How to Make Whiteboard Cleaner

Whiteboards are often portable, making them easy to clean and transport.

Schools, hospitals, homes and a number of other environments have replaced chalkboards with whiteboards. Also known as dry-erase boards, whiteboards are easy to care for and they are not as messy to use as chalkboards. However, to maintain a whiteboard long-term, you need to know how to properly clean it. Using the wrong types of cleaning products on a whiteboard can damage it, reducing its usefulness.

Things You'll Need

• Dry eraser
• Dry erase markers
• Rubbing alcohol
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Lint-free cloth

Instructions

1. Remove as much of the marker on the whiteboard as you can using the whiteboard eraser. Stubborn or permanent marker stains can often be lifted if you color over them with fresh dry erase marker, then immediately wipe the marker away with the dry eraser.

2. Mix 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol with 1 cup of water in a clean spray bottle. If using a rubbing alcohol that is 90-percent alcohol, mix 1/3 cup of alcohol to 1 cup of water in the spray bottle.

3. Shake the spray bottle of homemade whiteboard cleaner before each use to blend the two ingredients. Spray the board with the cleaner. Use a clean, lint-free cloth to scrub the surface of the whiteboard.

4. Pour undiluted rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth to rub directly on any permanent marker stains that are not gone after the initial phase of cleaning.

Tips & Warnings

• Always test homemade whiteboard cleaner in an inconspicuous area of the board to ensure your board tolerates the alcohol-based cleaner.

References

• Murerase: The Use of Disinfectant Wipes to Clean Whiteboards in Hospitals
• How to Clean Stuff: How to Remove Permanent Marker from a Dry Erase Board