How to Remove Permanent Marker From Cotton Fabric
A permanent marker, contrary to what the name implies, can be made temporary if accidentally applied to an undesired surface. With a little elbow grease and some rubbing alcohol, a permanent marker can be anything but. Whether with an accidental swipe of the wrist or an artistic toddler getting into a desk drawer, we've all seen the unwanted markings of a Sharpie on our favorite garment. With the right tools it can be easy to remove and far less expensive than a professional cleaning. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
To Remove Permanent Marker
-
1
Place a stack of paper towels on a hard surface and place the garment with the stained side facing down on top of the stack. Since the paper towels will be used to absorb the stain, it is best to use a better quality, highly absorbent brand. This will cut down on the number of applications necessary to fully remove the marker.
-
2
Pour the rubbing alcohol over the marker in small spurts, making sure that the entire surface area of the stain is soaked. With a clean stack of paper towels on top of the garment, begin to gently press the stain into the stack underneath. Take care not to rub the garment, as this will only cause the stain to bleed, as well as put excess wear on the threading. Any brand of rubbing alcohol will suffice for this job, and most households commonly have rubbing alcohol in the medicine cabinet.
-
-
3
Remove the soiled paper towels and, if necessary, repeat the process several times with clean towels until the marker is fully removed. Thicker materials, such as sweatshirts, will require you to repeat this process multiple times in order to remove the stain.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Preparation is the key to successfully removing this type of stain. The rubbing alcohol will begin to penetrate the stain as soon as it is released, so you must have paper towels in position to absorb the marker right away.
