How to remove marker or felt-tip pen marks from skin?
Washing off a permanent marker with water is an impossible task, and using too caustic substances can harm the skin. But there are still several simple but effective ways using available tools.
Toothpaste+soda
Baking soda perfectly breaks down stubborn paint, and the paste exfoliates. Simply mix these two ingredients in a 1:1 ratio and then wash the stained area. After removal, rinse with water or wipe with a damp cloth.
Butter or sour cream
In some cases, the expression “knocks out fire with fire” works flawlessly. For example, an oil-based marker can be easily wiped off with oil. Any will do: sunflower, olive, coconut or tea tree.
Apply it to the marker mark and wait until it is absorbed, then rub with a paper towel. Remaining fat can be easily removed with soapy water. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Advice! The same method can be tried using full-fat sour cream or cream.
Salt
Another method of using natural products is a salt scrub. Make it into a thick paste by adding little water. Gently rub the mixture in for 2-3 minutes and then rinse. Since the method is quite gentle, it will be possible to wipe off only the top layer, completely - if the dirt is fresh.
Banana peel
It's hard to imagine how anyone came up with this method, but many claim that banana peels discolor the marker. Only the fruit must be ripe. Rub the inside of the peel into the stain in a circular motion for a few minutes, then rinse with water. If you can’t wash it completely, wipe it with a new banana peel.
Hydrogen peroxide
Soak one cotton pad in a 9% peroxide solution and the second in alcohol. Rub the mark first with the first pad for ten minutes, and then wipe with the second.
Liquid soap
You can also try to wash off traces of the marker with baby soap or soap. In this case, dishwashing detergent will be more effective. The strength of action is similar to these substances and shaving foam. You can apply both soap and foam by hand or with a sponge.
Antiseptic
Antibacterial hand gel will also work well to remove paint from markers and felt-tip pens. Apply it to the brush and scrub the stained surface.
Alcohol
It is alcohol, and not vodka or cognac, for example. Alcohol perfectly removes the mark left by a permanent marker on your hand. It dissolves ink provided its concentration is above 45%. Remember, when washing off a felt-tip pen with alcohol, do not rub it too hard; the movements should be collecting. This method is especially good for alcohol- and water-based markers. Don't be discouraged if there is still a barely noticeable trace left after rubbing with alcohol. Don't irritate your skin any more. The stain will come out easily after taking a bath.
Attention! Do not carry out these manipulations near open fire.
Makeup remover
They remove much more permanent paint from the face than marker marks. Makeup remover wipes, micellar water, two-phase or oil products – a woman will definitely have something from this list. The most important advantage of the method is that these substances act gently without damaging the skin.
Washing powder
Dilute a small amount of washing powder with water to obtain a non-liquid slurry similar in consistency to cottage cheese. Rub into the skin with a soft brush or sponge for several minutes, rinse.
Attention! Some of the methods listed can be quite aggressive. It is better to check them for a reaction in advance: apply a little of the test product to your elbow and wait 5 minutes. Then rinse and check the skin for severe redness, itching and rashes.
Makeup remover products
Any mother can try using her cosmetic secrets to clean marker marks. Any consistency will do for this - milk, tonic or other liquids intended for removing decorative cosmetics.
The advantage of this method over others is that such products can be used on a child’s face, since they are intended for sensitive skin. The application is similar to those described above. It is necessary to apply it to the contaminated area, wipe and rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Features of removing felt-tip pen from a child’s skin
When removing stains from the skin of an adult, you need to be extremely careful, and when removing stains from a child, you need to be 10 times more careful. First of all, find out on what basis the marker that gets on the epithelium is made:
- on water (chalk)
- on alcohol
- at the paint shop
- on fat
Water or chalk based
- A soap solution using hot water will help remove this type of marker. You can rub the skin with a washcloth. If the paint is poorly washed out or a fairly large area is dirty, it is better to take a hot bath with foam.
- Apply cosmetic milk to a cotton swab and wipe the marker stain with it, then rinse with water.
- An antiseptic is also suitable for a delicate child's hand. You can leave it on the desired area for half a minute, then rub and rinse.
Alcohol based
- Apply a little hairspray to the stained area of skin (be careful when spraying on your face - the hairspray may get into your eyes), rub a little with a cloth or cotton pad, and then rinse with running water.
- Soak a cotton swab in 90% alcohol and wipe the marker mark, rinse with soap and water.
Fat based marker
- Apply butter or coconut oil to your baby's skin for 3-4 minutes - during this time it will have time to absorb the paint. Next, wash off the residue with soap.
- The same actions can be done using a rich sunscreen.
On a paint and varnish basis
- Markers with the most corrosive composition can be wiped off with nail polish remover. It is better to use those that are created on an acetone-free basis. After treating the contaminated area, rinse it with soap and water.
- Wet wipes or mouthwash containing alcohol can also help. Try to wash the felt-tip pen using massaging movements. Wash with warm soapy water.
Oils
If the drawing tool was made on a fatty basis, various oils are also good for removing it - butter, vegetable, etc. They are safer for children than any aggressive chemical compounds.
