Dry-erase markers are great for leaving notes and reminders for yourself or others, but they can be a real pain to remove. These multi-purpose markers are made of a special type of ink that does not blend well with most chemicals, so you might feel like erasing it takes a special cleaner.
But the truth is you can learn how to remove dry erase markers from a couch with simple remedies.
Check out some great tips below.
Table of Contents
Ways to Get Dry Erase Markers Out of a Couch
1. For Upholstery Fabric Couch
Murphy’s oil soap is a versatile solution for removing fabric furniture, including couches and sofas. You can get it online or offline.
What you will need to prepare:
- Murphy’s oil soap
- Water
- A mixing bowl or a similar container
- Two microfiber towels
What you will need to do:
- Combine Murphy’s oil soap and water to dilute the soap well.
- Then, dampen a microfiber towel with the soapy mixture and apply it to the dry erase marker stain.
- Dab the stained spot gently and lift the ink off. Repeat the step until the stain is gone.
- Wipe the treated spot with a new, wet microfiber towel.
You can create a DIY mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol to get dry erase markers off a couch. The materials are accessible, and the steps are surprisingly simple!
What you will need to prepare:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Some cotton balls
- White vinegar
- Water
- A mixing bucket or basin
What you will need to do:
- Pour some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball. You should work with just one cotton ball at a time.
- Press the cotton ball against the dry erase marker stain on your couch. It should absorb the ink and lift it from the fabric. Repeat the step with a new cotton ball each time until the stain is mostly faded.
- Fill a bucket or a basin with warm water. Then, add a cup of white vinegar. Combine the two well.
- If the stain is on a removable part of the couch, like a cushion cover, detach it and soak it in the bucket or basin. If it is not detachable, soak a cloth in the mixture.
- Wring the soaked cloth, so it is not dripping wet. Then, lay it directly on top of the stain. Keep it there for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, remove the cloth and grab a fresh one. Wet it, and blot the treated spot clean.
What you will need to prepare:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Dish soap
- A mixing bowl or similar container
- A sponge
- Two cloths
What you will need to do:
- Blend equal parts of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide in a bowl or a similar container.
- Then, dampen the sponge with the mixture. Use the sponge against the dry erase marker stain, scrubbing gently.
- Continue scrubbing until the ink fades completely.
- Blot and wipe the treated surface with a fresh, damp cloth.
- Pat dry the surface with another dry cloth to finish.
Note: If you do not dry the treated surface properly, it might get a musty smell.
2. For Upholstery Microfiber Couch
What you will need to prepare:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Some cotton balls
- A soft-bristle brush or toothbrush
What you will need to do:
- Pour some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or spray it directly on the dry erase marker stain.
- Then, press the cotton ball against the stain. Continue until the marker ink has been lifted.
- Let the treated spot air dry. Check if the stain is completely gone. If it is not, repeat the cleaning process.
- Brush the spot to restore its softness. You do not need to use a lot of force here.
OxiClean is a typical household cleaner formulated with tough stain-treating ingredients. Hence, it is a great option for dealing with dry erase markers on couches and sofas.
What you will need to prepare:
- OxiClean
- Hot water
- A bowl or similar container
- A spray bottle
- Two cloths
What you will need to do:
- Blend OxiClean and hot water in a bowl or a similar container. Be sure to mix them well.
- Transfer the mixture into a spray bottle. Cap the spray bottle securely and give it a good shake.
- Point the nozzle at the dry erase marker stain and spritz a generous amount. You should saturate the spot.
- Let it work its magic for 5 minutes. Then, wipe the stain away with a damp cloth.
- Blot dry the treated spot with another fresh cloth.
OxiClean removes dry erase marker stains on fabric sofas as well.
3. For Leather Couch
Hand sanitizer that contains alcohol is an effective dry erase marker stain removal option.
What you will need to prepare:
- Hand sanitizer containing alcohol
- Three soft cloths
What you will need to do:
- Dispense some hand sanitizer on a soft cloth.
- Use the soft cloth against the dry erase marker stain. Let it sit for roughly 20 seconds.
- Rub the stain gently in circular motions. Continue rubbing until the stain is completely gone.
- Wipe the treated area once more with a fresh, wet cloth. Then, dry the treated area with another cloth to complete.
What you will need to prepare:
- Spray-on sunscreen
- Three soft cloths
What you will need to do:
- Spritz a moderate amount of sunscreen on the dry erase marker stain. Do not apply so much that the sunscreen drips.
- Use a soft cloth to dab, then rub the sunscreen against the stain. This should lift the ink. Keep rubbing until the ink fades entirely.
- Go over the spot that you have just rubbed with another wet cloth.
- Pat dry the spot with a new, wet cloth.
Other Advanced Tips
How to get EXPO markers out of a couch?
EXPO markers have dry erase ink. So, you can use rubbing alcohol/acetone or OxiClean to remove them easily.
Hydrogen peroxide dry erase marker? Can I use hydrogen peroxide on a couch?
Generally, you can use it on fabric furniture.But you should avoid using hydrogen peroxide on leather couches and sofas. It might discolor or damage the texture of the leather.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you are working with a fabric, microfiber, or leather couch, this in-depth blog post on how to remove dry erase markers from a couch should be useful. You might want to give them all a try to find the best fit for your couch.
Hopefully, you have gotten the information you need. If you have any follow-up questions on the topic, feel free to reach out to us in the comments down below.
Read more: Ways to get dry erase marker out of other surfaces such as clothes, wall, plastic and etc.
Hi, I am Eveline Kessler, a content creator. My love for colors and arts draws me here to join the Intermediarts team with Leilani. I am responsible for testing new products and techniques with her and providing honest reviews and tips based on our experience. I have gained a lot of knowledge from this, and I believe you will find her suggestions to be invaluable as well.
