First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Treat it before washing. Laundering may set the ink.
- Blot, don't rub.
- Test any remover on a hidden spot such as a hem or seam.
Highlighter on a sheet is felt-tip dye, and it moves through cotton threads fast, so a wash before treatment can set it in place. A fresh line usually lifts within a few passes, but ink that has dried into the weave may only fade and take longer to shift. Some synthetic fibers, such as acetate, can't take acetone, so the fiber decides which remover is safe.
Look at the care tag before choosing a product, because patterned sheets sometimes react differently than plain white ones. Give dried highlighter on bedsheet fabric a pass with a prewash stain remover spray before it goes in the wash. Silk, satin or velvet sheets need a gentler hand, so test a hidden corner before you commit.
Before you start
What sheets, towels & table linens can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
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- Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl or 90% denatured)It's the first sponge in the steps, and the one you'll reach for on every round. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white clothsFresh cloth keeps ink from moving back onto the sheet, and white shows the ink clearly. (opens Amazon)
- Pre-wash soil-and-stain removerIt's the other choice for the first sponge and the product used in the final step. (opens Amazon)
- GlycerinIt's the extra option for the alcohol round when the ink keeps bleeding. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid detergentIt goes on for the overnight soak when the ink is stubborn. (opens Amazon)
- Commercial stain cleanerUse it for the round after the wash when ink still shows.
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Sponge the ink from the back
Lay a clean white cloth under the stain so the ink has somewhere to go. Dab rubbing alcohol onto the spot from the back of the sheet, pressing gently rather than rubbing. Keep sponging with a fresh section of cloth until no more ink comes off onto it.
Tip. A pre-wash soil-and-stain remover can take the place of alcohol for this round.
Step 2 of 6
Dry, repeat, then launder
Let the sheet dry completely, then look at the spot in good light. If ink still shows, repeat the alcohol sponging once more. If it still shows after that, launder the sheet anyway and move on to the next step.
Step 3 of 6
Sponge with a commercial cleaner
If ink is still there after the wash, dab a commercial stain cleaner onto the spot. Sponge from the back until the ink stops bleeding onto the cloth. Rinse the sheet thoroughly before you go on to the next round.
Step 4 of 6
Try glycerin and alcohol
Work glycerin into the spot, then sponge with rubbing alcohol the same way as the first round. Use either one or both, whichever the spot responds to, and keep going until the ink stops bleeding. Rinse the area well with cool water when you finish.
Step 5 of 6
Soak in detergent overnight
If the ink is still there, work a mild liquid detergent into the spot and let it stand overnight. The next morning, rinse the detergent out completely before you go further. Check the spot once the sheet is dry.
Step 6 of 6
Pre-wash, then launder
Apply a pre-wash spot-and-stain remover to the spot and let it sit as its label directs. Then launder the sheet and look at the spot again before drying.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for highlighter on sheets, towels & table linens
Keep a pre-wash spot-and-stain remover and a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol in the laundry room, since both help lift the ink.
Shout Triple-Acting Laundry Stain Remover
Puracy Laundry Stain Remover
Clorox 2 Laundry Stain Remover and Color Booster Powder, 49.2 Ounces
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on sheets, towels & table linens, 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 before using any heat. 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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The ink should show on your cloth with every pass, and each pass should pick up less than the one before. Once the sheet dries and the spot looks flat, the sponging is working and the wash can follow. If the cloth keeps taking up color after several passes with the same product, the ink has likely set and calls for the overnight detergent step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
Cotton and cotton blend sheets
Cotton holds up to every round in the steps, so you can keep working until the ink is gone. Start with the alcohol sponging and move down the list only when a round stops making progress.
Cotton blends with polyester can take the same steps, but test the alcohol on a hidden corner first. Launder on the normal setting from the care label once the spot is treated.
Colored or patterned sheets
Colored and printed sheets are where the test matters most, because the dye can move along with the ink. Pretest the alcohol and the detergent on a hidden hem, and wait for the spot to dry before you judge the color.
If the test shows any color change, stop and use only the sponging steps. Oxygen bleach is the gentler choice here, and only once the sheet has passed the test.
Polyester and microfiber sheets
Polyester and microfiber are synthetic, so rubbing alcohol is the solvent to rely on for the first rounds. The sponging and laundering steps still apply the same way.
If the label doesn't say what the sheet is made of, don't guess. Use the alcohol round alone, test it first, and stop if the fabric starts to look different.
Fitted sheets
Fitted sheets bunch at the corners, so lay the stained area flat on a clean towel and sponge with the cloth underneath. Work each corner separately if the spot reaches the elastic band.
