From households to industries, permanent markers have a use everywhere. Apart from writing on paper, they are useful in marking on hard and rough surfaces of wood, rubber, and stone.
Using them is a bit tricky though, and sometimes by accident, you might end up having a permanent stain on your fabrics, furniture, or skin. Removing stains through professional help may cost you a fortune. But, by following our ultimate guide to removing permanent markers, you will be able to remove these stains from every surface in a very economical way.
Before talking about the ways, let's understand the composition of permanent markers. So without further ado, let's get started.
Composition of Permanent Markers
- The physical components of these markers are the marker body, tip, cap, a reservoir that holds ink, and the ink itself.
- Plastic resin is used for manufacturing their body and cap, while polyester is used for making the reservoir. In general, the tip that you see in all kinds of markers is most commonly made of felt.
- These indelible markers comprise the ink that is made of four base ingredients. These ingredients are water, additives, preservatives, and solvent.
Though these are great for creating lasting memories through artwork, permanent markers can also cause trouble when used accidentally on a surface.
Luckily, here are some household remedies to remove permanent marker stains. So, follow the instructions below and learn how to get rid of these stains in a pocket-friendly manner.
Ultimate Guide to Removing Permanent Marker Stains
How to remove permanent markers from hard and non-porous surfaces?
- Use Alcohol: This is the best way to get rid of these stains and any liquor above ‘80 proof’ will work. Apply alcohol to a clean towel or cloth and rub the wet spot of the towel or cloth over the stain.
- Use Dry erase marker: Dry erase marker contains rubbing alcohol, hence suitable for the process. You need to draw over the previous marker stain with dry erase marker and wipe it away with a clean towel. This trick is the best when you want to alter the label of a plastic item or whiteboard.
- Use a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda: Apply one part toothpaste on the stain. Then sprinkle one part baking soda on the toothpaste. Wait for some moments to let it sit. Rub the mixture over the stain in a circular motion with slightly dampened cloth. This trick is also effective for removing stains from wood.
How to remove permanent markers from fabrics?
- Implement Mixture of vinegar, borax, lemon juice and milk: Using this mixture to remove stains from satin fabrics is super effective. Firstly, you need to mix the solution well and then apply it to the stain. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. Now, dab a clean and dampened sponge at the fabric until the stain fades away.
- Use Bleach: White fabrics respond well to diluted bleach. Put a small amount of bleach in water and immerse the stained part into the mixture. The stain may require soaking. While soaking, make sure that bleach doesn’t start to dissolve fabric. Once the stain has gone away, wash the fabric immediately.
How to remove permanent markers from furniture?
- Use nail polish remover: Apply some nail polish remover to dry, clean cloth and dab it at the stain. Put some more remover on another dry part of the cloth and dab it again. This needs to be done until the stain comes away. Lastly, place the furniture in the outdoors for drying.
- Apply an aerosol hairspray: You have to spray some hairspray on the leather upholstery that needs to be cleaned. Then, gently rub a clean cloth over the stain until cleaned. Once you're done with cleaning, use a damp cloth to remove any hairspray residue. End this task by working a little leather conditioner into the furniture.
How to remove permanent markers from skin?
- Place alcohol: Put a little alcohol on a sponge and rub it into the stained part of skin. There are some chances that a faint mark may remain but this will completely go after a shower or two.
- Spray hand sanitizer: Sprinkle some sanitizer into your hand. Then, rub it directly into the stain and finally, wipe it away with a towel.
Due to the use of the same solvent in them, many people think dry erase markers and permanent markers are the same. There is a small difference between these two kinds of markers and these differences are explained below.
How Permanent Markers are Different from Dry Erase Markers?
The addition of different polymers in their ink is what makes them dissimilar to each other. In any dry erase marker, an ‘oily silicone polymer’ is used while in any permanent marker, ‘acrylic polymer’ is employed.
On porous surfaces, you might have seen these dry erase markers function like permanent markers. That’s because on these surfaces, dry erase markers are similar to permanent markers but on glass and whiteboards their functionality differs. Dry erase markers are easily erased from these slick surfaces and that’s not happening in the case of permanent markers.
- In industries, the applications of permanent markers have increased so much in recent decades. For making a strong impression on rough and hard surfaces, permanent markers are your best bet.
- If you’re also searching for permanent markers built specifically for industrial use, we suggest you Black Marsh 88 Pigment Marker that is the most suitable marker for heavy-duty outdoor use. It is an eco-friendly marker that is entirely Xylene free. Completely water and UV resistant and weatherproof. It dries in less than 30 seconds on every surface including plastic, rubber, metal, and corrugated boxes.
Parting Notes
Save your hard-earned money by following the home remedies we've listed above. If you're interested in buying more permanent markers and pens, you can find them all at our store, Pro Pack Solutions. You'll also buy inks that can obliterate old marks on tan-colored containers and one such product is W-15 Tan Mark over Ink.
For more information, kindly visit our website. We're sure, you'd be delighted by seeing the varieties of pens and inks we provide.