13 Easy Ways to Remove Sharpie from a Desk, Countertop, Wall, & More

Get rid of permanent marker stains on wood, glass, plastic, & more

Co-authored by Guy Peters and Devin McSween

Last Updated: April 16, 2025 Fact Checked

Sharpies are great for making permanent marks on paper, but when they get on surfaces you don’t want, the stains might seem impossible to remove. Luckily, that’s not the case—there are plenty of effective ways to remove Sharpie marks from hard surfaces like plastic, glass, wood, walls, and countertops. With the help of cleaning specialists Alessandra Mendes and Guy Peters, we’ll explain the best products for removing Sharpie stains and how to use them!

How to Erase Sharpie Marks

One of the best ways to remove Sharpie stains from hard surfaces (like walls or the floor) and soft surfaces (like clothes) is with rubbing alcohol. Soak a cotton ball or tissue with rubbing alcohol and wipe off the Sharpie. Other effective removal methods include Magic Erasers, hand sanitizer, and nail polish remover.

1

Put rubbing alcohol on the marker stain.

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Sharpie ink is soluble in alcohol. A great removal liquid is rubbing alcohol, says Mendes.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Alessandra Mendes
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview} Simply add a dab of the rubbing alcohol (or isopropyl alcohol or ethanol, if you have it) on a cotton ball or tissue and rub the stained surface until the Sharpie stain is gone.^{[2]
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- Use on: Most surfaces, like plastic, glass, metal, wood, ceramic, and laminate. Always spot-test a bit of alcohol on the surface before using it all over—it can potentially damage delicate surfaces that react to alcohol.
- Warning: Alcohol is flammable, so use common sense and only apply it in small quantities and away from open flames.

Video: Easily Remove Sharpie from Hard Surfaces

2

Use a dry erase board marker.

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This is one of the easiest ways to remove Sharpie. And as a plus, it doesn’t require any chemicals. Simply scribble over the Sharpie mark with the dry erase board marker. Then, rub it off with a dry paper towel. All of the dry erase board marker remnants will be gone, and the Sharpie mark should start to disappear.^{[3]
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- Use on: Smooth, non-porous surfaces like glass, ceramic, metal, and dry erase boards.
- Let the Sharpie mark dry before going over it with the dry erase marker. It may seem odd, but it helps to prevent smearing.
- It may take more than one application to remove all of the Sharpie. After about 3-5 times of repeating this, the mark should be entirely removed.
- Most dry erase markers are made with an alcohol-based solvent, which will help dissolve the Sharpie mark.

3

Wipe the Sharpie with a Magic Eraser.

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Abrasive melamine sponges, like Magic Erasers, scrub off Sharpie ink. Mendes agrees that Magic Erasers are great for removing Sharpie stains.^{[4]
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Alessandra Mendes
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview} Simply dampen the sponge with water. Then, gently scrub the Sharpie stain with the sponge. Just keep scrubbing until the ink stain is gone.^{[5]
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- Use on: Walls, tiles/ceramic, wood, plastic, and glass. Just be very gentle, as the sponge can lift the finish or seal from surfaces.
- You might also try using an ink pen eraser.

4

Rub the spot with hand sanitizer.

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Hand sanitizer contains alcohol that can remove permanent marker. Simply get a tissue, paper towel, toilet paper, or cotton ball and add a squeeze of hand sanitizer on it. Ball up the paper (this spreads the sanitizer to almost all parts of the paper) and then scrub the Sharpie stain.^{[6]
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- Use on: Most surfaces, like plastic, glass, metal, wood, ceramic, laminate, walls, and counters.

5

Use nail polish remover.

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Nail polish remover contains solvents that remove Sharpie ink. According to Mendes, nail polish remover works similarly to rubbing alcohol. She says to “dampen a cloth” or cotton ball with the nail polish remover and then “gently rub the stained area until the marker starts to lift” off.^{[7]
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Alessandra Mendes
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview}
- Use on: Most surfaces, like glass, wood, ceramic, laminate, metal, walls, and counters.

6

Try a spot remover product, like WD-40.

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Oily products, like WD-40 and Goo Gone, can remove tough stains. For stubborn Sharpie marks, Mendes suggests using WD-40 or Goo Gone. These products contain solvents and oils that help lift off ink stains. Simply spray the stain with either product and then wipe it with a cloth, paper towel, or cotton ball.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Alessandra Mendes
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview}
- Use on: Glass, ceramic, walls, counters, metal, and concrete.
- Other options include: Barkeepers Friend, Kleen King, paint or lacquer thinner, or carburetor cleaner. Even plain old cooking oil sometimes works.
- Always spot-test the product on a hidden part of the surface to make sure it doesn’t cause damage.
- If you only get partial results, leave the product on for several days or weeks. Then, go back and repeat everything you did the first time, as the marks tend to oxidize or deteriorate to some extent, which gives you a better chance of getting rid of them.

7

Consider using toothpaste.

