The Sharpie name has become synonymous with colorful, permanent decorations for everything from shoes to window treatments to personalized clothing. That permanent setting ability becomes a nightmare when you make a mistake or your Sharpie leaks, and there are very few products that can remove the ink stain for sure, and you must use careful methods or else you can make it worse.
Do's
The trick to removing Sharpie ink is to make sure you apply whatever product you decide to use in the proper way. Act as quickly as possible before the stain sets in. For clothes and other porous surfaces, apply your cleaning solution from the bottom of the stain up. For example, if you are removing Sharpie ink from a shirt, turn the shirt inside out and apply the material from the inside. This will prevent the stain from spreading further into the garment. No matter what product you use or what type of surface you are working with, always spot test the cleaner in an inconspicuous area to ensure that it will not damage or discolor the surface.
Don'ts
There are also some methods you should never use, or else you can actually set the stain deeper into the surface. Never ignore manufacturer's instructions on the label or in the user's manual of your surface. If your flashlight should not be exposed to any liquid or your shirt is dry-clean only, do not use contrary methods to try to remove the Sharpie. Never expose a Sharpie-stained surface to high heat, such as a dryer or near a heater. The high heat will set the ink stain more firmly into the surface. Don't assume all ink stains are the same; there is a difference between permanent marker ink and regular pen ink. Make sure if you use a professional product or employ a professional cleaner, the products and professionals know what they are dealing with.
At-Home Products
A number of at-home products will help to reduce or remove Sharpie stains. Use rubbing alcohol or non-acetone nail polish remover on the surface. Be careful, because these products are flammable and will quickly dry out skin. Set white paper towels or cloths under the stain or saturate the stain and use these white products to absorb the stain and the cleaning product. Always use white, because the chemicals can make the colors of the cleaner bleed, and you could end up with a bigger stain on the surface. For non-porous surfaces like walls and floors, use hair spray or toothpaste.
Professional Products
Professional stain removers and ink removers are sometimes effective when applied as soon as the stain occurs, but the effectiveness of these products varies by the surface, as well as the color of the Sharpie. Try strong soaps or degreasers on the surface. If possible for fabrics, bleach the area in a washing machine or by hand washing in a sink or tub. Remember not to throw the garment in the dryer until you are sure the stain is completely gone.
