First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot, don't rub, and work from the edges toward the center.
- Dab rubbing alcohol onto the mark with a cotton ball, switching to clean paper towels as color transfers.
- Rinse the area with water once the color stops transferring.
- Test the alcohol on a hidden spot first, since results vary.
Dry erase marker ink is solvent-based, so it wipes off a slick board with ease but soaks into anything porous it touches. A fresh mark usually lifts quickly, while a dried one can take repeated rounds of blotting, and results can vary from one mark to the next, so check after each round.
Whiteboard marker stains on a board wipe off best when you don't let them sit. Old dry erase marker that has set can take a few rounds, so check the surface after each one. If a stain still shows after that, a dry-cleaning solvent spot remover is the next product to try.
6 items
What you'll need
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- Rubbing alcoholThe solvent that lifts the ink. Use 70% isopropyl or 90% denatured, with no added color or fragrance. (opens Amazon)
- Cotton balls or a spongePuts the alcohol on the mark without flooding the fabric. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white paper towelsCatch the color as it lifts. Swap in fresh towels as they fill. (opens Amazon)
- Cold waterFor the first rinse, which clears out loose color.
- Laundry detergentFor the hot wash. (opens Amazon)
- Color-safe oxygen bleach (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Test the alcohol on a hidden spot
Dab a little rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and press it to a seam or the inside of a hem. Let it dry, then check for any color change or damage before you touch the mark.
Tip. Test on the same fabric as the stain, not on a different garment.
Careful. Alcohol damages acetate, triacetate, modacrylic and acrylic fibers, so don't use it on those at all.
Step 2 of 6
Rinse the back with cold water
Run cold water through the back of the stain so the color pushes out the way it came in. Keep rinsing until no more color comes out.
Tip. Set the fabric on a clean towel so the rinsed color doesn't spread.
Step 3 of 6
Blot the mark with alcohol
Lay the fabric on a stack of paper towels. Dab rubbing alcohol onto the mark with a cotton ball or sponge, and blot with clean towels as color transfers onto them. Replace the towels as they fill and keep going until no more color transfers.
Tip. Work from the edges toward the center to keep the color from spreading.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse the area with water
Once the color stops transferring to the towels, rinse the spot with water to clear out the alcohol. Blot the area gently with a dry towel afterward.
Step 5 of 6
Wash in the hottest allowed water
Wash the item with laundry detergent and a color-safe oxygen bleach, using the hottest water the care label allows. If the care label is missing, use cool water and skip the hot wash, then rinse in warm water when the cycle finishes.
Careful. Color-safe oxygen bleach is only for colorfast fabric and stays off wool, silk, leather and painted surfaces.
Step 6 of 6
Check the spot before drying
Look at the spot in good light once the item is out of the wash. If any color is left, repeat the alcohol blotting and wash again before drying.
Tip. Air dry the item until you're sure the mark is gone.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for dry erase marker
Choose rubbing alcohol at 70% isopropyl or 90% denatured with no added color or fragrance, and a color-safe oxygen bleach for the wash.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on these surfaces, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Dry Erase Marker on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
You're done when no more color transfers to the towels and the spot looks clear in good light. If a faint mark is left after the wash, repeat the alcohol blotting before the item goes anywhere near a dryer.
What changes for yours
Adjust for where the stain is
Whiteboard or Board
On a slick board, wipe the mark away with a damp sponge, then dry the surface with a clean cloth. If the board is glass, the steps differ, so check its care before you clean it.
Erase the glass completely with an eraser made for glass before you clean it, and use a cleaner made for glass. Board makers disagree on ordinary glass cleaner, so follow your board's own instructions. For stuck marks, spray isopropyl alcohol on the mark and scrub with a clean, soft cloth.
Whiteboard Marker
On painted walls and painted wood, start with a damp sponge. If a mark remains, rub an all-purpose cleaner onto the damp sponge in a circular motion, rinse, and finish with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball if the mark still shows.
Keep the scrubbing gentle on flat or matte paint, since hard scrubbing can damage it. Rinse the area after each step so no cleaner or alcohol is left on the wall.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old marker has had more time to soak into the fibers, so it needs more rounds of the same alcohol blotting rather than something harsher. Work through the blotting again with fresh towels each time, and wash only after nothing more transfers. Keep the item out of the dryer until the mark is clear.
If the item has already been through the dryer, the mark is usually harder to lift, so give the alcohol blotting extra time before the next wash. Repeat it until no more color transfers to the towels, then wash again. Results can vary, so test a hidden spot before you start.
If color still shows after a second wash, you've reached the limit of this method. What's left is often a faint tint rather than a full mark.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on dry erase marker?
Most of the household options either don't touch this ink or can damage the surfaces it lands on. Rubbing alcohol is the one that lifts dry erase ink, so skip the rest.
Works2Skip4
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) + Rubbing alcohol
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't pour solvent onto carpet
Solvents can damage the latex backing under carpet, so never pour alcohol straight onto it. Dampen a sponge and blot the mark instead.
Don't follow alcohol with chlorine bleach
Never let chlorine bleach touch a spot that has had alcohol, because the two form chloroform. The color-safe oxygen bleach in the wash is a different product and doesn't carry this risk.
Don't work near open flames
Keep rubbing alcohol and other solvents away from open flames. Work somewhere with good airflow while you blot.
Don't rub the mark
Rubbing pushes the ink into the fibers and spreads color across a wider area. Blot with clean towels and let the towels do the lifting.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
Color keeps appearing on every fresh towel
That is normal for a heavy mark. Keep dabbing alcohol and blotting with clean towels until one comes away clean, then rinse.
The care label is missing or unreadable
Treat the fiber as unknown. Test alcohol on a hidden spot and let it dry before touching the visible mark, or ask a dry cleaner.
A faint halo is left after drying
Repeat the alcohol blotting, working from the halo's outer edge inward, then rinse with water and blot dry again.
Alcohol lifts nothing at all
Stop rather than adding more. On carpet or upholstery move to the shampoo stage for that surface; on clothes go on to the wash step.
When to call a professional
If the color stays after the wash, or the item is delicate or hard to replace, take it to a professional cleaner. Tell them it's dry erase ink so they can choose a method that suits the fabric.
Questions
Do dry erase markers stain?
Yes, they can, especially on fabric and other porous surfaces where the ink soaks in. On a slick whiteboard they wipe off, but a mark left on clothing gets harder to lift the longer it sits.
What stain remover works for dry erase marker?
Rubbing alcohol is the one that works for this ink. On carpet or upholstery, a spot remover can follow the alcohol, used according to its label.
Can I use rubbing alcohol on carpet?
Yes, but only by blotting. Dampen a sponge with rubbing alcohol, blot the mark, then work in an upholstery or rug shampoo per its label.
Will the bleach fade colored clothes?
It can, if the fabric isn't colorfast, so check the garment's care label before the wash. A colorfast fabric is the only kind that should go through the bleach step.
How do I get old, dried marker out?
Repeat the alcohol blotting with fresh towels until no more color transfers, then wash again. Old marker may need several rounds, and a faint color can stay behind.
Can I use dish soap instead?
No, it isn't needed. For fabric, the laundry detergent in the wash does that job, so skip the dish soap.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.