How to Clean a Blackboard

There are all sorts of chemicals, soaps, and other products that can make your blackboard cleaner than ever. However, these products can damage blackboards. When it comes to cleaning a typical blackboard, nothing works better than the old standby--plain water. In more desperate cases, there are some simple ways to clean a blackboard that seems like it is beyond repair.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Erasers
• Bucket
• Water
• Sponge or rag
• Vinegar
• Chalkboard paint

Basic Blackboard Washing

1. Before your begin, make sure to erase the board with a clean eraser. Have a student clap the erasers often to remove excess dust.

2. Dip a rag or a sponge in a bucketful of water. Beginning at the top-left corner, move across the board to wash one stripe at the top of the board. Then begin at the other end, right beneath the wet stripe, and wash the stripe right beneath it. Continue until you reach the bottom of the board.

3. Wait for the water to dry completely before writing on the blackboard. If the blackboard has not dried completely, any added chalk will be much more difficult to remove.

Tips & Warnings

• To give your blackboard an extra shine, pretreat a cloth with a few drops of lemon oil and leave overnight. The next day, run it over the blackboard. If the blackboard is very old or extremely dirty, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the bucket of water.
• Do not wash your blackboard every day. Erase it well daily, and wash it as seldom as possible.

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