Permanent Marker Removal From Walls - Tips And Tricks You Can Use

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Below I've collected tips and tricks for permanent marker removal from walls.


Think this can't happen to you? Think again. If you've got kids and have any type of permanent markers in your home, even if you think they are well hidden, it seems like they can be found, and then used.

All it takes is for you to turn your back for a few minutes, or get a phone call that takes your attention away, and that blank canvas, a.k.a. you wall, whether painted, wood, or wall papered, is in danger.

Although I've gathered up several tips below, there is always room for more ideas and strategies for removing these marks from your wall.

I'm also interested in more ideas for products, either homemade or commercial, you've used to help you clean up the mess.

You can share your tips for removing permanent marker stains here, or read other tips that have been submitted, such as for other surfaces beside walls.

In addition, you can share your wall cleaning tips here, or read others already submitted for other types of stains and marks on your walls, and how to clean them up.

Tips for permanent marker removal from walls, including both home remedies and commercial products you can use when disaster strikes! {on Stain Removal 101}use this Pin it button to save to Pinterest

Top photo used with permission from Money Saving Mom

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Removing Permanent Marker From Walls

Below is a video giving a tip for removing permanent marker from walls.

It seems like in almost every home, at one point or another, a child gets hold of a permanent marker and begins to color all over the walls, and everything else.

Below is a simple tip for how to remove such stains -- rubbing alcohol.

Just put some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and begin rubbing the permanent marker marks off the wall.

The video below gives a full demonstration.

It obviously works better, and is easier to remove, the sooner you catch the little artist at work.





You can learn about more uses for rubbing and isopropyl alcohol here in this article on the site.

10 rubbing and isopropyl alcohol uses for cleaning and stain removal


Photo by Cyren

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Hand Sanitizer Worked For Me For 4 Year Old Drawings!

by mominmpls

mominmpls says:

I removed 4 year old black sharpie drawings off my white walls using cheap hand sanitizer.

hand sanitizer uses
It's along the lines of your tip using rubbing alcohol - this stuff has 62% ethyl alcohol.

It did take the finish off but now I can touch that up with paint.

Taylor says:

Thanks so much for this tip!

Yes, there are LOTS of hand sanitizer uses around the house for cleaning and stain removal. I've collected quite a few at the link for anyone interested in checking more of them out.

Hand Sanitizer {Referral Links}




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Magic Eraser For Removing Permanent Marker From Walls: Mixed Opinions

Many readers have recommended this product, while others have said it hasn't worked for them.

Here are all the things that readers have shared with me:

Carrie O. says: Give the kid that made the masterpiece on the wall the magic eraser and let them use THEIR elbow grease to remove the marker from the wrong place. That worked well when my daughter colored all over the back seat of the car on a long trip. The magic eraser MAY dull glossy paint, requiring repainting... hopefully not.

Nicole says: Magic eraser also takes off the first few coats of paint as well! lol Tooth paste works awesome!

Leslie says: Magic eraser does not take off permanent marker! I tried it and it didn't work for me.

Nikki says: My son drew on our sofa, the wood floor and his wall with permanent marker. The sofa was not able to be cleaned, but I used the magic eraser on the floor and wall (careful it takes off the paint if you scrub too hard).

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Hairspray Plus Magic Eraser Works Great

by Toni

I used hairspray to get permanent marker off my walls. It eats paint but if you clean it off fast enough it works great!

I used a magic eraser and the John Freida hair spray on my wall because my son got into my markers and painted the wall himself and nothing worked. Not bleach or ammonia.

Not even hair spray alone worked, along with a wash cloth, but once I added the magic eraser it easily took it off.

Hairspray {Referral Links}



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Permanent Marker Removal From Door With Rubbing Alcohol

by Tiffany

Tiffany wrote about what she thought was the toughest stain to remove on this site's Facebook wall. She agreed to let me put our conversation here to help others.

Tiffany said:

Permanent marker in a purplish pink color!! My 4yr old decided to do some artwork on our front door (I'm 9 months pregnant and kindly asked him to watch a movie while I took a tiny nap.) I got it off the tile floor with a magic eraser and good old fashioned elbow grease, but it's not budging off the door.

Taylor said:

I hear you! Permanent marker is tough. My first thought was the magic eraser, but since that didn't work another thing to try is rubbing alcohol. Sometimes that works to remove permanent marker off walls, but test first in an inconspicuous area of your door to make sure it wouldn't harm it!

