How to Get Marker Pen Off Wood

Accidents happen, resulting in marker stains on wood.

Marker pen stains on wood can happen easily when the ink bleeds through the paper your child is drawing on or is accidentally swiped across the surface. Permanent marker on wood presents two problems: The pigment in the marker is meant to adhere to the surface, and the porous wood quickly absorbs the marker stain. Remove the marker pen stain as quickly as possible using supplies that won't harm your wood's finish.

Things You'll Need

• Aerosol hairspray
• Clean cloths
• White toothpaste
• Saddle soap
• Bucket

Instructions

1. Spray the ink stain on the wood surface with aerosol hair spray. Use enough hair spray to create a small pool of liquid on the ink.

2. Blot at the hair spray-covered ink stain with a clean, dry cloth. Press the cloth onto the ink stain to lift ink from the wood. Move to a clean portion of the cloth and continue to blot, lifting as much ink stain as possible.

3. 

   White toothpaste helps remove ink stains from wood.

   Squirt a pea-sized amount of white toothpaste onto a clean cloth. Rub the toothpaste into the remaining ink stains on the wood surface, using circular motions. Change to another clean cloth and continue to rub as the ink stain transfers to the cloth.

4. Pour 2 caps full of saddle soap liquid into a bucket and add 1 gallon warm water. Stir the solution to make a soapy mixture. Wash your wood to remove the hair spray, toothpaste and any remaining marker ink stain. Rinse with plain water, then dry your wood with a clean cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Store markers and pens on higher shelves where small children can't help themselves.

• Use a magic stain erasing sponge to remove ink marks from wood.

• While acetone is recommended to remove marker and ink stains it can also remove your wood's finish.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Tips on Removing Marker Stains