Remove Permanent Marker from a White Board

If you accidentally grabbed your permanent marker when writing on your white board, don't worry! There are several quick, easy solutions that will allow you to remove the permanent ink with little or no damage to your board.

Steps

Using a Dry Erase Marker

  1. Use a dry-erase marker to draw over the permanent ink.[1] Cover the marks as completely as you can, and be sure there the dry-erase marker isn't dried out and has plenty of ink.
    • It doesn't matter what color dry erase marker you use.[1]
  2. Wipe off the ink with a clean wipe board eraser or a soft rag.[1] Both the permanent and dry-erase marker should come off easily. This occurs because permanent and dry-erase markers contain a non-polar solvent. The solvent in the dry-erase marker will dissolve the permanent marker, detaching it from the surface of the board.[2]
  3. Repeat the process if the board isn't entirely free of markings. It may take multiple attempts to get the marker off completely.[1] You may want to try a dry-erase cleaning solution, but they contain similar, some times weaker, solvents as the dry erase marker, so the marker is actually more effective.[3]

Using Common Household Items

  1. Pour a small amount of hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol or non-acetone nail polish remover onto a clean, soft rag or paper towel. Do not use any type of abrasive cleanser, such as Clorox or something with grit, as this will damage the surface of your board and it will stain permanently.[3]
    • Wipe away the permanent ink with the wet cloth.
    • Wipe the board with a wet cloth to remove any remnants of the solvent, otherwise it may interfere with the dry erase marker when you try to write on the board.
    • Dry the board completely before use.
  2. Use a pencil eraser and rub the mark well. Only try this if the other methods don't work, as scrubbing the board with the eraser could potentially damage the surface.



Tips

  • Some have reported better results when letting the marks sit no longer than 30 seconds - not 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Or, you could use some perfume if you have any.

Warnings

  • The marker board will be permanently damaged if you use anything that changes the surface of the board.

Things You'll Need

Using a Dry Erase Markery

  • A dry-erase white board marker
  • A white board eraser

Using Household Items

  • A pencil eraser
  • Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover
  • Paper towel or soft rag

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.expomarkers.com/faq
  2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_marker#Removal
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.dryerase.com/faq
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