How to Remove Marker Stains
Those with children know for sure how toddlers love to draw. And they do their drawings not only on paper, but also on themselves, on their clothes, on our bed linens, and so on. They can also leave an open marker on our table cloth, and that’s when you usually find a big stain on your favorite item. However, even adults can occasionally get a marker stain on their clothes.
5-Minute Crafts would like to share a few simple methods with you that will help you remove marker stains from fabric. In the end, there’s a bonus — you’ll find out how to remove marker stains from ceramics.
General information
- Markers come in different types: water-based, alcohol-based, and oil-based. You can find the information about their composition on the packaging.
- To remove stains from each type of marker, you should choose those products that are similar in composition. So, water-based markers should be washed with water, and then you should remove the remaining stains with the methods described below. The stains from alcohol-based markers and permanent markers should be removed with alcohol or cologne, by applying a cotton pad to the stain. Use vegetable oil to remove oil-based markers.
- Wash your items of clothing as soon as you see a stain, otherwise, the paint will set into the fiber of the fabric, and it will be much more difficult to remove it.
- Use cool water to remove stains. Hot water will make the stain set deeper into the fabric.
- If you use cotton pads when removing stains, change them as soon as they become dirty so as not to stain your clothes even further.
Method 1: With the help of hydrogen peroxide
This method can only be used if you stained a white item because hydrogen peroxide has bleaching properties and can ruin colored fabric.
First, rub the marker stains under cool running water. Next, pour 3% hydrogen peroxide solution on the stain and leave it for a while. Then wash the item as you usually would and rinse thoroughly.
Method 2: With the help of dishwashing liquid
Rinse the stained item in cool water. Then rub dishwashing liquid into the stain and set the item aside for a couple of hours. Then wash it as usual.
Method 3: With the help of ammonia
Mix ammonia and water at a ratio of 2 to 1. Apply the resulting mixture directly onto the stain (rinse the item in cool water before that) and leave it for 5 minutes. Then gently scrub the stain with a toothbrush and wash the item as usual.
Method 4: With the help of ammonia and detergent
Take 2 tablespoons of ammonia and 2 tablespoons of detergent and dilute them in a small amount of cool water. Rinse the stained item in water. Use a dish sponge to apply this solution to the stain and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. Then wash the item.
Method 5: With the help of alcohol
This method will be good enough for the stains from alcohol-based markers. Wet a cotton pad with alcohol and apply it to the stain until it disappears. Replace cotton pads as soon as they become dirty. Then wash the item.
Method 6: With the help of sanitizer
To remove a permanent marker stain from fabric, apply hand sanitizer to the stain and rub in with a cotton pad. You should choose a sanitizer that contains alcohol — this component helps to remove permanent marker stains. Sprinkle baking soda on top.
Pour a little bit of lemon juice on the baking soda, then scrub the stain with your toothbrush. Lemon juice combined with baking soda is a versatile remedy that can remove most stains. After that, wash the item and you can wear it.
Bonus: How to remove permanent marker from ceramic tiles
Apply some toothpaste to the stain and scrub it thoroughly with a toothbrush. Then remove the toothpaste with a paper napkin.