Have you ever used a permanent marker on plastic and then realized that you couldn’t get it off?
I’m not talking about a quick dash that you wipe off when you realize what you have done. I’m talking about the plastic lunchbox that you wrote “Have a great 1st day of school” – but that was six months ago and your child doesn’t want to take it to school anymore. So, do you get the marker off or fight with your kid or give in and buy a new one (NEVER!)?
Or what about when your sweet darling daughter decides to “decorate” her plastic playhouse with permanent marker. It’s kind of cute… until it isn’t anymore. So, what do you do?
There is no need to thrown out these items or even get upset. I’ve discovered the easiest, most incredible solution to this problem. This is even more magical than the magic eraser that I wrote about.
But first, I need to tell you that I tried everything that I could think of to get rid of this marker before I discovered this magic tip.
I tried rubbing it off. I tried soap and water. I tried scratching the ink off. Nothing really worked. Well, scratching kind of worked but it destroyed the plastic underneath, so what’s the point?
So, here’s the way to remove permanent marker from plastic:
Scribble over the permanent marker with a dry erase marker. Then wipe off. MAGIC!!!
Perhaps you don’t have a dry erase marker and yet you need to remove permanent marker. Here are 10 more products to try to remove the marker. I can’t vouch for them, I can only say that I have seen them suggested. As always try these ideas on a small inconspicuous corner first.
- WD-40 – My husband swears by this product for just about everything.
- Hand Sanitizer – I have tried this method and it does work, but not as well as using a dry erase marker. But, you’re hands will be sanitized when you are done.
- Toothpaste – Most toothpastes have a bit of abrasive ingredients which is why this works.
- Ben-Gay – has alcohol in it, so this is why it works.
- Bar Keeper’s Friend cleanser – this is a mild cleaner. It has abrasives, but they are very fine so they won’t scratch your surface.
- Baking soda and water – make a paste and leave on for a few minutes and then buff off.
- Baking soda and vinegar – put a thin later of baking soda and then sprinkle vinegar. It will foam. Leave for a few minutes and then wipe off.
- Rubbing alcohol – 99% or 90% works best (so they say.)
- Peroxide – wipe on, wipe off.
- Used coffee grounds – sprinkle, buff, remove residue.
So, did you go and find something with permanent marker and try out this tip? Did it work? You’re welcome.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
So… my darling angel of a son wrote so not so angelic words by the backseat of the car and we are wanting to sell the car ; ) Thank you so much for these suggestions- a combo of the dry erase marker, toothpaste and a bit of WD-40 did the trick!
So glad you were able to get it out!
I had a can of goof off and it took it off fast, one wipe. I was marking the older yogurt vs red sharpie and accidentlly put a red sharpie line on my new refridgerator plastic. Rubbing alcohol expires- who knew- and it did not make a dent. I could not find the WD40 but that spray can of goof off was the bomb!!
I’ll have to remember that about Goof Off! Thanks for sharing!
Someone wrote in permanent marker on my son’s Collector Edition video game (Zelda).
Awesome! Dry erase marker (black even!) worked immediately. Thanks so much.
Glad it worked!
Nail polish remover worked after all of your solutions failed.
None of these worked.
I tried rubbing alcohol, peroxide and fingernail polish remover but nothing seemed to work. I went into my bathroom cabinet and found Scrubbing Bubbles foaming bleach bathroom cleaner. I sprayed it on and it wiped off completely. I used a mask and a pair of rubber gloves.
That’s good to know!
On an outside, not totally smooth plastic slide, I tried most of these. The combination of toothpaste and peroxide with a mild scrubbie worked. The dry erase marker would have worked if the surface was smooth.
Hair spray works too! I always use permanent marker to label my planner divider tabs. Then whenever I want to change the label I spay some hair spray onto a paper towel and wipe it off.
I tried most of these and they did not take it completely off.
So, I was going for the Bar Keepers and instead tried —Shaklee “Get Clean” scour off.
Oh! my! word! It worked like magic!!
No trace of color and No scratches!!!
Wow!
Thought I’d pass this along.
Wow, I’ve never heard of Get Clean! Where did you buy it?
I used black permamarkers last year to write names of veggies I was growing on my garden veggie “stakes” (the smooth, plastic kind).
Needed to remove what I had written last year so I could permamark re-mark what I am going to plant this year. Tried about four or five things, but permamarker would not come off (maybe too old?). Anyway, grabbed some toothpaste (the whitening kind) and a paper towel….and the old writing came right off, not a trace left.
I didn’t have a dry erase marker so I tried acetone, hand sanitizer (wondering how sanitizing this stuff really is), peroxide, alcohol, toothpaste (whitening kind) and the only thing that worked on this Rubbermaid pitcher was Goo Gone and it worked like a charm.
Glad you found a solution!
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