How to Remove Marker from Upholstery

Table of Contents:

You Will Need
Steps to Remove the Stain
Additional Tips
Sources

Julie said, “Looking for a way to get whiteboard marker off a material pin up board which you can’t get behind the fabric.”

There are few stains you can find on your upholstery that are more horrifying than marker. The method of putting a stain face-down on a surface and applying solution to the back of the fabric is done to push the stain out of the fabric. When this isn’t an option, such as with upholstery, you must treat the front of the stain.

You Will Need:

Cleaning solution (choose one):
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Nail polish remover
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Hair spray
- Hand sanitizer
- Enzyme stain remover
A cloth
Water
A towel
A hair dryer

Steps to Remove the Stain:

Select a cleaning solution from the list above.
- Rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover or peroxide are the best choices, but if you don’t have those, hair spray and hand sanitizer both contain alcohol and can work as well.
- Another option is to use an enzyme stain remover. Choose one that specifically says it works on ink, such as Kids ‘N’ Pets and follow the instructions on the label of your selected cleaner. Nature’s Miracle is also a good choice as it contains isopropyl alcohol.
Wet a cloth or cotton ball with some cleaning solution.
Rub the solution on a hidden area of the upholstery first to look for any adverse reaction. If there is a reaction, such as the upholstery dye being removed, use a different cleaning product.
If safe, blot the solution onto the marker. Do not scrub or you might cause the marker dye to spread; just blot with a lifting motion.
Let the solution soak for a couple minutes, then blot the stain again.
Continue blotting the stain with the solution, turning the cloth to a fresh area as the marker is transferred to it.
When the stain has been removed, blot the area with water to rinse.
Pat the area dry with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
Use a hair dryer on the cool setting to dry the spot to prevent having a water stain.

Additional Tips:

Spot removers for upholstery, such as Goof Off, can also be effective at removing marker.

Sources:

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Cleaning by Mary Findley and Linda Formichelli
Stain Rescue! By Anne Marie Soto
Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
Clean it Fast, Clean It Right by Jeff Bredenberg