To remove a felt-tip pen from a child’s face, simply apply a small amount of oil to the stain and gradually rub it in with a paper towel. If there is a lot of coloring matter, then as the paper becomes dirty, it needs to be replaced with a new one.
How to remove permanent marker from plastic?
Removing marker ink from plastic is not that difficult, but there is one rule to keep in mind: most strong solvents can simply melt the fragile material. To wash a plastic item, gentle substances are required. So, for these purposes the following are suitable:
- Windshield washers and aerosol deodorants. They will be able to clean, for example, a refrigerator decorated with a felt-tip pen.
- The VMD-88 ink remover is capable of actively dissolving traces of marker on plastic. You need to spray a little spray on the stain. After some time, the paint will drain off along with the cleaning liquid. Remaining dye can be wiped off with a sponge.
How to clean a marker board?
Sometimes, when using a marker board for a long time, the paint from the previous inscriptions is not completely washed off, the canvas loses its white color, and it becomes a problem to see the text on it. If you regularly follow a few tips, you can not only remove permanent marker from your board, but also keep it clean.
- The simplest remedy is an eraser. From a flat surface, it can easily erase inscriptions with a marker or felt-tip pen.
- Fat cream can also save you from streaks on the board. Apply it for fifteen minutes and then wipe with a dry, clean cloth.
- Do not rush to throw away the coffee filter after use. It will also be useful when you need to clear the board. Apply it to dirt and then wipe dry with a napkin.
- A soft melamine sponge will also come in handy when dealing with a dirty board. It is sold in hardware stores. The sponge has a slight abrasive effect. Works like an eraser, but removes dirt much more effectively.
Attention! When cleaning a smooth marker board, do not use powder products; they will scratch the surface.
How to remove marker from linoleum?
Of course, the easiest way to wipe off linoleum is with fresh paint. In this case, a regular solution with soap or powder can help. If you have any difficulty, use the “wedge by wedge” rule: wipe off an alcohol-based marker with alcohol, and wipe off a fat-based marker with fat. But the longer the dirt from the felt-tip pen remains on the floor surface, the more it eats away, no matter what its composition. And then you can wash it with harsher means.
- Old stains are wiped off with white spirit, also known as Stoddard's gasoline solvent. This substance must be handled carefully; it can corrode linoleum. After cleaning, rinse the surface thoroughly with water.
- Sometimes toothpaste helps with stubborn markers. Apply it to the desired area and leave for 10-15 minutes. Then wash off with a damp cloth.
- You can also try to wipe off the dirt with hydrogen peroxide. Apply the solution to cotton wool and rub thoroughly.
Toothpaste
It has cleansing, exfoliating, and sometimes abrasive properties. It is often supplemented with mouth rinses, then the result can be achieved faster.
Apply a small amount of paste to the marker stain and rub it in in a circular motion. You can also pour a special mouthwash on top and use a wet soft cloth for treatment. After this procedure, the stain will disappear completely.
How to remove permanent marker from furniture?
Often, interior items are combined from different materials (fabric, metal, wood, leather). In order not to damage the surface, you need to use a different product for each of them.
Genuine leather: moisten a soft cloth with rubbing alcohol and carefully wash the marker off the surface.
Attention! Eco-leather or dermantin may become deformed and crack when exposed to alcohol.
Leatherette: Treat the marker mark with a cloth soaked in hairspray. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated with a new piece of fabric.
Textiles: soak a rag in peroxide and use it to scrub off the dirt until it turns pale. Then remove completely with a dry cloth.
Wood and rubber: the felt-tip pen can be wiped off with an eraser. But not the abrasive part - it can leave noticeable scratches.
How to remove felt-tip pen from wallpaper?
One of the most difficult tasks is to wipe the marker off the wallpaper without leaving streaks or tearing it. After all, in essence it is paper, most often porous and loose. But still, there are a couple of tips for this case:
- Soak a cotton pad in peroxide and wash off the dirt. To remove the felt-tip pen, move the cotton swab from the edge to the middle, otherwise the dirt will smudge or spread.
- Treat the problem area with oxygen stain remover, wait 15-20 minutes, and then rinse with a damp towel.
Baby oil
In the case of any fat composition, you can use a similar substance to cleanse it. And in order to cause less harm to the baby’s delicate skin, it is better to take a special massage product.
It is applied in a small amount to the painted area and rubbed into the surface using a wet cotton swab or rag. At the same time, try to make your movements as carefully and gently as possible. If the stain was applied a long time ago and the mark has become ingrained, you may need to repeat the procedure.
Useful tips
A few more facts about marker contamination that may be useful:
- The worst markers to remove are blue, black and red.
- After cleaning, always rinse the area with water to prevent the cleaner from further corroding it.
- Be careful with the seams - this is where the paint absorbs the most.
- Try less aggressive methods first, gradually increasing strength.
- After cleaning any surface with solvent or alcohol, moisten it with cream.
- When scrubbing an item with a cloth containing solvent, use a light-colored cloth to prevent it from fading.
