It’s your worst nightmare. You are hosting a party, and when you return to the kitchen, you notice that someone spilled a permanent marker on your wood floor.
It took me hours of scrubbing and using different chemicals before I finally found something that worked. I know it seems impossible, but with a few easy steps below, you will be able to get that pesky marker off in no time!
You might want to think about trying these methods first before resorting to more drastic measures. What are you waiting for? Read on for some quick and easy ways on how to get permanent marker off wood floor!
Table of Contents
How To Get Permanent Marker Off Wood Floor?
There are several ways to get rid of this annoying patch.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol on the permanent marker is the most common approach to remove it from the carpet. It is the ideal ingredient to loosen the stain and remove it totally from the base.
Step 1: Apply a little amount of isopropyl alcohol to those hidden areas on your floor to avoid further harm to the stained region. Choose a location behind a rug or a piece of furniture.
- Apply 1/4 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol on a cloth, then wipe out the test spot. Leave it for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Examine the effects after wiping that area clean. Try a different technique if the product can not remove the stain entirely or ruin the floor surface.
Step 2: Take a rag and put alcohol on it (about 1 teaspoon). Run the soaked rag over the permanent marker spot. Wait 3-5 minutes for it to work.
Step 3: Get a clean, wet sponge and scrub the area where you want to remove the mark. Gently pushing it with a little bit pressure will help remove it better than just scrubbing with water alone.
Step 4: Use a dry clean rag to wipe the whole surface one last time to complete the entire process. If the marker remains, repeat the technique until you get the results you want.
Read: How To Remove Rubber Marks From Vinyl Flooring – Foolproof Guidance
Baking Soda And Toothpaste
You can mix toothpaste with baking soda to remove dry erase markers from your wooden furniture or floor. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Mix well white toothpaste and baking soda with a ratio of 1:1.
Step 2: Spoon an amount of the mixture onto a clean rag and scrub the marker stain.
Step 3: Clean up the stained area by moving the rag in small circular motions. When it needs more baking-soda toothpaste mixture, put more on. Keep doing this until the stain is gone.
Step 4: Once you’ve got rid of the stain, dip your clean rag into soapy water. Squeeze out excess water from the rag before wiping up any remnants of the paste off of your floor with it.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
You can clean the permanent marker off your wood furniture with these two ingredients that are easy to find.
Step 1: Mix the baking soda and vinegar in a 1:2 ratio using a spoon. Add more vinegar or baking soda if you need to clean an area with more stains. Keep stirring until bubbles form.
Step 2: Pour hot water over the mixture, so it is fully soaked. Sprinkle some baking soda on top of the area that has a permanent marker stain.
Step 3: Scrub the surface with a dry cotton cloth after pouring the water mixture on it. Be careful not to be too rough because that will remove the texture of your wood.
Step 4: If you see the residues flowing out of the area, wipe them away with a rag and dry the entire surface. Repeat the process until the whole area is clean.
Nail Polish
Nail polish remover is a typical item among women. It can function as a marker stain removal as well. Just make sure you use the acetone-based type.
Step 1: Before putting the product to the stain, test it on a hidden part of your floor to prevent further harm, such as the location behind a mat, beneath a coffee table, or beneath a chair.
- Pour 1/4 tsp of nail polish remover into a clean cloth to wipe on the test spots. Make sure you apply the nail polish to the floor (not the clean side of the rag). Allow it to do its job in 5 minutes.
- Clean that surface with a moist rag to determine if your nail polish reacted with the floor. If the polish has caused any damage, you should avoid this approach.
Step 2: Apply nail polish remover onto the permanent marker area by pouring it into a clean cloth. Let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 3: Scrub the surface with a clean damped rag. Do it firmly with gentle pressure in circular motions on the staining area until you can lift it off.
Repeat this process if the result is not as good as you want.
Hairspray
Normal hairspray or Aerosol hairspray may not produce the greatest clinical results, but it is unquestionably an excellent permanent marker remover.
Step 1: Spritz the hairspray well over the floor area that has the stain.
