Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Kamel Almani. Kamel Almani is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Co-Owner of WashyWash, a toxin-free and eco-friendly laundry and dry clean service based in Amman, Jordan. Kamel and his staff at WashyWash use Blue Angel certified and dermatologically-tested detergents. They also combine EcoClean and digital technology to provide an eco-friendly, convenient, and quality cleaning service. Kamel holds a BA in Design from the University of Applied Science, Amman.
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Sometimes accidents happen and marker winds up on your doll. Any porcelain doll should be handled with care, and consider seeking a professional for help. You can use acetone and peroxide to clean cloth dolls. For plastic dolls, you can clean immediate marks with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. For tougher stains, try using baking soda or benzoyl peroxide. Cleaning off your doll is easy, and it will look their best again in no time!
Steps
Pour about 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of acetone into a small bowl or cup. You will only need a little acetone to clean away a few small marks. Pour a little bit more if you are cleaning larger marks.- You can use either rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover, since both contain acetone.
Dip your Q-tip or cotton ball into the acetone. Let your cotton pad soak up the acetone to apply it directly to your doll. Use a washcloth if you prefer.[1]Advertisement- Rub your acetone over the marker in small, circular movements. The marker should lift up and disappear as you rub. Wipe away the extra acetone and marker with a paper towel or washcloth.[2]
- Acetone binds to the chemicals in the markers and helps lift them from the doll.
- Repeat this for all of your marker spots.
- Wipe your doll with a wet cloth to clean away the acetone. You don't want the chemical to remain on the doll, as it can eat away at the porcelain.
Try washing your doll in the washing machine. A normal laundry cycle and lift away non-permanent ink and marker stains.- If you have permanent marker spots on your doll, your washer may not take them out thoroughly.
- Apply acetone to your doll's marker spot using a cotton pad. Pour either rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover into a dish, and dip your cotton pad into it. Rub the cotton pad over the marker spot on the doll.[3]
- Your marks should start to fade away.
- Instead of acetone, you can use any alcohol-based cleaner or thinner.
- Rub some hydrogen peroxide over the marker spots after the acetone. Pour a bit of hydrogen peroxide into a dish, and dunk a second cotton pad into the peroxide. Go over the same spots you applied the acetone, rubbing the hydrogen peroxide over the marker spots.
- Apply soapy water to rinse away leftover marker and chemicals. You can add a few squirts of soap into a spray bottle or onto a washcloth. Rub the soap into the cloth to lift off any leftover marker, acetone, or peroxide.[4]
Reapply acetone and hydrogen peroxide if the marker is not removed. Some spots will need a few coats to fully remove the stain. Repeat your application as many times as needed.- You can wait for your doll to dry before reapplying, so you can remove as much of the marker as possible.
Wipe off immediate marks using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Magic Erasers are square, multi-purpose cleaning tools. Run your Eraser under warm water to moisten it and activate the chemicals. Rub back and forth and apply steady pressure over all of your marker spots. Try moving in small, circular motions to help lift away the marker.[5]- Purchase Magic Erasers online or in home supply stores.
- As long as the marker hasn’t been sitting on the doll for a while, the Magic Eraser should lift up the marker.
- Wipe off your doll with a wet cloth when you are finished.
- Use baking soda to clean away marker spots without harsh chemicals. Mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of hot water into 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) of baking soda. Dab your washcloth into your mixture, and rub it over the marker spots. Evenly cover the marker with your baking soda mixture. Scrub the marker away using small, circular motions. Wash off any remaining baking soda with a wet washcloth.[6]
- You can also squeeze in a few drops of lemon juice. Lemon juice is very acidic, which can help lift stubborn marker from your doll.
- Use an old toothbrush to scrub with, if you need something tougher than a washcloth.
Apply Benzoyl Peroxide (acne treatment cream) to remove large marks. Apply a generous amount of cream using a Q-tip or your finger, and rub it in over each spot. Cover the spots in plastic wrap to keep the cream moist. Leave the doll in the sun for 2-5 hours to bleach away the marker spots. Wash your doll with soap and water after all marker spots are removed.[7]- Acne treatment cream is a good option if you have many marker spots, or if the marker has been there for a while.
- Purchase acne spot treatment cream with at least 10% benzoyl peroxide. Oxy10 is a recommended brand.
- You can also cover the rest of your doll with a towel to prevent any sun damage.
Finished.
Community Q&A
- QuestionHow can I clean Expo markers off a doll?
Community AnswerHere are some suggestions: baby oil, alcohol, nail polish remover. If none of these work, there are commercial cleaners that can be found at department stores. - QuestionHow do I get Sharpie off an Ever After High doll's face?
Community AnswerYou can try lightly sanding the doll's face with a very fine grit sandpaper. Use a rougher grit like 400-600, then one that you would use for auto-paint finishing or buffing (1000+ grit) to make it as smooth as possible. - QuestionHow do you get marker off of a porcelain doll?
Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerPorcelain dolls can be fragile and sensitive, so you want to remove any markings from them properly to avoid damaging them. Pour about 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of acetone into a small bowl or cup. You will only need a little acetone to clean away a few small marks. Pour a little bit more if you are cleaning larger marks. Soak a cotton swab or cotton ball in the acetone and then rub the marker in small, circular movements. The marker should lift up and disappear as you rub. Wipe away the extra acetone and marker with a paper towel or washcloth. Then, wipe your doll with a wet cloth to clean away the acetone. You don't want the chemical to remain on the doll, as it can eat away at the porcelain.
Tips
Warnings
- Test a small area with a method of your choice before you decide on how to clean your doll. There is a possibility that the method will smear the marker over the doll, rather than removing the marker.Thanks
- Do not try to clean porcelain, vintage, or antique dolls. Seek a professional doll maker for help cleaning special dolls. These are fragile and require extra care.Thanks
Things You'll Need
Porcelain Dolls
- Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover
- Q-Tip or cotton pad
- Small cup or bowl
- Paper towel or wash cloth
Cloth Dolls
- Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Soapy Water
- Cotton Pads
Plastic Dolls
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- Baking soda
- Water
- Bowl
- Spoon
- Washcloths
- Old toothbrush (optional)
- Lemon juice (optional)
- Acne treatment cream, 10% benzoyl peroxide
- Warm soapy water
- Plastic wrap
- Sunshine or UV lamp
- Towel
References
About This Article
If you’ve accidentally wound up with marker on your doll, don’t panic since cleaning it off is usually fast and easy. If your doll is made out of cloth, try washing it in the washing machine on a normal cycle. You can also try using rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. First, dip a cotton pad in the solution and rub the marker stain with it. Then, get another cotton pad and pour some hydrogen peroxide on it to go over the same spot. If the marker is still there, try repeating this process a few times. For a plastic doll, try wiping off fresh marks with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Run the eraser under warm water first, then rub it over the marker. For a gentler option, try using baking soda and hot water. First, mix hot water and baking soda together and dip a washcloth in it. Then, rub the cloth over the marker spot and scrub it away using small, circular motions. To learn how to remove marker spots from porcelain dolls, keep reading!
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