Removing marker stains from different surfaces can be quite the challenge sometimes. Whether you’re a parent with a child who’s fond of drawing or if you use permanent markers yourself on a regular basis, there’s a good chance that you have encountered dealing with marker stains. The common surfaces that marker stains usually get a hold of are walls, clothes and even different furniture items.
Because markers are often bright and colorful, the stains are hard to miss and in most cases, difficult to remove. So if you happen to find yourself confronted with technicolored marker stains, you need to know how to properly remove them. Although a marker may have the word “permanent” in its name, it’s still nothing that a proper cleaning guide can’t fix. Here are some cleaning tips that you can follow when removing these colorful stains from different surfaces.
Removing Permanent Marker Stains from Different Surfaces
Fabric
Fabric clothing is easily one of the most common surfaces to catch marker stains. To get rid of marker stains from any fabric, get the following cleaning materials:
- Rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer
- White vinegar
- Nail polish remover
- Aerosol hairspray
- Toothpaste
- WD-40
Procedure:
- To clean the fabric, start by placing a paper towel on the underside of a cloth to prevent more stain from spreading throughout the fabric.
- Apply the cleaning solvent or solution to the fabric and gently rub it with your hands to break down the stain particles. Add more solution until the stain disappears.
- Make sure that the fabric is fully clean from any marker stain before tossing it into the machine dryer. If you place it inside with the slightest trace of a stain left, it can only make the stain spread throughout the fabric.
- After drying the fabric, check if there’s still any stain left. If there are traces left, repeat the washing process and dry again once done.
Wood Surfaces
Wood makes up a lot of surfaces in the household that can be prone to catching marker stains. From furniture to floor surfaces, here’s what you need to know and do to remove marker stains without a hitch:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Toothpaste solution with baking soda
Procedure:
- Start removing the stain by applying any of your chosen solution on the wood surface with a clean cloth.
- Gently dab and scrub the surface until the stain starts wearing off. Doing this repeatedly will also be helpful in further breaking down the stain particles.
- Let the applied solution sit on the surface for a few minutes so it can absorb the stain-removing ingredients of the solution.
- Afterwards, wipe the surface off with a clean and dampened cloth to restore the surface’s original shine.
- If you find that you are still unable to remove the stains despite repeated attempts, try contacting a one day cleaning service to get the job done.
Walls
Walls of any kind are easily one of the most common surfaces that easily get stained by permanent markers. If you have children at home, then this is probably something that you’ve already run into before. So if you want to prevent your walls from looking like a mysterious prehistoric cave wall art, here are following cleaning ingredients and steps that you can try when removing stains:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Aerosol hairspray
- Toothpaste mixed with baking soda
Procedure:
- If you’re using rubbing alcohol to treat and remove the stain, apply it on a wet and damp cloth and dab at the affected area until completely removed.
- For toothpaste mixed with baking soda, apply the solution by smearing it all over the stained area. Let it settle for a few minutes before wiping it off with a clean and dampened cloth.
- If you’re using aerosol hairspray, just spray the solution directly onto the stained area and wipe it off right away before it even dries.
- With any cleaning solution that you choose, always remember to gently apply it on the surface without rubbing too vigorously. This will help in preventing any of the paint from being chipped or removed entirely.