How Easy It Is To Remove Permanent Marker from Wood

Lots of homeowners find it challenging to remove permanent markers from wood. A permanent marker plays an important role in a house.

This is a very useful tool for everyone in the family. But, it can become a disaster when it marks walls and woods.

Regardless of some theories that allow homeowners to remove permanent markers from wood, it is still very hard to implement.

This is because homeowners might use different materials. Some theories claim that there are materials that can remove permanent marker stains, such as nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol.

The Characteristics of Permanent Marker

Permanent markers have special characteristics. The ink of permanent markers is very absorbent to any texture and surface.

Unfortunately, wood has such porous characteristics that allow ink from permanent markers to absorb.

The ink of a maker contains some ingredients like resin, color, and solvent. The colorant of the pen varies. It is usually dye or pigment.

While dye has a water-soluble characteristic, the pigment is on the contrary. Another ingredient of ink is solvent which is the color carrier.

Most permanent markers use pigment. This is easy to identify through the strong odor within. The odor is usually the solvent’s high VOC count. The resin surface can hold the pigment tightly though the solvent will evaporate.

Permanent Markers and Their Various Kinds

There are various options for permanent markers in terms of color, size, and shape. Any product that claims a non-permanent marker is mostly water-soluble. On the other hand, products that claim to be ‘permanent’ are oil-based.

The term permanent is not really ‘permanent.’ It will be hard to clean, particularly when absorbed on surfaces like fabrics or wood. Usually, permanent markers from reputable manufacturers contain permanent ingredients.

How Easy Is It To Remove Permanent Marker From Wood?

Removing permanent markers from wood is similar to other materials such as leather, fabrics, and walls.

Such things happen because there are cases when homeowners don’t ensure that the cap of the permanent marker is tight enough.

There are times when homeowners forget to close the cap of a pen. The ink will soak on the surface when the pen is left on a carpet or wooden table.

Most homeowners will use alcohol or a damp cloth with detergent to remove the ink marker. But those methods sometimes don’t work.

Removing Permanent Marker from Wood by Using Alcohol

Many homeowners believe alcohol is the best solution to remove permanent markers from wood. Alcohol within hairspray or nail polish remover is considered very effective in cleaning the ink.

If you are one of those homeowners who want to remove the stubborn marker on your wooden furniture, you can try saturating a cloth already soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Clean the stain thoroughly by pushing it. For the best result, repeat the process using other parts of the cloth that are still clean until the stain is removed.

Afterward, rinse with clean water. Don’t forget to clean the excess by soaking it up with a paper towel.

Can Foam Remove Permanent Marker From Wood?

It was mentioned previously that it is recommended to use a damp cloth to clean the permanent marker stain. But, there is another effective way to remove stains thoroughly.

You can try a melamine foam sponge if you find permanent marker stains on your wood furniture.

The best thing about using this sponge is its simplicity. Users don’t have to use any cleaning products. Instead, they can just use warm water to dampen the sponge.

Rubbing the stain in a circular motion will make cleaning easier.

The characteristic of a sponge is absorbing, so cleaning the stain by using the sponge is easier. The furniture or fabric will be a little damp. So homeowners can let it dry before vacuuming.

Toothpaste for the Life Saver

Rare homeowners know that toothpaste can also remove permanent markers from wood. Prepare a toothbrush and apply toothpaste on top of it. It is recommended to use whitening toothpaste.

Scrubbing the stain with circular motion until the stain fades away is very effective. Begin the inner part of the stain before cleaning the outer part.

Let the toothpaste solution on the stain for five to ten minutes before rinsing it thoroughly.

Nail Polish Remover Is Another Recommended Alternative

Lots of homeowners know that nail polish remover can remove the stain. This is because of the alcohol that becomes its main ingredient.

It is as easy as using a towel that is soaked with the nail polish remover. Scrub it persistently until the stain fades away.

Nail polish remover is also beneficial for removing permanent marker stain that marks plastic. Surprisingly, removing the stain from plastic is even harder than on the fabric surface.

It takes a longer time to clean the stain completely by using nail polish remover.

Is The Wood Furniture Changing in Color?

Many homeowners doubt that the performance of their wooden furniture will not be the same anymore when they apply chemical ingredients to remove permanent markers from wood.

However, it depends on the substance of the solution. Some homeowners even use mayonnaise and baby oil to avoid discoloration of their wooden furniture. 

Anyway, homeowners need to make sure that they test the material first. They can try rubbing the less visible area before cleaning the wood.

Some wooden furniture sets are finished, while others don’t. So, it is best to try rubbing the wooden furniture slightly to find the side effect.

All in all, it is best to prevent permanent markers from spilling on your wooden furniture.

Once you find out that there is a stain on the surface of your wooden furniture, then you should remove the permanent marker from the wood as soon as possible.

This is to prevent the ink from getting absorbed in the wood pores.