How to Easily Remove Sharpie From Any Surface Like a Pro

We’ve all heard the intense warnings to be extra careful when using Sharpie markers, so it’s no wonder that seeing these stains in unwanted places warrants a mini freakout.

Whether it’s from an accidental slip of the hands or an unknown quiet-time art show from your little one, the good news is that it is possible to get sharpies out of nearly any surface type imaginable. The extra good news? There are about six different methods to try, depending on the surface you’re working with.

In this guide, we’re going over how to remove Sharpie from any surface in your home (including upholstery), and how to perform each tactic.

How to Remove Sharpie From Fabric

There are various types of fabric that may encounter an unfortunate stain from a Sharpie, but the good news is that they all have a method for removing said stain. Rubbing alcohol is one of the highest effective measures for removing permanent marker stains from a variety of fabrics, but other effective methods for getting rid of sharpie stains from other surfaces include nail polish remover, hand sanitizer, and several others.

Here’s how to get permanent marker stains out of fabric plus how to use other methods for removing Sharpie out of other surfaces.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

Rubbing Alcohol

Use rubbing alcohol on fabrics like chenille, corduroy, cotton, linen, silk, and velvet. There are other surfaces that can use this method for getting rid of sharpie stains following the steps below:

1. Dip a cotton ball or two into rubbing alcohol.
2. Gently dab or blot the stain(s) with the cotton ball infused with the rubbing alcohol.
3. Using a clean sponge, wet it in cold water then gently blot the stains to rinse out the alcohol.
4. Take a dry paper towel and blot the stain dry.

Nail Polish Remover

The acetone found in nail polish remover makes it an incredible tool for getting rid of sharpie stains since the chemical breaks down the pigments in the ink. Never use nail polish remover on fabrics or upholstery as this can bleach the surface.

1. Dip a cotton ball or two into nail polish remover then squeeze out the excess.
2. Gently dab or blot the stain(s) with the cotton ball infused with the nail polish remover.
3. Using a clean sponge, wet it in cold water then gently blot the stains to rinse out the acetone.
4. Take a dry paper towel and blot the stain dry.

Hand Sanitizer

Odds are you have a bottle or two of hand sanitizer lying around the house, which makes it a convenient method for removing Sharpie stains, especially since it contains powerful alcohol. For the same reasons as nail polish remover, avoid using hand sanitizer on fabrics or upholstery.

1. Smear enough hand sanitizer onto the affected area to completely cover the stain.
2. Wipe away the stained area with a clean microfiber towel.
3. To get rid of lingering sanitizer, go over the area with a damp rag.

Vinegar & Baking Soda

Vinegar is a natural ingredient that can be used to tackle a variety of cleaning needs, like Sharpie on fabrics such as wool. For other surfaces that need something extra, like brick, you can add baking soda to the mix to get the markings off.

1. For wool, mix together a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar with a teaspoon of neutral cleaning detergent in warm water then blot the stain.
2. For other surfaces, mix together a homemade paste of equal parts white distilled vinegar and baking soda.
3. Apply the paste to the stain and allow it to sit for at least five minutes.
4. Rinse off the stain with cold water.

Hairspray

If you’re ever in a pinch, grab your favorite bottle of hairspray to have a quick and easy Sharpie remover! Just make sure to keep it off of surfaces like leather or wool so you don’t stain the surface from the alcohol content.

1. Spray the hairspray completely over the stain.
2. Blot the stain clean with a dry paper towel or microfiber cloth.

Magic Eraser

Magic erasers come in extra handy when trying to clean Sharpie markings off certain surfaces or other areas. It’s fairly easy and quick; here’s how to do it:

1. Run the magic eraser over water and wring out the excess.
2. Rub the eraser over the stained area gently.

How to Get Sharpie Off Walls

Your home’s wall can use virtually any of the methods above for removing Sharpie stains. The key is to make sure you choose a method with a high alcohol content to break down the ink and to scrub gently so you don’t tear off the paint.

How to Get Sharpie Off Carpet

Non-oiled-based hairspray products or rubbing alcohol seems to do the trick for carpet sharpie stains. After your chosen method has removed the stain, rinse the area with water but make sure to dab the spot dry so water doesn’t seep into the fibers and cause mildewing.

How to Get Sharpie Off Plastic

You can treat any plastic surfaces with sharpie stains with the rubbing alcohol method first. This should take care of the sharpie stains, but if markings are still left behind, try flushing the area with hydrogen peroxide next.

How to Get Sharpie Off Wood

Like walls, there are several methods you can try to get sharpie markers off wood surfaces. Rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, hand sanitizer, hairspray, and magic eraser all contain alcohol or acetone needed to break down ink on this surface.

If the stain remains after attempting one of these methods, repeat the process.

How to Get Sharpie Off Glass

Glass is one of the easier surfaces to remove sharpie stains from since the material isn’t porous. Because of that, you can use the nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol method for easy removal.

How to Get Sharpie Off Brick

Brick surfaces will need to use the vinegar and baking soda method. When applying the paste, make sure you use a soft-bristle brush to scrub the paste into the material before letting it sit for at least five minutes and then rinsing it with water.

How to Get Sharpie off Ceramic Tiles

If you notice unfortunate sharpie markings on your beautiful ceramic tiles along your kitchen backsplash or bathroom shower, pull out your nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol to remove them. To make these methods more effective, pre-treat the area with warm, soapy water.

How to Get Sharpie Off Laminate Flooring

You can use rubbing alcohol to remove sharpie stains from your laminate flooring, but be careful enough to only apply the product on the stained area to avoid discoloration amongst your planks.

Try applying the rubbing alcohol to a clean microfiber cloth first then going over the stain to keep it on the affected area.

How to Get Sharpie Off Linoleum Flooring

Similar to the surface above, rubbing alcohol should be used on linoleum flooring for sharpie stains. Treat this material the same way you would laminate flooring by applying the product to a clean cloth first and then going over the area.

Don’t forget to rinse after the stain has been removed to remove lingering alcohol.

How to Get Sharpie Off Vinyl

To remove sharpie stains from vinyl surfaces, follow the same steps above in the linoleum section.

How to Get Sharpie off Stainless Steel

Stainless steel has a funny, yet genius way to remove sharpie markings. All you need is a dry-erase marker (the kind you’d use to write on a whiteboard).

Completely mark over the sharpie stain with your dry-erase marker and then wipe it away with a clean cloth.