How To Remove Permanent Marker From Clothes

To remove permanent marker from clothes, lay the stain face-down on a clean paper towel and dab the back with rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer — the ink transfers down into the towel. Swap the towel and reapply until the stain lifts, treat any remainder with color-safe bleach, then launder as usual. Because permanent ink is alcohol-based, an alcohol solvent is what breaks it down; water alone won’t.

They call permanent markers permanent for a reason — the ink is designed to stay put on everything from plastic to wood to fabric. It’s a pain to remove, but you don’t have to throw out stained clothes. Whether you’re a parent of kids who draw on their clothes, a professional cleaner, or someone looking for pro help with house cleaning, our Pros can walk you through it.

What’s the difference between permanent and washable markers?

All markers, permanent or not, are built in a similar way. The main components are:

• An external casing
• A hollow plastic tube inside the casing
• A porous, spongy stick saturated with ink (the tip is the part that protrudes)

The biggest difference between permanent and washable markers is the composition of the ink.

What makes permanent marker so hard to remove?

What sets a permanent marker apart from its washable relatives is the ink, which has three components.

Colorant

The colorant is either a pigment or a dye. Most permanent markers use pigments, which aren’t water-soluble — so you can’t just toss the clothing in the washing machine and expect the stain to come out. Washable markers, by contrast, use water-soluble dyes that rinse away easily.

Solvent

A solvent is a substance that other substances dissolve into. The solvents in permanent markers are alcohol-based, chosen because alcohol evaporates quickly — almost as soon as you write. Once it’s dry, water can’t remove it. (That’s the difference from spilled milk, which stays liquid and wipes right up.)

Resin

Resin is a form of glue, the third component of a marker’s permanence, and it’s also dissolved by alcohol. It provides the stickiness that makes the pigment bond to any surface. Once the solvent dries, the resin holds the pigment in place — which is why permanent marker stains can seem impossible to remove.

Can you remove permanent marker from all fabrics?

It’s not a simple yes or no, because different fabrics react differently to permanent ink. In theory, you can remove permanent marker stains from any fabric.

There are special considerations for materials like leather, but as a rule, the same products and techniques work across fabrics.

What products and supplies do you need?

There’s more than one way to remove permanent marker from fabric. Here’s an overview of the products and supplies you might use.

For many fabrics, hand sanitizer is the best option. Here’s what each product does:

• Rubbing alcohol acts as a solvent to liquefy the pigment and resin in permanent ink.
• Hand sanitizer is an alcohol-based alternative to rubbing alcohol.
• Color-safe bleach lifts tough stains that don’t come out with alcohol.
• Baking soda is an alternative that’s ideal for specialty fabrics like leather.
• Lemon juice and vinegar work with baking soda to remove stains.
• Hairspray with alcohol can be a convenient solvent.
• Laundry detergent removes the last of the stain after pre-treating.

And what each supply is for:

• Paper towels or a clean cloth absorb the ink once it’s dissolved.
• Cotton balls dab alcohol onto the stain.
• A toothbrush’s gentle bristles apply baking soda and lemon juice.
• Your washing machine rinses the remaining ink and solvent out.

How do you remove permanent marker from colored clothes?

Here are some simple steps for permanent marker on colored clothing.

Step 1: Place the clothing stained-side-down on a clean paper towel, so the ink sits right against the towel that will absorb it.

Step 2: Start with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. With alcohol, use a cotton ball to dab around the stain, then on it. With hand sanitizer, apply a dime-sized dollop to the stain.

Step 3: With alcohol, you’ll see the ink transfer onto the paper towel underneath. Swap the towel and reapply until the stain lightens or disappears. With hand sanitizer, massage it into the fabric with your finger or a soft brush.

Step 4: Blot with a clean towel, then reapply as needed. You may need to rinse with water to check your progress.

Step 5: Once you’ve blotted away as much ink as possible, treat with color-safe bleach and let it sink in for several minutes.

Step 6: Launder per the instructions on the tag.

These steps should remove most permanent marker stains — and treating them as soon as possible makes all the difference.

Watch this tutorial for an alternative method using baking soda, lemon juice, and a toothbrush.

How do you remove permanent marker from leather?

Got permanent ink on leather clothing? Don’t panic — follow these steps.

Step 1: Lay the stained leather out with the stain facing up.

Step 2: Saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol or white vinegar and test it on a hidden area first to make sure it doesn’t discolor the leather.

Step 3: With a fresh cotton ball soaked in alcohol or vinegar, gently rub in circles over the stain.

Step 4: Replace the cotton ball as ink lifts off.

Step 5: Repeat as needed until the ink is gone.

Step 6: Let the leather air dry.

This same process also removes permanent ink from leather shoes and leather furniture.

How do you wash permanent marker out by hand?

Not all clothing can go in the washing machine. Here’s the process for permanent ink on delicate fabrics like silk and linen.

Step 1: Treat the stain with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, as above.

Step 2: With alcohol, use cotton balls to avoid tearing delicate fabric.

Step 3: With hand sanitizer, gently massage it into the stain with your finger.

Step 4: Blot the ink as it lifts and repeat as needed.

Step 5: Rinse the fabric.

Step 6: Hand-wash as usual with a gentle detergent.

After washing, follow the tag’s instructions and either hang the garment or lay it flat to dry.

FAQ

Final thoughts

Now you know exactly what to do to send permanent marker stains packing and make your clothes look like new. With these basic products and simple steps, you’ll never sweat a marker stain again.