How to Get Rid of Permanent Marker Stains

If you have children at home you can surely tell how kids love to show their artistic talent on some-not-so-appropriate canvass like walls, furniture, couch, etc. Perhaps you’re in the middle of a class lecture or a business presentation and you are enthusiastically trying to convey your point to the audience. Now, you have accidentally written some text on the white board using a permanent market rather than the appropriate white board market. Don’t fret. These “permanent” marker stains are not so permanent at all. In other words, these stains can be treated with proper techniques. Here are some effective ways to help you get rid of these permanent marker stains.

Why is Permanent Marker Permanent and What Is It Made Of

Permanent markers are made out of pigment that contains xylene and toluene. These are water-resistant, volatile, toxic chemicals that are normally derived from petroleum processing. Nowadays, more and more manufacturers are using water-based or alcohol-based pigments to promote safety especially to children. Thus, stains caused by permanent markers are now easy to remove, contrary to what the name suggests.

Getting Rid of Permanent Marker Stains Off of White Boards

For instance, you want to get rid of the stains off of the white board. You will need acetone or nail polish remover, eraser, cotton ball and water. Simply moistened the cotton ball with the acetone and wipe the mark off of the board. If you don’t have these materials, try writing over the permanent marks with a white board marker. This technique can help you remove unwanted stains, although it will take some more time and effort.

Wiping Out Stains from Leather

If you have found some frustrating permanent marker stains on your leather handbag or couch, you must certainly look for a way to clean it without ruining the surface.

• Be careful when using alcohol to remove those markers. Do not apply alcohol directly to the leather as it may cause the color to fade. Instead, make use of high-alcohol content product and moistened a clean cloth with it. Wipe the stain gently. Do not rub the leather.

Permanent Marker Stain Removal on Clothes

Permanent stains on your clothes can make them un-wearable. But before you throw your clothes away, try treating the stains with the following techniques.

• Bleaching is recommended if the marker stain is on the white shirt. Do not attempt to bleach out colored clothes to avoid tougher stain-related dilemma.
• Another way to do away with permanent marks is by using hair spray. To do this, make sure you place a towel underneath the cloth before spraying the stain.
• If you have some money to spend, buy a commercial powder cleanser. Make sure to read and carefully follow the specified instructions to avoid cloth-discoloration due to the strong chemicals of the detergent.
• Washing the stained cloth in a washing machine with cold water and a cup of salt is also an effective stain removal technique.
• You can also apply acetone or nail polish remover to the stained garment. Just make sure that the fabric is not acetone-sensitive. Simply spot-clean the stain with a cotton ball moistened with acetone. Blot it with a clean towel until the stain is fully removed.
• Squeeze out some citrus out of lemon, lime or orange. They are a very good remedy to permanent marks and stains. If the garment is basically made of naturally dyed fabrics such as satin and silk, it is highly recommended to dilute the juice with water so as to lower its strength. Strong citrus extracts and juice can fade these types of garment.

Removing Stains from Plastic

• You can make use of lemon to light up the stains on plastic materials. Just cut the lemon into two and scrub it on the plastic surface. Expose the plastic in direct sunlight for a day.
• Wiping the marker stain with white vinegar is another way to get rid of those marks. Simply soak a sponge or cloth in white vinegar and rub it on the surface. Next, rinse it water and then wipe the plastic with a clean cloth.

Removing Permanent Marker Stains on Walls and Other Surfaces

Although marker stains on walls can fade away in time, cleaning the stains immediately is still a better option to preserve the beauty of your home. However, removing stains from walls and wood surfaces can be quite difficult. Here are some brilliant ways to remove marker stains off of your walls and other surfaces.

• Make use of full-strength acetone to dissolve the pigment in marker stains. Simply wipe off the affected area with a cotton ball or a piece of cloth moistened with acetone. This tactic can be time-consuming though.
• If the surface is unpainted or is not sensitive to acidic cleansing agents, paint thinner is a good option to remove those unwanted marker stains.  Use a mask to prevent inhaling the vapors as it can damage your health.
• A high-pressure washer is also a good remedy to treating marker stains. Use hot water and detergent to wash off the pigment out of the surface.

As you see, removing the marks caused by permanent markers is not really impossible. The best way to get rid of permanent marker stains is by exercising preventive measures. Keep permanent markers out of children especially when they are unsupervised.