To clean a whiteboard, wipe it with a dry microfiber cloth or felt eraser first. For ghosting and stains, dampen a soft cloth with a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water, wipe in small circles, then dry the board. Skip abrasive pads, scouring powder and harsh solvents, which scratch the surface.
The same steps work on any dry erase board, at home or at work. The sooner you clean a mark, the easier it lifts.
Permanent marker by mistake? Draw over the mark with a dry erase marker, then erase it while the new ink is still wet. The solvent in the fresh ink loosens the old line. Finish with the alcohol mix.
Ghosting is the faint trace left when dry erase ink sits on the board too long. A wipe with the alcohol mix usually clears it. Stains come from the wrong markers or from spills, and they sink in deeper, so they may need a few passes or a dedicated cleaner. Fresh marks come off with light cleaning and older ones take more work, so clean them early.
For everyday upkeep, a once-over with a microfiber cloth or eraser at the end of the day lifts ink before it settles. “Low odor” or “ghost free” markers also make cleaning easier. If the board lives in a home office or playroom, our regular house cleaning takes care of the desks, floors and dusting around it.
Use a good microfiber cloth, which traps and lifts ink without scratching. Felt whiteboard erasers are soft and often work without any cleaner. Melamine foam (a “magic eraser”) helps on tough stains but is mildly abrasive, so use it gently and rarely. Never use rough sponges, steel wool or scrub pads; they scratch the board for good.
A spray whiteboard cleaner from a marker or board brand is the safest pick, especially if your board’s maker names one. It’s made to lift ink without leaving film.
A homemade dry erase board cleaner works as well for most boards:
Spray the cloth rather than the board, and test any new cleaner on a small corner first.
In a pinch, a light mist of glass cleaner can lift fresh marks, but it isn’t the best choice. Many glass cleaners leave a thin film that helps ink cling, which can make ghosting worse, and some board makers advise against them. Check your board’s care instructions first. If you do use it, wipe the board with a damp cloth afterward and dry it fully.
Erase it at the end of each day it gets used. For light use, a full wipe with the alcohol mix once a week is enough. With heavy daily use, or as soon as you notice ghosting, give it a full clean right away.
Yes, but sparingly. Melamine foam is mildly abrasive, so use it damp, with light pressure, only on stubborn spots. Regular use wears the surface and makes ghosting worse.
Often, yes. Clean it with the alcohol mix, then work on set-in ghosting with a whiteboard restorer spray or a gentle paste of baking soda and water. Wipe clean with plain water and dry. A board with scratches or worn coating may need replacing.
Use good quality dry erase markers, erase writing within a day or two, and avoid leaving notes on the board for weeks. Dry the board fully after a wet clean, since leftover film helps ink stick.
Want the rest of the house this clean without the effort? Book a cleaning online and a Pro Housekeepers team will handle it.