Step 2: Allow the spray sitting for a few minutes. The markers will gradually move further from the floor. There may be some residues on it.
Step 3: Using a clean cotton cloth, wipe away the entire residue. Unless you completely erase the permanent marker off the floor, you can do it all over again.
Step 4: After you have finished your task, wipe down the entire area with a clean rag.
Dry Erase Marker
Here’s a great way to get rid of permanent marker stains!
Step 1: Purchase some dry erase markers and draw over those pesky stains with them (you can find these at stationery shops or craft stores). Make sure to cover them in ink, all of them!
Step 2: Wait one minute for all of that color to wick up into their caps before wiping away any excess liquid on our end by using clean rag/paper towels.
If there still seems like more cleaning work has yet been completed after following this step-by-step.
Magic Eraser
Magic Eraser can remove those stubborn permanent markers quickly and easily. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Dampen the eraser with water, or you can run it underneath a warm tap for 30 seconds to soften up any dust on its surface.
Step 2: Scrub at the stain. Feel free to repeat the circular movements with that pen-looking cleaner until you have removed the stain enough that you no longer see what was underneath. This process might take some time.
Step 3: Wipe off excess moisture residue left behind by your hands when wiping over affected areas of flooring using a clean dry rag before letting go of all said liquid, etc.
WD-40
You might want to try WD-40 on those inconspicuous areas first, just in case.
Step 1: Spray the product and leave it there for 5 minutes before wiping it off with a clean yet wet cloth or paper towel. Do not forget about any greasy remaining areas.
If there are no adverse reactions after 5 whole minutes, go ahead with applying stain remover directly onto stains using only water as needed and lots of soap until you have removed all traces.
Step 2: Spray your WD-40 straight onto the marker ink stain and wait for about 3 to 5 mins.
You may also use a towel to apply your WD-40 by spraying it on the rag and using it to scrub the floor.
Step 3: Soak a clean towel in a plastic container of clean water or run the towel under the tap. After that, wring it out and use it to clean any WD-40 on the surface.
You can reapply the WD-40 if the marker persists. Give it a 5- to 7-minute cooling period before cleaning that area with a moist cloth.
Step 4: After achieving the desired outcome, use your stain remover so you can eliminate any sticky film that the WD-40 may have left behind.
Then, blot the surface with a clean towel. Wipe away the stain remover, and go over that area using a dry rag to take up any leftover wetness.
Fine Grit Sandpaper
Permanent markers can resist the unfinished wood and lumber, making this a good opportunity for grit sandpaper to show its impact. Using it accordingly will remove any Permanent Marker residue from your floors! We shall walk you through each step in detail.
Step 1: Clean up the mess before starting. Make sure all moisture has been eliminated from around these areas so as not to cause problems down below.
Step 2: Gently scrub away those pesky stains with some coarse grains across their surface area until they are gone. Take care, though, since even light impacts could damage what is already there.
Step 3: After completing the residue removing task, wipe down the entire area with a soft dry towel.
Warnings And Tips
Removing permanent markers from wood can be a challenge. Before starting the job, be mindful of the words I am about to share.
No Scrubbing
The first clarification is not scrubbing with tough bristles on an abrasive material like steel wool or plastic sponges. This technique destroys all the texture on the surface of the wood floor.
Therefore, remember to scrub lightly with a clean, soft microfiber sponge or towel.
Refinishing
Do not panic if you have used too much alcohol or scrub too hard and remove some of the stains. You can fix it by using sandpaper to flatten the surface and then determine which coat of gloss was applied before.
Gel Toothpaste
Toothpaste is the most important element in preserving your wood. If you use toothpaste, make sure to choose classic white paste and not one that offers benefits such as whitening or gel textures because those will not work well on natural products like this!
Conclusion
Hope that you have learned how to get permanent marker off wood floor. It is always good to read the warnings and tips before you start cleaning.
Besides choosing the right product, it’s always best to keep in mind all the needed steps and tips so that you won’t mess with your beautiful wood floor. Just take your time, consider which methods best suit you, then try them and see the result yourselves!
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