First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot wet ink with a clean, dry white cloth or white paper towel.
- Act while it's fresh, because dried marker takes much longer to lift.
- Keep heat away, with no dryer, iron or hot air, until the marker is gone.
Marble handles water well, but permanent marker that has dried is a much harder job than a fresh mark. A set stain can take repeated treatments, and some shadows may never come out completely. Polished marble can also dull under a poultice, so the finish is part of the decision.
Test any stone cleaner on a hidden corner first, since polished marble can dull the moment a product touches it. If you're trying to get permanent marker off a marble counter, a pH-neutral stone cleaner is the product to reach for first. A poultice is the next step for a stain that survives that pass, so only move to one if the simpler cleaner didn't work.
Before you start
What marble & natural stone can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid1
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
5 items
What you'll need
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- Clean white cloths or white paper towelsThey blot the ink without passing color back onto the stone. (opens Amazon)
- Warm water with a little mild liquid soapIt makes the sudsy wipe that starts the job. (opens Amazon)
- Household ammoniaA few drops go into the sudsy water, and a cloth soaked in it goes on the spot in the ammonia soak. (opens Amazon)
- Rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl or 90% denatured, with no added color or fragrance)It is the soak that loosens the marker before the ammonia. (opens Amazon)
- Plain water and a soft dry clothRinsing removes each product, and the soft cloth dries the stone without scratching it. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Wipe with warm ammonia suds
Dip a clean cloth or sponge in warm water with a little mild liquid soap whipped into suds, then add a few drops of ammonia. Wipe the spot with light, even pressure. Refresh the suds as the cloth picks up color.
Tip. Use a fresh section of cloth as it fills with ink so you don't spread the color back.
Careful. Don't rub. Blot and work from the outside edge toward the center so the marker doesn't spread.
Step 2 of 6
Rinse off the first wipe
Rinse the area well with plain water to clear the soap and ammonia off the stone. Wipe it dry with a soft cloth and check the spot in good light before moving on.
Step 3 of 615 minutes
Soak the spot in rubbing alcohol
Lay a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol over the marker and leave it for 15 minutes. Keep the cloth wet for the full time.
Careful. Test the alcohol on a hidden spot first and stop if color transfers or changes.
Step 4 of 615 minutes
Rinse, then soak with ammonia
Rinse the alcohol off with plain water and wipe the spot dry. Lay a cloth soaked in ammonia over the spot for 15 minutes, keeping it wet.
Step 5 of 6
Alternate the soaks until it lifts
Repeat the alcohol and ammonia soaks in turn, rinsing with plain water and drying between each switch. Keep going while the marker still comes up onto the cloth.
Tip. Each round is one alcohol soak and one ammonia soak, so expect several rounds on an older mark.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse and dry the marble
Rinse the whole area thoroughly with plain water, then wipe it dry with a soft cloth. Check the spot in good light, and if any color is left, go back to the alcohol soak.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for marker on marble & natural stone
Choose a cleaner labeled for natural stone for the rest of the counter, and make sure it contains no acid.
Granite Gold® Daily Cleaner
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on marble & natural stone, 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
Each soak should pull less color onto the cloth than the one before. When the cloth comes away clean and the spot matches the stone around it, the marker is gone.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your marble & natural stone
Permanent marker
Permanent ink isn't made to come out in water, so don't count on the first wipe to do much. Once the surface is rinsed and dry, move on to the alcohol soak and keep the rounds going until the spot is clear.
If the marker has dried on the stone for a long time, expect more rounds. In that case, the set-in section below describes the next step.
Marble counter
The steps stay the same on a counter, but you'll be working on a surface that gets daily use. Marble holds up well against heat, so the main thing is a trivet under hot pots and pans while you work.
Keep the wet cloth to the spot itself, so liquid doesn't soak into seams or the edge of the counter. Dry each area as you finish it.
Old, dried or set-in stains
If the marker has been on the stone a long time, the six steps may not be enough, and a poultice is the next option. A poultice is left on the spot for 24 to 48 hours under plastic, then repeated.
Marker that has dried, or has been set by heat, may not come out at all. Difficult stains can take up to five applications, so plan for repeats instead of one long session.
A poultice can dull polished stone, so check the surface after each round. Some stains never come out completely, and if the mark is still there after repeated poultices, a professional stone restorer can usually lift most of it.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on marker on marble & natural stone?
You'll see many household cleaners suggested for marker. Only the ammonia and alcohol soaks suit marble, and most of the others are unsafe on stone or made for other stains.
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.
Ammonia + Rubbing alcohol
The ammonia maker's safety sheet says not to mix ammonia with other household chemicals.
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 vinegar or lemon on marble
Acids etch and dull marble, limestone and travertine, even when they seem to work on other surfaces. A dull, etched patch is harder to fix than the marker was.
Don't mix bleach and ammonia
Chlorine bleach must never be combined with ammonia, vinegar, other acids or rubbing alcohol. Rinse each product out with plain water before you move to the next one.
Don't scrub with powders or pads
Scouring powders, creams and scrub pads can scratch the polish, and scratches make any etch look worse. Stick with cloths and sponges and let the soaks do the work.
When to call a professional
Call a professional stone restorer for etched areas you can't fix and for deeper scratches or nicks. Periodic professional refinishing is also worth considering for a counter in regular use.
Questions
Can I use vinegar on marble to remove marker?
No. Vinegar is an acid, and acids etch and dull marble, so skip it and use the alcohol and ammonia soaks instead. Use the alcohol and ammonia soaks instead.
Will washable marker come out with soap and water?
Usually, yes, because washable marker is made to come out in water. Start with the sudsy wipe and rinse, then move to the soaks only if color remains.
Why do the soaks alternate instead of using one cleaner?
The stain is worked a round at a time, and each round is rinsed with plain water so no two products sit together. Keep alternating until the marker stops lifting.
Is chlorine bleach an option for marker on marble?
No; rubbing alcohol and ammonia are what lift marker on marble. Chlorine bleach is only meant for ink on light-colored stone, so skip it on marble.
How long should each soak last?
Each soak is 15 minutes, with the cloth kept wet for the full time. Rinse with plain water and dry the spot before you switch to the other product.
What if the marker has been on the stone for weeks?
Old marker takes more rounds, and it may need a poultice. If the soaks stop lifting color, use the set-in section as the next step.
Will a poultice damage my marble?
It can dull polished stone, so check the surface after each round. Use it only for stains the soaks can't lift.
Marker on other materials
Other stains on marble & natural stone
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.