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Toothpaste is a great alternative to stronger chemicals. Put a small amount of toothpaste onto a rag or sponge that you don't mind getting stained, says Peters. Then, “rub the area with small circles” until the Sharpie marks are gone.^{[9]
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Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview}
- Use on: Primarily wood—Peters says “it works well for both finished and unfinished wood.”^{[10]
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  Guy Peters
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview} Toothpaste also works on walls, ceramic, plastic, glass, and metal.
- Remove the toothpaste with a damp cloth. Peters says to add more toothpaste as needed until the Sharpie is gone.^{[11]
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  Guy Peters
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview}
- Peters advises using toothpaste that’s made with baking soda. He says to “avoid gel toothpastes, since they won’t work at all.”^{[12]
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  Guy Peters
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview}
- According to Peters, “while toothpaste is pretty mild, you’ll still want to test in a hidden area first” to make sure it doesn’t damage the surface.^{[13]
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  Guy Peters
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview}

8

Spray hairspray onto the stain.

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The alcohol in hairspray helps lift off Sharpie marks. Spritz the Sharpie stain with hairspray. Then, wipe it away with a cloth or paper towel after no more than 5 seconds. If you leave the hairspray on too long, it might stick.^{[14]
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- Use on: Plastic, wood, walls, ceramic, and metal.
- Scrub the Sharpie stain until it rubs off. You might have to reapply the hairspray several times.
- If you don't have hairspray, perfumes and body sprays work well, too.^{[15]
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9

Use white vinegar or milk.

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These household items contain acids and enzymes that dissolve Sharpie. Simply apply the vinegar or milk to a cotton ball, cloth, or paper towel. Then, wipe the Sharpie stain until the marks come off.^{[16]
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- Use on: Ceramic, wood, and furniture.

10

Clean the stain with baking soda.

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The abrasive qualities of baking soda can scrub off Sharpie. Mix equal parts baking soda and water into a thick paste. Then, use a toothbrush to scrub the paste into the Sharpie stain. Simply wipe off the baking soda with a damp cloth once the marker is gone.^{[17]
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- Use on: Brick, concrete, plastic, glass, and ceramic.
- If the stain is on ceramic or glass, add 1 part toothpaste to 1 part baking soda, and see if it will rub off.

11

Rub the Sharpie stain with orange peels.

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The essential oils in orange peels work as a cleaner. Don’t have any chemical products around or don’t want to expose yourself to them? Try using oranges:^{[18]
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- Before you start, make sure you rub the orange peel; this is known to bring out the essential oils that you will need.
- Using “elbow grease,” start rubbing the stain with the peels.
- Use on: Walls, wood, ceramic, and glass.

12

Draw over the mark with another Sharpie.

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This sounds counterintuitive, but it’s no joke! With the new Sharpie in hand, firmly draw directly on the old mark. Then, immediately wipe it with a cotton ball, tissue, or cloth. The fresh coat of marker will re-liquefy the old ink, allowing you to wipe it off.
- Use on: Smooth, non-porous surfaces like glass and dry erase boards.
- Have an alcohol bottle on the ready, too, to help re-liquify and remove the ink (some in a spray bottle is better than the rag approach).
- You need to wipe the Sharpie off immediately following the fresh application, so a two-handed approach may work best for you.

13

Try using another permanent marker.

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The pen contains both the ink and solvent. One of the simplest ways to remove permanent marker quickly from a smooth surface is with another brand of permanent marker and a rag. Color over a small part of the mark quickly, so that it becomes wet, then wipe it away immediately.
- Use on: Smooth, non-porous surfaces like glass and dry erase boards.
- You might want to use a cotton ball to remove the marker, instead of a rag or paper towel. The small size of the cotton ball makes it ideal for removing marker without smearing it around more of the surface.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What other products can I use to remove permanent markers from countertops and tiles?

Alessandra Mendes
Cleaning Specialist
Alessandra Mendes is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleaning Glow. With ten years of experience, Alessandra and her team specialize in providing residential cleaning services in the San Francisco Bay Area. All members of the Cleaning Glow team have completed thorough background checks.

Alessandra Mendes

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

To ensure a safe and effective cleaning process, it's crucial to spot-test an area first to ensure compatibility with the products and surfaces. Begin by wetting the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with water and gently scrubbing a small, inconspicuous area of the tiles or counters. Then, apply a small amount of Goo Gone Original Liquid onto another inconspicuous area and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping. Similarly, spot test WD-40 Multi-Use Product on a small area. If there are no adverse reactions such as discoloration or damage, proceed with the cleaning process as outlined, using the appropriate product for the marker stain.

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Could rubbing alcohol be used on my phone case?

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Maybe, but spraying a small amount of deodorant spray or perfume or even nail polish remover works very well to remove Sharpie stains.

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Got Sharpie on your clothes? Rubbing alcohol, hairspray, and vinegar are some of the best solutions to get the stains out.^{[19]
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If you have Sharpie on your skin, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mohiba Tareen recommends cleaning it off with sea salt, olive oil, or baby oil.^{[20]
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Be careful around any alcohol or chemical-based products. Follow the safety directions with great care.

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An EXPO Dry Erase Marker and a wet tissue might help remove a black sharpie on a white desk.

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Warnings

Use products that are safe for the surface you’re cleaning, as some removal methods can damage certain surfaces. For instance, rubbing alcohol can damage or remove the finish from wood. Alcohol-based cleaners are generally best on less porous surfaces, like glass and countertops, as they’re less likely to damage them.

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