Keep the sheet flat while you work and don't twist the corners, which can push the ink further into the weave. Check the seams and hem for ink before you launder.
Silk, satin or velvet sheets
Silk and other delicate fabrics can't take the alcohol or detergent steps, so don't try them at home. Take the sheet to a professional cleaner promptly and tell them the stain is from a felt-tip highlighter.
While you wait, keep it away from the dryer and an iron, and don't rub the spot. Heat and friction can set the ink more firmly.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old ink that has been through a wash or two is much harder to lift than fresh ink, and some felt-tip inks may never come out completely. Don't expect it to vanish in one go. Work through the steps again, because each round can take a little more out.
If the spot has dried and survived every round, the next option is oxygen bleach, which is the gentler choice for colored sheets. On white sheets, a commercial color remover is an option too. Test either one on a hidden hem first, and keep oxygen bleach off silk and wool.
If the ink survives all of it, a faint mark is the realistic result. A professional cleaner can try harder without risking the fabric. Stop when more work would start to wear the sheet down.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on highlighter on sheets, towels & table linens?
These are the home remedies people reach for on ink. Most household remedies do little for ink on a bedsheet or can damage fabric, so start with rubbing alcohol.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use acetone on synthetic sheets
Acetone dissolves acetate, triacetate and modacrylic fabric, so check the fiber before you reach for it. If the label is missing or unclear, stick to rubbing alcohol instead.
Don't reach for milk or bar soap
Milk adds a protein stain on top of the ink, and it can set the mark that's already there. Bar soap sets many stains when it's rubbed in, so it makes a fresh mark harder to lift. Stick to the alcohol and detergent steps.
Don't leave cleaners on too long
Liquid pretreatments should come off after the time on the label, and gels shouldn't sit on bright sheets for more than a few minutes. Unstable dyes can change color or fade if they're left on. Rinse each cleaner off before you try the next one.
Don't scrub the spot with a brush
Scrubbing drags the ink across more threads and can fuzz the surface of the sheet. Press the cloth down gently and lift it straight up, moving to a clean section on each pass.
Don't guess on patterned sheets
Alcohol and solvents can take dye along with the ink, so colored and patterned sheets need a test first. Work each product into a hem or hidden seam, and wait for it to dry before you judge the color.
Don't run it through the wash to check
Laundering before the ink is gone can set it for good, and a wash can't tell you whether the mark is still there. Judge progress by blotting, and wash only once the cloth stops picking up ink.
When to call a professional
A dry-clean-only sheet, or a silk or satin one with ink spreading across it, should go to a dry cleaner promptly, before anything harsh touches it. Mention the ink and the fiber, and ask them to pretest their solvent on a hidden seam.
Questions
Can I use a hair dryer to speed up drying?
No. Heat can set the ink, so let the sheet air-dry fully before you check the spot. A hair dryer or iron can make a faint mark permanent.
How many rounds of sponging are too many?
Keep going while ink keeps coming off onto the cloth, and stop when the cloth comes away clean. If the spot still shows and no more ink transfers, move on to the next step instead of repeating.
Should I wash the sheet alone?
Yes, the first time, so loose ink doesn't end up on other items. Once the spot is gone or as light as it's going to get, the sheet can go back in with the rest of the wash.
Can I use nail polish remover instead of rubbing alcohol?
Only if the sheet isn't acetate, triacetate or modacrylic, because nail polish remover usually contains acetone. Rubbing alcohol is the safer first choice when you don't know the fiber.
What if the ink has spread to the pillowcase too?
Treat the pillowcase with the same steps, one piece at a time. Keep the pillowcase and sheet apart in the wash until both spots are gone.
Is hot water safe for a white sheet with highlighter on it?
Not until the ink is out, because hot water can set it into the cotton. Once the cloth comes up clean, cotton can take the hottest wash the care label allows, which is the setting you want for a white sheet.
Can I bleach a colored sheet with highlighter on it?
Only as a last resort, and only if the fabric is colorfast and the care label permits bleach. Silk, wool and spandex are a no-go for chlorine, so use an oxygen-type bleach on colors and test it on a hidden seam first.
Can I leave highlighter-stained sheets soaking overnight?
Only as the final step, when the ink still shows after the sponging and you've tried a commercial cleaner. Leave a mild detergent on the spot overnight, then apply a pre-wash spot-and-stain remover, rinse thoroughly, and launder as usual.
Highlighter on other materials
Other stains on sheets, towels & table linens
Start from the bigger picture
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.