar as an exfoliator.
   • Dampen the area with the ink stain with water.
   • Sprinkle a small amount of coarse salt or sugar directly on the ink stain.
   • Use a washcloth to exfoliate the area. Rub the granules over the skin to remove dead and dying skin cells.
   • Wash the area with soap and water when you are done.
4. Remove the waterproof ink with tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is poisonous and dangerous to swallow, but is generally considered safe to use on the skin.
   • Dip a cotton ball in the bottle of tea tree oil.
   • Rub the tea tree oil over the ink stain, applying light to moderate pressure.
   • Wash everything down with soap and water when you are done.

Method 3 of 4: Remove permanent marker from wood and paint

1. Apply toothpaste. It's best to use a baking soda toothpaste, but any toothpaste is better than a gel. In addition, toothpaste is mild enough that you can use it on a painted wall and wash it off easily.
   • Squeeze a dollop of toothpaste onto a clean, dry cloth and vigorously scrub the stain with that portion of the cloth.
   • You may need to apply more toothpaste to the cloth while scrubbing. In addition, you may need to use a different part of the cloth for scrubbing if the first part gets dirty.
   • Use another damp cloth to gently wipe away any toothpaste residue when you're done.
2. Use a miracle sponge. This handy cleaning product can be found in the store with all other household cleaning products. A miracle sponge is made of air-filled melamine foam and does not use chemical solvents. It removes stains from surfaces using a physical reaction rather than a chemical reaction. It basically works by sanding the stained surface at a microscopic level.
   • Simply scrub the stain on the wall with the miracle sponge until the stain is gone.
   • When you're done, wipe the wall with a damp cloth to remove any remaining melamine residue.
   • It is generally not recommended to do this on gloss paint as it will make the gloss disappear slightly.
3. Treat wooden cabinets or floors with alcohol. Most wood floors can withstand the harsh, caustic effects of rubbing alcohol, and since the ink is in alcohol-based waterproof markers, this is usually the most effective method to try. Be careful not to scrub floors and walls too hard as it can remove the varnish or paint.
   • Soak a small area of ​​a clean cloth in rubbing alcohol.
   • Rub the stain with the alcohol-soaked cloth. The ink should disappear during rubbing.
   • Remove any alcohol residue by wiping the area with a clean, wet cloth.
4. Apply tea tree oil. If you are concerned that cleaning will affect the wood, you can use tea tree oil. The oil removes most ink stains without biting too much.
   • Pour a little tea tree oil onto a paper towel or a clean cloth.
   • Rub the tea tree oil over the ink stain, applying moderate to strong pressure.
   • When you're done, dry the area with a clean, dry cloth.

Method 4 of 4: Remove permanent marker from plastic and whiteboards

1. Use a citrus-based adhesive remover. This product works very well on many non-porous surfaces.
   • Moisten a cotton swab with the glue remover and dab it on the ink stains.
   • Use a cloth to blot and wipe the stains. You may have to repeat this process a few times.
2. Try nail polish remover or acetone on plastic. Acetone and acetone nail polish remover can both remove most paints and dyes. The ink in a waterproof marker usually cannot handle it well either.
   • Cover the bottle with nail polish remover or acetone with a clean cloth. Tilt the bottle upside down briefly, just long enough to wet the area of ​​the cloth in front of the bottle opening with the agent.
   • Rub the area of ​​the cloth dampened with nail polish remover over the stain.You will notice that the stain will be removed if you apply only moderate pressure. Only apply more pressure when scrubbing when really necessary.
   • Wipe the surface with a dry portion of the cloth.
3. Rub the stain away with tea trea oil. If the plastic that the stain is on is a bit more fragile, try removing the stain in a milder way with tea tree oil.
   • Pour a little tea tree oil onto a paper towel or a clean cloth.
   • Rub the tea tree oil over the ink stain, applying moderate to strong pressure.
   • When you're done, dry the area with a clean, dry cloth.
4. Dab a little rubbing alcohol on it. Waterproof markers contain alcohol-based inks, so one of the most effective ways to remove the ink is to fight fire with fire - or in this case, alcohol with alcohol.
   • Soak a small area of ​​a paper towel or a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol.
   • Rub the area with the alcohol-soaked material. The ink should disappear during rubbing.
   • Remove any alcohol residue by wiping the area with a clean, wet cloth.
5. Color over stains on a whiteboard with a dry erase highlighter. The most effective way to remove waterproof ink from a whiteboard is to color over it with a non-permanent dry erase marker. The chemicals in the dry erase highlighter can bind to the chemicals in the waterproof ink, allowing you to remove it.
   • Color over the entire ink stain with a dry erase highlighter.
   • Wipe off the colored area with a paper towel.
   • Repeat as needed until the stain is gone.

Tips

• Treat a waterproof ink stain as soon as possible. You are much more likely to get the stain out while it is still wet than if the ink has dried and soaked into the surface.

Warnings

• There is always a chance that something will go wrong. When working with caustic chemicals, always test the product in a small, inconspicuous area first to see if anything unexpected happens or if damage occurs.