Dry-erase marker is not difficult to remove on clothes and from your skin, but it is a bit tricker when it is on a porous surface like a wall.
Still, the good news is, it is possible to learn how to get dry erase marker off wall. We will walk you through several methods using familiar cleaning agents in your household.
Read on!
Table of Contents
Methods to Clean Dry Erase Markers From Wall
Method 1: Using Rubbing Alcohol
This first method is recommended for small/light dry-erase marker stains. Rubbing alcohol has always been an excellent home remedy for cleaning. If you do not have one, make sure to add it to the shopping list.
What to Prepare
- Some rubbing alcohol
- Cotton swabs or cotton balls
- A cloth or rag
Once you have everything needed, follow the steps below.
- Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a cotton swab or ball.
- Use the cotton swab or ball to gently wipe the dry-erase marker stains on the wall.
- Finally, wipe the wall with a damp clean cloth or rag.
Method 2: Using Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover
If you have small and light stains on the walls drawn by your little ones, nail polish remover is the way to go.
What to Prepare
- Some acetone-free nail polish remover
- Cotton swabs or cotton balls
- A cloth or rag
- Put some nail polish remover onto a cotton swab or ball.
- Wipe the inked wall surface with the cotton swab or ball lightly.
- Go over the wall again with a clean, wet cloth or rag. Check that there are no residues.
Method 3: Using Acetone
Acetone is a strong solvent to clean dry erase markers off walls, but it might not be the best option for painted walls and wallpapers. You should patch test on an inconspicuous part of the wall first.
What to Prepare
- Some acetone
- Cotton swabs or cotton balls
- A cloth or rag
- Soak your cotton swab or ball with some acetone.
- Use the cotton swab or ball to wipe off the dry erase marker ink on the wall. Use light motions.
- Wipe the treated area again with a clean but wet cloth or rag once the stain disappears.
Method 4: Using Hairspray
If none of the methods above worked for you, this one with hairspray might. Grab the hairspray bottle and a few other items, as listed:
- Hairspray
- A cloth or rag
- Some paper tissue
- Spray a generous amount of hairspray on the stained area, ensuring that you are keeping it at a distance of several inches. Let’s not get too close to the wall.
- Take the clean cloth or rag that you have prepared. Use to scrub the inked spot gently.
- Use paper towels to clean the surface when the dry-erase marker stain fades.
Method 5: Using Toothpaste
Aside from cleaning your teeth, toothpaste can take dry-erase markers off walls. Go ahead and grab it from your bathroom. While you are there, get the following too.
What to Prepare
- Toothpaste – You should use a white toothpaste instead of gel toothpaste. The latter is not as effective.
- A toothbrush
- A cloth or rag
Once you have all the listed materials, proceed to remove whiteboard ink from your wall:
- Soak the clean and wring it so that it is not dripping wet.
- Hold the dampened rag over the inked spot on your wall. Ensure it covers the entire area.
- Apply toothpaste to the toothbrush. Use just enough for your stained spot.
- Remove the rag and grab your toothbrush with toothpaste.
- Use the toothbrush to scrub the marker ink stain. Take your time to do this thoroughly.
- Wash your rag, making sure it is clean. Use it to clean the treated area once more.
Method 6: Using Toothpaste & Baking Soda
If you need a really potent cleaner, as the stains have been there for quite some time, combining toothpaste and baking soda will be sufficient.
What to Prepare
- Toothpaste
- Baking soda
- A small bowl or similar container
- A toothbrush
- A cloth or rag
- Combine toothpaste and baking soda in a 1:1 ratio. Make sure it is well blended. The mixture should be paste-like.
- Load your toothbrush with the toothpaste and baking soda mixture. Use enough to cover your inked spot on the wall.
- Scrub the dry-erase marker stain with your toothbrush. Be sure to use gentle motions.
- Wipe the treated spot with a clean, wet cloth or rag once the ink stain is gone. Check that there are no residues.
Method 7: Using a Magic Eraser
You can use a Magic Eraser for cleaning wall markers writing walls. Do not worry if you are not familiar with this handy tool. It is essentially a sponge that can be used on a range of surfaces like carpet, wood, and glass.
- Wet the Magic Eraser. You need it to be damp but not dripping wet.
- Use the Magic Eraser to scrub the inked spot on your wall. You can use back-and-forth or circular motions, but make sure you are not applying too much force. The abrasive nature of the Magic Eraser can damage your wall if you are too forceful.
- Once the dry-erase marker stain disappears, go over the treated spot with a clean cloth or rag.
Method 8: Using a Stain Remover Spray
Stain remover sprays available on the market can get the job done. Consider these everyday products:
- Meyer’s Clean Day All-Purpose Cleaner Spray
- Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
- Spray Nine 26832 Heavy Duty Cleaner
Each product comes with its user manual or usage instructions. Follow them closely. When in doubt, reach out to the brand/manufacturer.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
#1 Always Tend to Marker Stains As Soon As Possible
Dealing with fresh marker stains is always easier than trying to get off old dry erase marker. Dried ink requires stronger solutions and more time and effort on your behalf.
#2 Always Start the Cleaning Process By Loosening the Ink
Cleaning is much more effective if you start by loosening up the marker ink stain. You just need to hold a damp cloth or rag over it. Make sure that the cloth/rag is wet but not dripping wet.
#3 You Can Mix & Match the Methods
Sometimes, one method might not get the job done. You can mix and match the methods to take the dry erase marker stain off your wall. We recommends:
- Using rubbing alcohol (Method 1)
- Using stain-remover spray (Method 8)
- Using toothpaste (Method 5)
- Using hairspray (Method 4)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does dry erase marker come off of walls?
Yes! You can use the methods we have above to remove dry erase markers from walls. It may take a bit of trial and error, but rest assured that the results will be worth it.
How to get EXPO markers off the wall?
You can remove EXPO markers from walls using any of the methods we have described above. We suggest trying the approaches without rubbing alcohol first. These are less likely to hurt your wall surface.
What removes dried-on dry erase markers?
Dried-on dry erase marker is tougher to remove but not impossible. The methods above can get rid of them, but you will probably need to repeat the process several times.
Conclusion
You now have multiple cleaning methods up your sleeves, using simple cleaners available in your home! No need to worry about how to get dry erase marker off wall anymore.
Feel free to try various methods to remove the stains completely from your wall.
