How to Get Permanent Marker Off Tables, Couches, and More

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Scrub away Sharpie stains with these DIY cleaning methods

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Wood Furniture

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Couches

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Laminate or Metal Furniture

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No matter how careful we try to be, accidents happen, and sometimes they happen on our new sofa, all over the white carpet, or right on the oak coffee table. No matter what your surface is made of, there are tons of ways to remove permanent marker ink from your furniture using items you have at home, including rubbing alcohol and toothpaste. Keep reading to learn how you can remove permanent marker ink from every couch, table, or chair in your home.

This article is based on an interview with our house cleaning professional, Guy Peters. Check out the full interview here.

Removing Marker from Wood, Upholster, Metal & Laminate

Wet a cotton ball or clean cloth with rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, or un-flavored vodka. Dab the area lightly to saturate the stain. Let the solution sit for a few minutes then use a new damp cloth to dab away the residue. Repeat until the stain completely disappears.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Removing Permanent Marker from Wooden Furniture

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1
Rubbing alcohol Dip a cotton ball or cloth in a little bit of rubbing alcohol. Dab the area lightly to saturate the spot and let it sit for a few minutes. Use a clean damp cloth to dab away the residue. Repeat until the stain is completely gone.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Alternatively, use un-flavored vodka (or any clear spirit above 40% alcohol) or nail polish remover in place of rubbing alcohol.
- Rubbing alcohol can remove varnish and damage wood if you use too much of it. Try not to apply too much rubbing alcohol to the area and avoid rubbing to remove the stain.
2
Toothpaste House cleaning professional Guy Peters suggests using toothpaste for finished and unfinished wood. Apply a dollop to the stain and use “a sponge or thick cloth” to “rub the area with small circles,” following the grain of the wood. “Use a damp cloth to remove any extra toothpaste and repeat as needed.”
- White baking soda toothpaste works best because it’s slightly abrasive. If you don’t have that, just add 1 teaspoon (6 g) of baking soda to 1 teaspoon of your regular toothpaste.^{[2]XResearch source}
  - However, Guy Peters recommends avoiding “gel toothpastes since they won’t work at all” for removing stains.
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3
Aerosol hairspray Hairspray can loosen and lift permanent marker stains on painted wood. Simply spray the stained area with the hairspray, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Be careful not to use hairspray on varnished wood because it could tarnish the surface.
- Alternatively, try this method using a spray-on sunscreen instead.
4
Dry erase board cleaner In small doses, dry erase board cleaners can help remove permanent marker from polished wood furniture. Spray the board cleaner directly on the stain and wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat as necessary to remove the marker.
- Increase the cleaning power of this method by going over the stain with a dry-erase marker using the board cleaner to remove both markers from the surface.
5
Baking soda Baking soda is a gentle agitator that can remove stains without damaging unfinished wood.^{[4]XResearch source} Mix 2 parts baking soda and 1 part water to make a thick paste. Use a soft cloth to rub it into the permanent marker stain in circular motions. Wipe the excess paste away with a clean damp cloth.
- Try to avoid using this method on polished wood—the baking soda may scratch the surface.
6
Melamine foam (Magic Eraser) When used gently, melamine foam can help to remove marker stains off wood surfaces. Dampen the foam with water or use it dry to gently scrub the area until the stain is removed.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Try to avoid scrubbing too hard—this could damage the finish on top of the wood.
7
Amodex ink and stain remover Amodex is a stain remover that can remove Sharpie and other permanent marker brands from the woodwork.^{[6]XResearch source} Apply a thin coat of Amodex to the stained surface and rub it in with a dry melamine sponge or Magic Eraser. Remove residue with a damp clean cloth.^{[7]XResearch source}
- For unfinished wood, apply a thin coat to the stained area and leave it on for several hours or overnight. Use a clean damp cloth to wipe away the stain.^{[8]XResearch source}
- To clean finished wood, you can also try a non-abrasive cleaner like Bon Ami. Just sprinkle the product on the stain, lightly scrub with a damp cloth, and rinse thoroughly.^{[9]XResearch source}
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Sandpaper If the permanent marker stain is on a natural or unfinished wood surface, use a fine-grade (180 to 220 grit) sandpaper and sand the entire surface to avoid an uneven finish.^{[10]XResearch source} The marker will gradually fade as you sand down the area.
- For larger permanent marker stains, try using a palm sander.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Permanent Marker from Upholstery

