How to Remove Permanent Marker From Plastic or Vinyl

If you have very creative small children, chances are high that they will get permanent marker somewhere on your wall or floor. And any heavy-handed writer could accidentally have wet marker seep through the paper onto your floors, wall or table tops. With a few easy steps, and some household cleaning products, you can remove most permanent marker stains from your vinyl or plastic surfaces. You can also purchase from a hardware or grocery store some products that are made specifically for cleaning marker stains. Choose a method that works best for you.

Things You'll Need

• Warm water
• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge
• Clean cloths
• 3M Scotch-Brite sponge/cleaning pad
• Vinegar
• Rubbing alcohol
• Dish detergent
• Ammonia -based cleaning agent
• Nail polish remover
• Toothpaste

Instructions

1. Try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge. Moisten the sponge with warm water and scrub in a circular buffing motion until the stain is removed.

2. Use kitchen products such as vinegar to clean the stain. Mix 1 tbsp. of vinegar with 1 tbsp. of dish detergent and 2 cups of warm water, and apply the solution to a clean 3M Scotch-Brite sponge. Scrub in a circular rubbing motion. Let the solution sit on the stain for about ten minutes, and scrub at the stain again. Flush with water once the stain disappears.

3. If you do not have vinegar, follow the previous step, but use an ammonia-based cleaner instead of vinegar. All times and mixing proportions remain the same.

4. Use some alcohol from your first aid cabinet to clean the stain. Moisten a clean cotton cloth with rubbing alcohol and rub the stain in a buffing motion. Let the alcohol sit on the stain for about five minutes, then flush with water to remove the alcohol.

5. Use a non-acetone nail polish remover by pouring a bit of the nail polish remover onto the stain. Let it sit for about five minutes, and then remove it with a clean cloth dampened with warm water. Be sure to choose a remover that contains no acetone. Acetone can react poorly with the chemicals in vinyl.

6. Reach for your toothpaste if all else fails. Apply a whitening toothpaste like Colgate Total Whitening Gel to a clean cloth dampened with warm water and scrub the stain.

Tips & Warnings

• If the spot you're cleaning is particularly dirty, it may be helpful to wash the spot with hot water and dish detergent first so that you may clean the marker stain most effectively.

• Test all products on inconspicuous area before using directly on a vinyl surface that is highly visible in your home.

References

• Good Housekeeping
• Mrs. Clean USA
• Creative Homemaking