How to Take Permanent Marker Stains Out of Clothing

Remove permanent marker stains from clothing instead of throwing your clothing away.

Permanent marker stains are challenging to remove. Once you notice the stain, you need to begin treating it before the marker permanently sets into the clothes. You can remove the stain with common household ingredients like rubbing alcohol to draw it out of the fabric. After you remove the stain, you can safely wash it according the care instructions. Instead of throwing your clothes away because you fear they are ruined, you can at least try to remove the stain to salvage the clothes.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Cotton ball
• Rubbing alcohol
• Washcloth

Instructions

1. Set the permanent marker stain face down on paper towels. Place paper towels inside a shirt or pants to keep the stain from bleeding through while you treat the area.

2. Dip a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol. Squeeze out the excess alcohol, and then blot the stain. Do not rub the stain to prevent smearing the stain.

3. Moisten a washcloth. Blot the permanent marker stain with the washcloth to rinse the area.

4. Apply the rubbing alcohol to the stain again. Continue applying the alcohol and rinsing it with water by blotting the area.

5. Wash the clothing according to the instructions on the care label.

Tips & Warnings

• Always take dry clean only clothes to the dry cleaners to prevent ruining them.

• Use hair spray or nail polish remover if you do not have rubbing alcohol.

• Do not place the stained clothes in the dryer or it will cause the stain to set.

References

• Good House Keeping: Remove Permanent Marker From Fabric
• Mrs. Clean USA: Crayon, Colored Pencil, and Permanent Marker Stain Removal
• Lil Duck Duck: 8 Ways to Remove Permanent Marker Stains