Remove Permanent Marker from Furniture

No matter how careful we try to be, accidents happen. Sometimes they happen right on our new sofa, all over the white carpet or right on the oak coffee table. Here are a couple of common household items for removing permanent ink from furniture.

Steps

Using Toothpaste

  1. Use a solid white toothpaste. The brand doesn’t matter but avoid gel toothpastes or a combination as these don't tend to work as well.
    • This same process can work with baking soda in place of toothpaste. Or better yet, use toothpaste that contains baking soda!
  2. Squeeze out a generous dollop. Use enough toothpaste to ensure the stained area will be completely covered when the toothpaste is spread around. Don't be stingy.[1]
  3. Use a damp rag or paper towel. You don't need to soak the rag. Just run it under warm water then wring it out until it is just barely wet.
  4. Rub the toothpaste into the entire stain using a circular motion. As the toothpaste disappears, the permanent marker should as well.
    • If the marker doesn't completely disappear after the first attempt, repeat the process with a new damp cloth and another dab of toothpaste.
  5. Rinse out your rag. Then wipe any remaining toothpaste from the surface until clear.[2]

Using Vinegar or Rubbing Alcohol

  1. Mix vinegar and dish soap. Add two cups of cold water to one tablespoon of vinegar and one tablespoon of dish soap.
  2. You can also use rubbing alcohol or similar products. Hairspray and sunscreen will work because they usually have alcohol in them. Check the ingredients to be sure. [3]
    • You can also try hand sanitizer, WD-40, or lemon juice.
  3. Get to the stain as quickly as possible. Attacking the stain before it has a chance to dry and set in will increase your chances at removing it completely.
  4. Dampen a rag or cotton ball. Don’t just dump a puddle of alcohol onto the stain. Instead, dab some onto a rag and apply it to the stain that way.
  5. Blot around the stain first. Especially when you’re working with fabrics, soaking the area around the stain
  6. Dab, don’t scrub! Rubbing the stain back and forth can push it deeper into the fabric. Use a firm dabbing motion, pressing the rag into the stain and lifting it up directly without rubbing it back and forth.[4]
  7. Repeat as needed. If the stain remains, dampen a clean cloth with more rubbing alcohol and dab the stain again. Then rinse with a clean, damp sponge or cloth.[3]
    • Once the stain is gone and the upholstery has been rinsed, let it air dry.

Using a Store Bought Product

  1. Consult your local hardware store. Hardware stores should have a stock of commercial carpet cleaners. You can ask one of the employees for a recommendation, but most cleaners will list what they work best for on the bottle. [3]Lift Off #3[5] is an example but you can get any number of products.
  2. Be sure to read the label of any product before you buy. Commercial products often contain chemicals that can cause damage if used on the wrong surface. Check the labels to make sure it is appropriate for the specific surface you need to clean.
  3. Try a Magic Eraser. You can get these at places like Target or Walgreens. They work great, even on bamboo items!
    • Use furniture oil if the sheen gets rubbed off.
    • Other products such as Goo Gone or Bon Ami can remove permanent marker stains and are available at most hardware stores.

Tips

  • Test the remedy in an unseen area. Most of the methods above will not harm your furniture, but just to be sure, find a tiny area, perhaps at the back of the sofa or chair, to test the solution and make sure it doesn't damage the fabric or cause the wood stain to bleed.[4]
  • Be careful with delicate fabrics. Fabrics like satin or silk should that can be easily damaged should be treated with care. You run a greater risk of damaging them. Your best bet, if you can, is to take them to a dry cleaner or other professional cleaning service.[1]
  • Results may vary. Lots of things can influence the effectiveness of these methods. The amount of time the mark has been there and what type of surface you are dealing with can influence the effectiveness of these methods.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/07/how-to-remover-permanent-marker-from-just-about-anything.html
  2. ↑ http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tips-2/how-to-remove-permanent-marker-from-wood.html
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://deadspin.com/how-to-get-your-kids-marker-stains-out-of-the-couch-1536876816
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/stain-removal/permanent-marker.html
  5. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Lift-Off-Remover-Marker-Graffiti/dp/B001B337V4
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