First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the fresh mark with a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towel.
- Treat it while it's fresh, before it has time to set.
- Pretest any stronger product on a hidden spot and stop if the color transfers or changes.
- Keep hot pans, hair dryers and hot air away until the stain is gone, since heat sets stains.
Marker on a countertop is a dye stain, and it's easiest to lift while it's still fresh on the surface. Once it has dried, the top decides how hard you can push, since laminate, solid surface, granite, quartz and marble each respond differently. Permanent ink that has set is a different job from a fresh smear, so sort out the material before anything stronger.
When you get permanent marker off a countertop, avoid a stiff brush, since it can scratch the surface around the mark. A scouring cleanser can help with marker stains on granite, but test a corner first. If a mark has dried on quartz, stop after gentle attempts and call a professional if it still shows.
Before you start
What countertops can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care3
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid3
- Soaking
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Heat, once the stain is out
7 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, dry white cloth or white paper towelsFor blotting, so you can see what's lifting off. (opens Amazon)
- Damp cloth or spongeFor the soap wipe and the rinse. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soap or detergentFor the first wipe on any counter. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaMixed with water into a gentle paste. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushWorks the paste in with light strokes. (opens Amazon)
- Cleaner matched to the finish (solid surface only)Matte, satin, semi-gloss or gloss; laminate doesn't need it.
- Warm waterRinses off every cleaner.
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Blot the marker first
Press a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towel onto the mark so it lifts the ink. Switch to a clean part of the cloth as it fills up, and work from the outside edge toward the center so the mark doesn't spread.
Careful. Rubbing spreads the stain, so blot instead.
Step 2 of 5
Wipe with mild soap and water
Dampen a cloth or sponge with mild soap or detergent and wipe the mark until it starts to lift. Rinse with warm water and dry the spot before you check it.
Tip. Rinse the cloth often so you're lifting ink, not spreading it around.
Careful. Don't flood laminate, especially near seams, because water can soak in and swell the substrate.
Step 3 of 5
Scrub with a baking soda paste
If the mark is still visible, mix baking soda and water into a paste and spread it over the spot. Work it in with a soft brush using 10 to 20 light strokes, then wipe it away.
Tip. Let the paste do the work; the brush only guides it.
Careful. Don't rub or scrub hard; keep the pressure light.
Step 4 of 5
Match the cleaner to the finish
On solid surface, check whether the counter is matte, satin, semi-gloss or gloss, then use the cleaner for that finish. Matte takes Bon-Ami, Comet or Ajax with a damp sponge. Satin takes Soft Scrub, semi-gloss takes soapy water and a white Scotch-Brite pad, and gloss takes mild detergent only.
Tip. Laminate skips this step, so move on to the rinse.
Step 5 of 5
Rinse and dry the surface
Rinse off every trace of the paste or finish cleaner with warm water, then dry the counter with a clean cloth. Check the spot in good light once it's dry to see whether the mark is gone or only faded.
Careful. Leftover cleaner can damage the surface.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for marker on countertops
Use white cloth or paper towels for blotting, so you can see what's lifting off the surface.
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 countertops, 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.
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
You'll know it's working when color lifts onto the cloth and the mark gets lighter with each pass. If it's fading but not gone, repeat the same step rather than jumping to a stronger product. Some marks take several rounds, so give each step a fair try before you move on.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your countertops
Marker on granite countertops
The steps above are built for laminate and solid surface, not natural stone, so don't use them as written on granite. Granite is a different surface with different limits, and the stone steps in our Marble & Natural Stone guide are the place to go for it.
Marker on quartz countertops
Don't assume what works on laminate and solid surface is right for quartz. Quartz needs its own approach, and our Quartz guide covers the method for that surface step by step.
Marker on marble countertops
Vinegar is unsafe on marble, so skip it even though it's a common home fix, and laminate or solid surface cleaning doesn't carry over to marble, which is natural stone. Blot the marker first with a clean dry white cloth, then wipe with mild soap and water.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A mark that has sat for a while, or dried into the surface, needs more than a mild wipe. On laminate only, the next step is acetone, rubbing alcohol or ethanol in circular motions on a damp cloth. Use a nylon bristle brush if the spot is stubborn, then remove all traces of the cleaner.
Rinse everything out with plain water before anything else goes on, and make bleach the last product you use. On laminate, undiluted household bleach or nail polish remover can go on for no more than two minutes, then rinse with warm water and dry. Repeat only if the stain is fading and the surface color is unaffected.
Solid surface can't take acetone-based cleaners, so on that surface stop at the finish cleaner. Permanent marker that has dried hard may not come out at all, even with these steps.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on marker on countertops?
Plenty of home remedies are made for fabric and don't suit a counter. The ones that suit marker are built into the cleaning or the laminate-only treatment, and the rest are worth skipping.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
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.
Baking soda + Comet / Ajax
Comet's label says not to mix it with other products.
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 use steel wool or abrasive pads on laminate
Steel wool and abrasive pads damage laminate, and the metal can rust and stain it. Don't leave steel wool sitting on the counter either, even for storage.
Don't set hot pans on laminate
Pots straight from the oven or burner can crack or blister laminate. Set them on a trivet or let them cool before they go near the counter.
Don't use acetone on solid surface
Solid surface can't take paint removers, thinners or acetone-based cleaners. If one touches it, wash it off quickly.
Don't mix chlorine bleach with other products
Bleach mixed with ammonia gives off toxic fumes, and it shouldn't meet vinegar, other acids or rubbing alcohol. Rinse each product out with plain water before you use the next one.
When to call a professional
If the mark stays on a solid surface after the finish cleaner, a certified or professional fabricator is the next call. Semi-gloss and gloss finishes can need that kind of help for repairs, and a service charge may apply. On laminate, the steps and the set-in treatment here are as far as you should go on your own.
Questions
Can permanent marker come off a countertop?
It can, if you act while it's fresh. Blot it, then work through the soap wipe and the baking soda paste before you try anything stronger. Permanent marker that has dried may not come out at all.
How do you get Sharpie off a countertop?
Start with blotting and the mild soap wipe, the same way you would for any marker. If it's still there, add the baking soda paste, and on solid surface match the cleaner to the finish.
Does heat help remove marker from a counter?
No. Heat sets stains, so keep hot pans, hair dryers and hot air away from the mark until it's gone.
Does fresh marker come off easier than old marker?
Yes. Fresh marker usually lifts with blotting and the soap wipe, while old marker needs the baking soda paste or the laminate-only treatment below.
How do you get marker off granite?
Blot it first with a clean, dry white cloth, and keep vinegar and other acids off the stone. The steps above are built for laminate and solid surface, so follow the Marble & Natural Stone guide for the stone method.
Does quartz need a different method for marker?
The steps above are for laminate and solid surface, so don't assume they're right for quartz. Blot the marker first, then use the Quartz guide for the method.
Can you get marker off marble?
Blot it first, and skip vinegar, which is unsafe on marble. For the method, the Marble & Natural Stone guide is the right place to go.
Marker on other materials
Other stains on countertops
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.