In many situations, the dreaded permanent marker stain is the death knell for an item of clothing or upholstered furniture. But while many of us throw away the item in question at this stage, all hope isn’t necessarily lost.
Whether or not you can remove the mark depends on a range of factors, including the material, the colour of the ink, the amount of time since the mark occurred and the exact type of marker.
Whether you have permanent marker on clothing, furniture or yourself, there are some tried-and-tested ways of successfully removing all of it.
Removing permanent marker from carpet
Before you rush out to the nearest carpet store for a costly replacement, try blotting the permanent marker stain with a solution of white vinegar, dishwashing liquid and water. If the stain won’t budge, spray some vodka over the affected area, and continue to blot.
There are some commercial ink removers on the market, but if these substances aren’t working, it’s very unlikely that a dedicated agent containing many of the same ingredients will.
Removing permanent marker from upholstery
If you have permanent marker on your sofa, the removal process is a little different. Create a solution of dishwashing liquid and cold water — a cup should be enough. Add two tablespoons of white vinegar, and decant the solution into a spray bottle. Spray a mist of the solution over the affected upholstery, and gently dab it dry with a microfibre cloth. If you’re dealing with a particularly large stain, spray the solution liberally and give it at least 30 minutes of contact time.
Wet a clean microfibre cloth, and start to “dab away” the cleaning solution. Be very gently as you dab, as you don’t want to cause permanent damage to the fibres. Once you’re happy that the solution has been removed, dab with a dry cloth to soak up all of the excess moisture.
If you haven’t removed the stain, and you’re about to throw away your item of furniture, you really have nothing to lose. You can either add some vodka and hydrogen peroxide to your cleaning solution and repeat the process, or you can call in a team of specialists (although it may be more cost effective to purchase a replacement).
Removing permanent marker from clothes
If you have children in your home, the chances are you’ve already had to discard clothes because of stubborn marker stains. However, there is a very effective process of stain removal that can save certain fabrics from the scrapheap.
On a flat, hard surface (not carpet) lay out some paper towels. Place the marker stain face down on the towels, and start to “sponge” alcohol (vodka is best) onto the back of the garment. Be liberal with your use of alcohol at this stage, as you have very little to lose. The idea behind this process is to transfer as much ink as possible from the garment to the paper towels underneath.
If the paper towel method doesn’t work, try a stain removal agent designed specifically for clothes. Use lots of the product, and scrub the area with a stiff-bristled scrubbing brush. Of course, you won’t be able to do this with delicates fibres such as wool and silk. This will take time and some elbow grease, but if the garment is strong enough to withstand the abuse, you might be surprised at the results.
Removing permanent marker from skin
Permanent marker is just as effective on human skin as it is on fabric. The only reason is disappears over time is down to the way skin is constantly being shed and replaced. If you or your child has been unfortunate enough to come into contact with a permanent marker, special measures will be needed to remove it.
The easiest way to remove permanent marker from skin is with alcohol. If you have some vodka lying around, this can work well. Methylated spirit is also an effective ink removal agent. Pour the alcohol solution over the affected area of skin, and wash it normally with a gritty handsoap. After a few seconds of rigorous scrubbing, you should notice the marker beginning to vanish.
Wherever permanent marker strikes in your home, don’t admit defeat until you’ve tried everything.
