6 Unusual Ways to Remove Permanent Marker Stains from Plastic

Has your anklebiter scribbled marker pen all over the plastic upholstery? Ahh, imagine the marker-stained plastic chairs. Or did you use a permanent marker and misspell something on your plastic folders and binders? Fret not. The good thing about a permanent marker is that it isn’t actually permanent. HomeQuicks gives some easy and effective techniques on how to remove permanent marker from plastic.

Some Uncommon Products to Try

✦ Hand Sanitizers
✦ Sunscreen Lotions
✦ Bug Sprays

Be it for removing marker stains from your little angel’s favorite plastic doll, or renaming plastic containers, these solutions may sound strange, but they actually work.

Oftentimes, these solvents that are effective in dissolving marker stains completely, end up melting plastic too. This is because the chemicals in the solvents are so strong that they clash with the polymer composition of plastic.

Such scenarios call for natural cleaning solutions. Try cleaning only a small portion of the surface before using it on the entire area. We give you 6 natural, safe, and efficient ways to remove permanent marker stains from plastic.

How to Remove Permanent Marker from Plastic

Rubbing Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is the safest of all natural cleaning solutions. Rubbing alcohol is another solution which is the most common one, and is effective in removing ink and marker stains.
✦ Put a little hydrogen peroxide on a cotton rag and wipe it over the area that has the marker stain.
✦ Now, add a small amount of rubbing alcohol solution on another rag. Scrub the stain for about 10 minutes.
✦ Repeat until the marker stains vanish.
✦ If it’s some small, plastic toy, you can dip it in a cup of rubbing alcohol solution rather than scrubbing it with the solution.
✦ Let it stay for some time. Rinse with water or use a damp, clean towel.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil doesn’t just smell great, it is an amazing stain remover. It is used in cleaning stains on wood and plastic as well to smoothen the skin texture, tea tree oil is a solution for stain removal and a great treatment for any skin ailment. Let’s see how it is used in cleaning marker stains on plastic boards and bins.
✦ Dip a Q-tip cotton swab in this aromatic oil and rub on the marker scribbles.
✦ With a paper towel, wipe the area that is stained.
✦ Repeat until required.
✦ The chemicals in the tea tree oil soften the marker stain till it gets removed completely.

Dry Erase Marker

Dry erase marker is magical. To remove sharpie ink from whiteboards, use dry erase marker.
✦ Draw over the permanent marker scribbles with a dry erase marker.
✦ Fetch a dry rag and wipe the area to get rid of both, the dry eraser mark and the permanent marker marks.
✦ Now clean the area with wet paper towel.
✦ This method is traditionally used to remove tags and names from second-hand products.

Hairspray

Be it clothing, skin, or plastic, hairspray effectively loosens the marker stains. The alcohol content in the hairspray makes the pen marks fade.
✦ Get a can of oil sheen hairspray.
✦ Spray on the surface that has been affected with marker stains.
✦ Lightly scrub the surface. The stains start to fade.
✦ Repeat till all the stains get cleared.

Toothpaste and Baking Soda

Toothpaste and baking soda―a classic combo for effectively cleaning stains. The abrasives in toothpaste remove the stain in one go.
✦ Mix one part of toothpaste with one part of baking soda.
✦ Dip an old, clean toothbrush in this mixture, and rub in a circular motion over the stained area.
✦ Repeat until all the stains go. With a damp cloth, wash off the paste.

Nail Polish Remover

If the surface is non-porous, you can use nail-polish remover to do away with the marker stains. Since it has acetone in it, it may affect the texture and coloration of the surface that is being cleaned.
✦ Pour a few drops of nail polish remover on a clean towel.
✦ Pat firmly on the stain.
✦ Now take a clean towel. Don’t dampen it completely. Just wet a corner of the towel and pat on the surface that is to be cleaned.
✦ Repeat all the steps till the permanent marker stains are gone.
✦ You can use a towel that absorbs the moisture, to dry the surface.

Do wear gloves before cleaning and when removing the marker stains as some of the solvents may cause skin irritation.