Terms of UseHow to Remove Permanent Marker from a White Board Explore this Article methods 1 Using a Dry Erase Marker 2 Using Common Household Items Other Sections Questions & Answers VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Article Summary Author Info
Last Updated: May 27, 2025 Tested
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wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 52 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 906,532 times.
If you accidentally grabbed your permanent marker when writing on your white board, don't worry! There are several quick, easy solutions that will allow you to remove the permanent ink with little or no damage to your board.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Using a Dry Erase Marker
1 Use a dry-erase marker to draw over the permanent ink. Cover the marks as completely as you can, and be sure there the dry-erase marker isn't dried out and has plenty of ink.
It doesn't matter what color dry erase marker you use.
2 Wipe off the ink with a clean wipe board eraser or a soft rag. Both the permanent and dry-erase marker should come off easily. This occurs because permanent and dry-erase markers contain a non-polar solvent. The solvent in the dry-erase marker will dissolve the permanent marker, detaching it from the surface of the board.[1]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Repeat the process if the board isn't entirely free of markings. It may take multiple attempts to get the marker off completely. You may want to try a dry-erase cleaning solution, but they contain similar, some times weaker, solvents as the dry erase marker, so the marker is actually more effective.[2]XResearch source Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Using Common Household Items
1 Pour a small amount of hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol or non-acetone nail polish remover onto a clean, soft rag or paper towel. Do not use any type of abrasive cleanser, such as Clorox or something with grit, as this will damage the surface of your board and it will stain permanently.[3]XResearch source
Wipe away the permanent ink with the wet cloth.
Wipe the board with a wet cloth to remove any remnants of the solvent, otherwise it may interfere with the dry erase marker when you try to write on the board.
Dry the board completely before use.
2 Spray on some WD-40. WD-40 can commonly be found in the home. Simply spray some WD-40 directly onto the marker stain then scrub it with a clean cloth to remove. Please note that WD-40 is very strong. Only use WD-40 outside or in a well-ventilated area. [4]XResearch source
3 Use a pencil eraser and rub the mark well. Only try this if the other methods don't work, as scrubbing the board with the eraser could potentially damage the surface. Advertisement
Community Q&A
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Question How do I remove permanent marker on plastic? Community Answer The steps on method 1 should work on plastic. I would not recommend using the eraser method, as I don't think that will work. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 25 Helpful 32
Question What chemical is used in permanent markers? Community Answer In a permanent marker like a Sharpie, the nasty smell is organic chemicals, such as xylene, and the solvent of their choice, such as alcohol, ethanol or isopropanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl. There is at least propanol, butanol, and diacetone. Resin or polymer is added as a "binder" that promotes adhesion. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 21 Helpful 25
Question How do I get old eraser marks off a whiteboard completely? Community Answer Using glass cleaner and wiping it away with a soft rag gets rid of old and new dry erase marker spots. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 17
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Video
Tips
Or, you could use some perfume if you have any.[5]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Some have reported better results when letting the marks sit no longer than 30 seconds - not 5 to 10 minutes. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 3
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Warnings
The marker board will be permanently damaged if you use anything that changes the surface of the board. Thanks Helpful 26 Not Helpful 11
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Things You'll Need
Using a Dry Erase Marker
A dry-erase white board marker
A white board eraser
Using Household Items
A pencil eraser
Rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover
Paper towel or soft rag
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Tested by: wikiHow Video Team wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 52 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 906,532 times. 31 votes - 74% Co-authors: 52Updated: May 27, 2025 Views: 906,532Article SummaryX
To remove permanent marker from a white board, use a rag to rub the permanent marker with rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, or acetone. You can also try coloring over the permanent marker with a dry-erase marker and then wiping it all off with a white board eraser. If the permanent marker is still there, scrub the marker with a pencil eraser until it comes off of the board. If you want to learn how to clean off any solvent you used on your whiteboard, keep reading the article!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Rose W.
Mar 24, 2017
"Accidentally used a permanent marker all over a work whiteboard. First tried the marker over it trick, which got it out about 50%. Tried it several times. Never got it better than that until I watched the video and did the nail polish remover trick. Luckily I had some remover pads in my purse. That knocked it out the rest of the way."..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Tested by: wikiHow Video Team 31 votes - 74% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 52Updated: May 27, 2025 Views: 906,532
Rose W.
Mar 24, 2017
"Accidentally used a permanent marker all over a work whiteboard. First tried the marker over it trick, which got it out about 50%. Tried it several times. Never got it better than that until I watched the video and did the nail polish remover trick. Luckily I had some remover pads in my purse. That knocked it out the rest of the way."..." more Rated this article:
Pat Shields
Feb 27, 2018
"Someone in our office literally filled the whiteboard with a multi-colored comparison chart! I tried the dry erase, but the permanent marker didn't disappear. Tried the hand sanitizer in one spot and voila! It'll take awhile, but it's doing the trick. Thanks for posting these great cleaning options."..." more Rated this article:
Olufunsho Oladele
Feb 23, 2017
"I used the hand sanitizer method, and it worked like magic. I thought I will never be able to remove the silly drawings on the white board done with a permanent marker in the conference room of my organization. Thank you, it was life saver!"..." more
Rachel Broadbent
Feb 21, 2019
"It was a pretty large surface covered with the permanent marker, so even though using a dry erase marker over it worked, it would take a long time and a lot of marker. I opted for the nail polish remover (non-acetone), which worked great!"..." more
Ellie W.
May 13, 2019
"My uncle decided to write a sweet Mothers Day note to my aunt on a white board. But he used permanent marker! Putting Expo over the permanent marker and then wiping it off worked. Thank you so much!"..." more More success stories Hide success stories
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1 Use a dry-erase marker to draw over the permanent ink. Cover the marks as completely as you can, and be sure there the dry-erase marker isn't dried out and has plenty of ink. 
2 Wipe off the ink with a clean wipe board eraser or a soft rag. Both the permanent and dry-erase marker should come off easily. This occurs because permanent and dry-erase markers contain a non-polar solvent. The solvent in the dry-erase marker will dissolve the permanent marker, detaching it from the surface of the board.[1] Advertisement 
Community Answer The steps on method 1 should work on plastic. I would not recommend using the eraser method, as I don't think that will work. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 25 Helpful 32 
Community Answer In a permanent marker like a Sharpie, the nasty smell is organic chemicals, such as xylene, and the solvent of their choice, such as alcohol, ethanol or isopropanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl. There is at least propanol, butanol, and diacetone. Resin or polymer is added as a "binder" that promotes adhesion. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 21 Helpful 25