Then, I referred her to the video above showing how the woman used rubbing alcohol to remove permanent marker from her wall. Then, Tiffany wrote back after she tried it out.

Tiffany said:

I wanted to let you know that the rubbing alcohol worked like a charm!! It took the marker right off the door when the the magic eraser alone wouldn't budge it! THANKS!!!!

I thought my only way out was to repaint the door, but now I can repaint when I want to not because I have to!

Taylor says:

Yay! I'm so glad I was able to help.

I wanted to put this exchange up to also show this method has worked, so you may want to try it too.

I'm always looking for even more tips though, so if you've found another way to remove permanent marker on wall, you can share your tips here.

In addition, you can ask me for cleaning help here if you have a question of your own. I don't know if I can help or not, but I can try!

Finally, you can check out even more rubbing alcohol uses here, for cleaning and stain removal, and also share how you use it in your own home.

Tips for permanent marker removal from walls, including both home remedies and commercial products you can use when disaster strikes! {on Stain Removal 101} #PermanentMarkerRemoval #RemovePermanentMarker #PermanentMarkerStainsuse this Pin it button to save to Pinterest

Photo by donjd2

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House Cleaning Tips & Tricks For Busy Moms

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Comments for Permanent Marker Removal From Door With Rubbing Alcohol

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Magic Eraser
by: Nikele

I think anything that is black, or dark on walls (scuff marks) are best cleaned with Mr. Eraser sponge thingy. It will take off ANY stain on your wall. Unfortunately, I only know how well it does on walls and baseboards. Nothing else.

How do you remove Geleez from a wall?
by: Anonymous

How do you remove Geleez from a wall? My daughter drew some on wall and put her creations on the wrong way.

Magic Eraser for wall art
by: Sarah

I will swear to anything that the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are the best!!!!!! I have used it on magic permanent markers to crayons to juice and tea/coffee on painted walls. It not only cleans the wall but the paint stays on the wall!!!!!

can I selectively remove these marks from a wall?
by: Carmen Shaw

We have a growth chart for my daughter that comes with paint for handprints and a felt to mark the height. After marking her height this year I left the felt out where she found it. She is very artistic and we now have black felt marks mixed in with 3 years of handprints and height markers. Can you think of any way to get the unwanted marks off and keep the wanted ones? Or do I just have a funny story to tell her when she is older?

Goo Gone Pen is the way to go
by: BridgovertroubledH20

Goo Gone Pen (referral link) is the way to go for removing permanent marker. It doesn't take the paint off the front door, even when the front door is green, but it does remove the permanent marker quickly and easily. Just rinse with a sponge when you are done.

how do I remove magic marker on glossy white paint?
by: Marie

I have a magic marker stain on glossy white paint on a window sill. It was probably there for several days. I've tried Fantastic, but it did nothing. Help!

Nail polish remover
by: Dad of 2

Finger nail polish remover took off 6 month-old permanent marker, but there is still a tiny shadow of the the color (red and green).

Mostenbocker Lift Off
by: Kelly

Mostenbocker Lift Off (referral link) works wonders!!!

Alcohol
by: Anonymous

I think alcohol (or anything contaning alcohol ie: hand sanitizer) is the trick. It took 14 month old green Sharpie off my pale yellow wall in a quick minute. Unfortuantly, it takes the paint off as well. But, Hey ! - We were going to have to repaint anyway. This just makes it that much easier.

abrasive powder cleanser
by: Charlotte

Try Bon Ami or Barkeepers Friend. You might have a dulling effect or noticeable marks no matter what product you use though.

Norwex
by: Paula

A Norwex enviro microfiber cloth and just water. It works every time and won't harm your paint (or use yucky chemicals).

what I use
by: Monica

Avon Skin So Soft will take that off too.

toothpaste
by: Kylie

Crest toothpaste works.

Use orange cleaner
by: Nicole

Orange cleaner.

lemon essential oil
by: Jessica

I use lemon essential oil. It does the trick!

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Taylor

Hi, I'm Taylor, a busy mom with 3 kids, so I have lots of hands on experience with house cleaning, laundry and my fair share of spots, spills and other messy catastrophes. Thanks for visiting my site.

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CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only. It is provided as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains and messes just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some cleaning methods can harm your item, so if what you want to clean or launder is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.