Any ideas on how to get sharpie marker out of clothing? - SUCCESS!

[TinkerBean]

DD was playing with water balloons and decided to use sharpies to draw faces on them. The marker from the balloon smudged onto her new shorts. Any ideas on how to get it out?

 

[3boymthr]

I have one suggestion, but it's a risky one.

There is a cleaning product called "Greased Lightning". It's really potent stuff, and will remove dried on paint from anything so it's not the best stuff to be using on clothes, but if all else fails this might do the trick.

 

[woodkins]

Hairspray will remove ink from clothing, I have used it with ballpoint pen ink, but it may be worth a shot.

 

[2minnies]

borrowed from another site:

RE: Permanent Marker Stains on Clothing
I emailed Sharpie and this was under their FAQ answers:

"The successful stain removal of ink stains differs from case to case because of the many types of fabrics, colors, inks, and time elapsed before stain removal. We cannot guarantee stain removal since many variables can be involved. Testing first is always recommended as well as following both the stain remover and clothing manufacturer's instructions. Following these steps should result in partial or complete removal.

General Rules:

1. Treat stains as soon as possible. Fresh stains can be removed more easily than old ones.
2. Check manufacturer's labels as to fabric content and any special instructions
3. Always test stain removal solution first on a hidden part of the article or on swatch of fabric taken from seam allowance to insure no color loss or damage will occur.
4. Where possible, lay stained article face down on paper towels or clean white cloth and apply stain removal solution to underside of stain so that stain can be removed from the surface instead of pushing it through the fabric. Replace towels or cloth as they absorb stain to prevent stain transfer.
5. If enlisting the aid of a professional laundry or dry cleaner, be sure to indicate what the stain is and the type of fabric.
6. Do not iron stained garments or put in dryer as this may set stain.

Also try Amodex Stain Remover for permanent ink: Amodex Products, P.O. Box 3332, Bridgeport, CT 06605, Phone203) 335-1255 or go to amodexink.com

 

[Alesia]

rubbing alcohol.

 

[tommya60]

Stretch the fabric tight, single layer. If necessary put an old towel between the stain and the opposite fabric (you don't want the marker to run onto other fabric. Then try rubbing alcohol or hairspray. For the rubbing alcohol, get a cotton ball or a piece of towelling REALLY wet and rub. For the hairspray, staurate the fabric as much as possible, then pour water through the spot (you might neet a helper---or stretch it over a bowl and rubber band in place). Be very careful so you don't just "move" the spot to a new place. It can take some time, but I have been successful in the past.
Oh course, applique patches from Micheal's or Joann Fabrics work well, too!

 

[MissBritt]

Q-tip soaked with rubbing alcohol. May not get it all out, but it should pull most of the color from the marker.

 

[r1lissa]

The Dollar General store sells the most amazing cleaner that I have ever used. (And it truly is only $1.) I can't remember the exact name, but it is in an short, circular, orange and white container in the laundry area of the store. I believe it is made by 3M.
A green crayon got melted in our dryer along with half a dozen pair of blue jeans. I covered the jeans in this cleaner and it ALL came out. A friend used it to get blood out of her car upholstery- don't ask.
One word of caution though- don't store it near the dryer because the cleaner will melt. It's kind of a goo.

 

[Sadie22]

Hairspray will remove ink from clothing, I have used it with ballpoint pen ink, but it may be worth a shot.

A combination of a whole lot of liquid hairspray and soaking in Shout stain stick, Oxyclean, and Wisk HE and washing several times saved a light blue denim shirt which had been washed and dried with a gel ink pen in the pocket. (The pen sort of exploded onto the shirt.)

I think we have gotten Sharpie out with just hairspray and laundering if the stain was noticed before the garment was put in the dryer.

 

[TinkerBean]

Thanks for all of the great ideas - off to try them out this morning. I will report back...

If anyone else has any other ideas - please share, as I doubt this will be the last time I will be dealing with this problem

 

[Mommee]

#4 of Sharpie's suggestions using hair spray instead of stain remover. DS came back from his dad's house with a huge sharpie swipe on the arm of his favorite sweatshirt. It sat there for 3 days before I got to it, but it ALL came out. I was his hero!

I hope you have as good of luck as I did

 

[Cloud9]

I have one suggestion, but it's a risky one.

There is a cleaning product called "Greased Lightning". It's really potent stuff, and will remove dried on paint from anything so it's not the best stuff to be using on clothes, but if all else fails this might do the trick.

Greased Lightning is not harmful to clothing - it is a multi-purpose cleaner & degreaser. On the front of the bottle it states that it can be used as laundry pretreater. I have used greased lightning as a laundry pretreater after the stain has sat for days and it takes everything out. This is the only pretreater that I have used for about 7 years now.

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

I do not think rubbing alcohol will work. DD just did a project with her preschool class where they used sharpies and rubbing alcohol to make tyedyed t shirts. They put cups and rubberbands and colored on tio of the cup opening for the circle look. By placing the rubbing alcohol on the sharpie it made it spread. I guess if all else fails you can do that project and make the shirt like dd. Good luck getting it out. I hate it when I(mostly kids) have stains I cannot get out.

 

[TinkerBean]

Thank you so much for all of your responses. I first tried the hairspray (lots and lots) with everytime I sprayed the stain it lifted out a little more - until it was *almost* gone. There was only a little shadow of it left. Then I switched over to rubbing alcohol, soaked it, dabbed it and then it was GONE! Really gone - I am super anal about this stuff and it. is. GONE!

Thanks again, they were dd's favourite shorts, not expensive or anything - just her favourites. She'll be thrilled...

 

[SandrA9810]

the perfect topic... I had to keep a sharpie on me at all times at work. And it fell out of the cap and into the bottom of my pocket. There's a huge spot with a tail from pulling it out. I didn't have time to clean for a while now, but i knew i shouldn't have just thrown it into the washer.
I'm trying the alcohol method, it's working, but there's a lot of ink in that little spot. at least it's not spreading away from that spot.

 

[foreUT]

Thank you so much for all of your responses. I first tried the hairspray (lots and lots) with everytime I sprayed the stain it lifted out a little more - until it was *almost* gone. There was only a little shadow of it left. Then I switched over to rubbing alcohol, soaked it, dabbed it and then it was GONE! Really gone - I am super anal about this stuff and it. is. GONE!

Thanks again, they were dd's favourite shorts, not expensive or anything - just her favourites. She'll be thrilled...

Thanks for recap. I have a Pottery Barn pillow cover that has a spot (it is washable cotton) from a Sharpie. Think I will try the hairspray and see what happens!

 

[TinkerBean]

Just remember to place an old facecloth or something in between layers to prevent the stain from bleeding into the other side of your fabric. I was quite pleasantly surprised on how well it worked for me. Just took her shorts out of the washing machine and they are as good as new -

 

[focusondisney]

The OP is from 2010. I don’t think they need those shorts anymore.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

One of the most effective ways to get dried permanent marker stains out of clothes is by using rubbing alcohol. Place the stained area on a paper towel, dip a cloth or sponge in rubbing alcohol and gently apply it to the stain. Dab around the stain first, then directly on it. Change the paper towel as needed.

Yep. Isopropyl alcohol is the main ingredient in hair spray.