Remove Dry Erase (Whiteboard) Marker Stains

By Matt Oden | Comments | Ink and Dye Stains → Dry Erase Marker

While not always as permanent and as tough to remove and permanent markers are, it can still be a bit of a challenge to remove dry erase marker stains when they are used on surfaces that they shouldn’t be used on. Dry erase marker stains can even stain the dry erase boards that they are meant to be used on!

With a few key cleaning ingredients and a bit of know-how about these office supply staples, you’ll soon be able to readily remove dry erase marker stains from every surface that has been accidentally stained by them. Teachers, students, project managers, the busy stay at home mom jotting down notes, it seems that no one is immune to these useful markers! And if your small child were to grab a hold of them? It will make you long for the days of scribbling on the walls with crayons!

Remove Dry Erase Marker Stains From Whiteboards

What You Will Need Before You Start

Clean rags
Hairspray (must contain alcohol)
White vinegar solution in a spray bottle

If you have ever neglected your whiteboard for a few months then you know that a dried permanent marker stain can be incredibly difficult to remove from your whiteboard! Even the whiteboard spray solutions can find it a challenge to effective remove dry erase (whiteboard) marker stains. There are thankfully a number of great solutions that will be able to get the job done for you.

Use a damp rag to remove any accumulated dust and grime from the whiteboard.
Spray the stained dry erase marker with hairspray, thoroughly saturating the area with your preferred brand of hairspray.
Rub at the stain with a clean rag and you’ll find that the stain lifts off quiet easily.
Repeat as necessary until the stain has been thoroughly removed.
Clean the whiteboard using 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, in a spray bottle. This cleaning solution is a popular choice for giving countertops and other household surfaces a quick spray and wipe.

Once the whiteboard has dried, you’ll be able to use it again. It is important that the hairspray you use contain alcohol, because it is the alcohol that actual breaks down the marker pen. Rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab or sponge will actually be just as effective to get your board clean. In a pinch you can also use hand sanitizer rubbed on the stained whiteboard.

Remove Dry Erase Marker Stains From Clothing

What You Will Need Before You Start

White absorbent towel
Rubbing alcohol
Clean sponge
White vinegar

It’s all too easy to get dry erase marker on your clothing when you’re working hard, but it need not be a challenge to remove dry erase marker stains from your shirts or pants.

Lay the white towel down on a flat surface and place the stained garment on top of the towel.
Dab a bit of rubbing alcohol onto a clean sponge and then blot at the dry erase marker, taking care not to rub or smear it.
The marker stain should lift off fairly quickly with the rubbing alcohol, but it may take several blots to get it all off of the garment.
Fill a sink with warm water and add a cup of white vinegar to it.
Soak the garment in the solution for up to fifteen minutes and then observe the stain.

It should be gone, but if the stain is still visible then you can repeat the rubbing alcohol until you’ve removed all traces of it. Launder it as per usual, but take care not to apply heat and dry the garment until all traces are gone.

Remove Dry Erase Marker Stains From Walls Or Floors

What You Will Need Before You Start

Toothpaste
Toothbrush
White absorbent towel
Clean sponge

With the above cleaning supply tools you may be wondering if you’re about to clean your walls or brush your teeth! The truth is that toothpaste contains a mild abrasive, which makes it a good choice to remove dry erase marker stains from surfaces like walls or tiled floors.

Use a damp sponge to remove any accumulated grime from the surface you are working on.
Add a pea-sized drop of toothpaste to the stain and scrub gently, in small circles, using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
The stain should start to easily lift off of the wall or the floor. If you start to notice that the paint is coming off of the wall then you are likely not working with a quality washable paint. In this case, it might actually be a better choice to do a quick paint touch-up on the spot.
Once the stain has started to lift out of the wall or the floor, wipe it clean with a towel.
Clean thoroughly with your vinegar cleaning solution and allow to dry.

WD-40 and hairspray, along with other products that contain a solution of alcohol can also be very effective. Some people even have reported having good luck removing whiteboard stains using vodka or whiskey!

Remove Dry Erase Marker Stains From Upholstery Or Rugs

What You Will Need Before You Start

Rubbing alcohol
Clean sponge
White vinegar
White absorbent towel

Whether you need to remove dry erase marker from your upholstered furniture or your rug, the steps are roughly the same. The important thing is to not rub the stain when you are working with it, otherwise you run the risk of spreading it and rubbing it further into the fibers of the surface you’re working with.

Vacuum the area using a hand-held vacuum cleaner, in order to thoroughly remove any accumulated dirt that might be on the surface of the furniture or the rug.
Blot at the stain with rubbing alcohol dabbed onto a sponge or a cotton swab.
Press firmly onto the stain with a white towel. It is important to use a white towel or rag so that you don’t run the risk of color bleeding.
Repeat the second and third steps as necessary, until you have thoroughly removed the marker stain.
Spray a vinegar solution onto the area and blot it dry with a white towel.
Using another sponge or rag, clean the area of any residue with cool water.
Press a towel firmly onto the damp area so that you can absorb as much of the moisture as is possible.

Ammonia can also be used to remove dry erase (whiteboard) marker stains from upholstered surfaces and the rugs in your home. And, of course, alcohol remains a firm favorite for getting rid of these types of marker stains from just about every surface.