Apply a tiny portion of rubbing alcohol to a ball of cotton. Gently wipe the cotton ball with the isopropyl alcohol on the expo marker stain in a circular motion. The stain will start to fade after 2 to 3 minutes. Remove any leftover residue with a dry paper towel.
Children are life’s greatest blessing, and raising them comes with many responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is encouraging them to follow their passions and foster creativity. For some children, that creativity comes from art and drawing.
Drawing is a rewarding hobby to get involved in, but if your children are still too young, it can get messy. We let our kids use expo markers, also known as dry erase markers, to draw on a whiteboard. They get excited and leave the walls filled with marks.
If this has happened to you, too, there is no need to panic because we’re here to help you. This guide will show you 5 unique methods to help you get an expo marker stain off your wall.
Test Your Method Ahead of Time
The last thing you want is to taint your walls using a technique that is not compatible. Therefore, trying the method using only a tiny piece of the wall is advisable before attempting to tackle the marks you want to eliminate.
Start by dabbing a little bit of the product on the wall, so if there are damages, it won’t cost you much to fix them.
An extra tip would be to choose a hidden spot, so guests can’t spot it easily when they visit. Once you apply the liquid, wait a few minutes, and if you don’t see any adverse reactions, you have the green light to get started.
If one product does not work, wipe the wall off with a paper towel and try another method until you find one that’s effective. One of the 5 in our article should help you.
5 Methods to Get Expo Marker Off Your Wall
Method 1: Rubbing Alcohol
What You’ll Need
- Rubbing Alcohol (we recommend the one with 45% concentration)
- Microfiber cloth
- Dry paper towel
Instructions
- Step 1: Apply isopropyl alcohol on a microfiber cloth. Put as much as you need depending on the size of the mark on the wall.
- Step 2: Wipe marks on the wall with your damp microfiber towel softly in a circular motion.
- Step 3: When the marker stains begin to disappear, take a dry paper towel to remove anything left over from the rubbing alcohol.
- Step 4: If the steps above are insufficient, go through them again and add more isopropyl alcohol until it is gone.
An alternative liquid solution for this method is acetone because it might be more effective on your wall to eliminate marker stains. However, both alcohol and acetone are potent chemicals, so either is fine.
To pick which is better for you, use the testing instructions above.
Method 2: Hair Spray
This second method is as helpful as the first one, and you can try it if you don’t have isopropyl alcohol at home but have hair spray. Prepare all the materials below before getting started.
What You’ll Need
- Hair Spray
- Cloth towel
- Paper towels
Instructions
- Step 1: Apply a generous amount of hair spray to the stained area on your wall. Be cautious of spraying too much because you will risk spreading the stain with the residue of the hair spray.
- Step 2: Follow up with a clean cloth towel and wipe down the stained area with medium pressure. It should start fading by this point.
- Step 3: Next, grab the dry paper towels to clean whatever remnants are left until the wall is spotless.
- Step 4: Do the steps above over again if you fail the first time until you get it right.
If this method is ineffective on your wall, you can move on and try the next one.
Method 3: Office Eraser
This method is low-tech and inexpensive but works like a charm when removing marker stains. If the ink is not fresh and has settled on your wall, you should skip this technique and move on to the next one.
What You’ll Need
- Office eraser
- 4 strips of paper towels
Instructions
- Step 1: Rub the eraser on the stains as if you were erasing pencil marks on a piece of paper. It should fade within 2 to 3 minutes. Put some muscle into it, or this process will not be entirely successful.
- Step 2: Follow up with dry paper towels to wipe any eraser shavings from the wall when the stain has vanished.
Warning: Do not continue if the stain begins to spread the moment you start this method. It will tarnish your wall and will cost you money to fix.
Method 4: Melamine Sponge
Melamine sponges are cost-effective because they handle dry erase marker stains and take care of permanent marker blots.
What You’ll Need
- You’ll only need soapy water for this technique which you can make with warm water and dishwasher soap.
Instructions
- Step 1: Combine tepid water with dishwasher liquid until it gets foamy in the bowl.
- Step 2: Put the melamine sponge in the foamy solution and squeeze it to get extra water out. The sponge should be moderately wet but not dripping all over the floor. The excess water could make the marker stain worse.
- Step 3: Wipe the sponge on the stain and keep a consistent circular motion going for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Wash off the surface with tepid water and remove any extra remnants of soap left with dry paper towels.
Method 5: Toothpaste
You won’t believe how powerful toothpaste can be when using it to remove dry erase marker stains off your wall.
It is always readily available since every home has a tube of toothpaste in its bathroom cabinet. Also, note that it is super potent on fresh stains.
What You’ll Need
- Stick with white-colored toothpaste only, and it’s a big plus if one of the ingredients in it is baking soda.
- An old toothbrush you no longer use
Instructions
- Step 1: Use a damp towel to wipe down the affected area with a marker stain on it.
- Step 2: Next, put toothpaste on your old toothbrush to get started.
- Step 3: Scrub the stain with the toothbrush in a circular motion and make sure you use medium force.
- Step 4: Once the stain is gone, wipe the exterior of the wall with a damp paper towel, and you are done.
FAQs on How to Get Expo Marker off the Wall
Does Windex work on dry erase boards?
Yes, Windex does get rid of dry erase marker stains on whiteboards. Make sure to wipe the wall and whiteboard using a clean paper towel or a cloth.
How do you get expo marker stains off clothes?
Put isopropyl alcohol on the affected clothes and rub it with a paper towel. The paper towel will soak in the marker’s ink without any issues.
How do you get expo marker stains out of a carpet?
Combine 4 ounces of any dishwashing liquid with 8 ounces of warm water. Use a microfiber towel to absorb the excess fluid in the stain and wipe until the blemish on the carpet fades.