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1
Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover Wet a cotton ball or paper towel with rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. Gently dab the stain until it’s saturated with the solution. Use a second cotton ball or paper towel to blot the stain. Repeat this process until it’s completely removed.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Use a damp cloth to remove the excess alcohol, then allow the area to air dry completely.
- Rubbing alcohol works well on chenille, cotton, linen, vinyl, and velvet. Nail polish remover is a little more aggressive and may work best on thicker, more durable fabrics like canvas.
- If you’re dealing with leather, try testing hand sanitizer on an unseen corner to see how it reacts. If it goes well, apply it to the stain using this step.
2
Soap, vinegar, and water Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of liquid dish soap and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of distilled white vinegar in 2 cups (0.47 L) of water. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and dab at the stain. Leave the solution for at least 30 minutes, applying more every 5 minutes. Splash the stain with clean water and dab until dry.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Vinegar is acidic, which makes it a great tool for removing permanent marker stains.^{[13]XResearch source}
3
Amodex ink and stain remover In addition to wood furniture, Amodex can also remove permanent marker from fabric upholstery. Apply the product to the stained area and rub it in with a toothbrush or your fingernail until the ink is almost gone. Use a damp cloth to blot the area until the stain disappears.^{[14]XResearch source}
- If you can remove the cover from your couch or sofa, throw it in the laundry after rubbing Amodex into the stain.^{[15]XResearch source}
- Try to avoid wetting the area before applying Amodex—water might set the stain and make it harder to remove. If you tried another method before this, wait until the area dries first.^{[16]XResearch source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing Permanent Marker from Laminate or Metal Furniture

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1
Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover As you’ve seen above, rubbing alcohol and acetone nail polish remover can be great tools for breaking down permanent marker ink. Simply saturate a cotton ball or paper towel with one of the solutions and use it to wipe up the stain. After the marker is removed, rinse the area thoroughly with water.^{[17]XResearch source}
- You can use rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover on laminate and metal surfaces.
Believe it or not, vegetable oil can easily remove marker stains from laminate surfaces. Just dab some cooking oil on a paper towel, lay it over the stain, and let it sit for a few minutes. Remove the towel and use another paper towel dipped in vegetable oil to rub the stain in circular motions, applying pressure. Wipe the area with soap and water.^{[18]XResearch source}
3
WD-40 WD-40 can be used to remove permanent marker from metal and laminate furniture. For metal surfaces, apply WD-40 to the stained area. Allow it to sit for a minute, rub the area in a circular motion until it smudges, then wipe the marker off with a dry paper towel. For laminate, apply the product and rub with a dry cloth until the marker is removed.^{[19]XResearch source}
- If WD-40 doesn’t clean your laminate furniture, try drawing over the marker with a dry-erase marker, then wipe it off with a clean dry cloth.
- WD-40 also works for cleaning permanent marker off plastic surfaces.^{[20]XResearch source}

Community Q&A

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Question
How do I remove marker stains from white furniture, if none of the methods work?
Community Answer
From experience, I used clear Windex and and a white cloth. I didn't spray so much on that it dripped, then I carefully wet the lines of ink. I was pleasantly surprised when most of the marks came off. Test a small area first and if it works, apply it to the entire affected area.
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How do I remove permanent marker from plastic furniture?
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Scrub it with a damp magic eraser (water only/no chemicals). You can also use rubbing alcohol or anything that contains rubbing alcohol, such as Listerine or Lysol disinfectant spray. You can also color over the existing marker with more permanent marker and then quickly wipe it off before it dries - this should remove both the old and new marker. But be forewarned that some types of plastic, especially older ones, may absorb the marker, making it permanent and not removable by any means.
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How do I remove old black stains from my wood floors resulting from a friend's dog? (FYI, I've recently had hip surgery and need help removing these stains). What can I do?
Community Answer
As you have had hip surgery, it may be a little hard for you to do, but perhaps you can get a friend to help. You need nail varnish remover (the actual remover would be better than remover pads and if you can get nail varnish remover with cammomile in it, then that's even better) and some elbow grease. If that doesn't work, you could use paint remover, but only as a last-ditch effort.
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Tips

Test each product in an unseen area before applying it to the stain.^{[21]XResearch source}
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If your furniture is made of a sensitive fabric like leather, satin, silk, or wool, take it to a professional cleaning service instead.^{[22]XResearch source}
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For best results, tackle the permanent marker stain as soon as possible so it doesn’t have time to set in.
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