How to get perminant marker off mirror?

[DisneyDayTripper]

I've always liked to surprise my wife by writing little notes on the bathroom mirror if I'm getting ready for bed before her...well...I've always been careful to make sure I grabbed a washable marker just so that there were no issues.....it turns out one night I ran into my office and thought I grabbed a washable marker, but I didn't check and it was actually a permanent marker. It washed off fine and I didn't notice the mistake until I took a shower and noticed that the message was still there when the steam came over the mirror. I tried washing it with window cleaner and a magic eraser...and it still hasn't gone away. The magic eraser did a better job than the window cleaner, but when I let the bathroom fill up with steam it was still slightly there...any suggestions? We have a friend staying with us for the weekend and he just reminded me that I need to come up with a fix for the situation when he got out of the shower and said, "nice note man!" haha...

 

[mhsjax]

I've always liked to surprise my wife by writing little notes on the bathroom mirror if I'm getting ready for bed before her...well...I've always been careful to make sure I grabbed a washable marker just so that there were no issues.....it turns out one night I ran into my office and thought I grabbed a washable marker, but I didn't check and it was actually a permanent marker. It washed off fine and I didn't notice the mistake until I took a shower and noticed that the message was still there when the steam came over the mirror. I tried washing it with window cleaner and a magic eraser...and it still hasn't gone away. The magic eraser did a better job than the window cleaner, but when I let the bathroom fill up with steam it was still slightly there...any suggestions? We have a friend staying with us for the weekend and he just reminded me that I need to come up with a fix for the situation when he got out of the shower and said, "nice note man!" haha...

Try hairspray

 

[cybrkitn]

What about using rubbing alcohol? That always works for me when DS7 has used permanent marker on things in the past. Try dipping a Q-tip into it then rubbing it onto the mirror.

 

[balletmom97]

Take a dry erase marker (like Expo) and color over the area you had written the note, then wipe off the dry erase ink. The "permanent" ink should be gone.

This trick definitely works on dry erase boards and laminated papers, I don't see why it wouldn't work on a mirror.

Please let us know what finally works for you!

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

I just tried some finger nail polish with acetone...but it still didn't do the job...alcohol and hand sanitizer are my next weapons.....I'll keep you posted haha

The mirror looks SPOTLESS when there is no steam or anything in the room..but after you get out of the shower it is visible. It is as if there is oil or something stuck to the mirror and the steam clings to it.

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

and he hand sanitizer failed.....now alcohol

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

and the alcohol fails as well.....

I'm thinking the mirror is just going to have to be replaced lol

I'll still try the hairspray and see if that works..all I know is if someone tries to smoke in our mirror it is going to explode into flames lol

 

[swald91]

Hair spray definitely works for ink on walls-I'd try it.

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

Hair spray definitely works for ink on walls-I'd try it.

Do you just spray it on and wipe it off or do you have to let it sit there for a little bit?

 

[a1tinkfans]

I've always liked to surprise my wife by writing little notes on the bathroom mirror if I'm getting ready for bed before her...well...I've always been careful to make sure I grabbed a washable marker just so that there were no issues.....it turns out one night I ran into my office and thought I grabbed a washable marker, but I didn't check and it was actually a permanent marker. It washed off fine and I didn't notice the mistake until I took a shower and noticed that the message was still there when the steam came over the mirror. I tried washing it with window cleaner and a magic eraser...and it still hasn't gone away. The magic eraser did a better job than the window cleaner, but when I let the bathroom fill up with steam it was still slightly there...any suggestions? We have a friend staying with us for the weekend and he just reminded me that I need to come up with a fix for the situation when he got out of the shower and said, "nice note man!" haha...

Well personally I LIKE the idea of a "hidden note"...think its kinda cool myself....then again 25 years of marriage this year so a little reminder note is special!!!
Curious to see how you can remove it though.....good luck!

 

[swald91]

Do you just spray it on and wipe it off or do you have to let it sit there for a little bit?

I've never tried it on a mirror-but I'd just spray the spot on the mirror-my daughter was 2 when we went camping -this place was brand spankin' new & while I thought she was napping she was writing on their newly painted wall well with the help of hairspray it came off!!!! I wouldn't have believed it if anyone told me-but it worked on pen ink!

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

The only thing is it seems like the steam is one is causing the issue because when the mirror is dry it looks like the cleanest mirror in the entire world...I mean it sparkles...because it's been cleaned an insane amount today lol

A few minute after running the shower and letting steam gather in the bathroom you can stand there and watch as the note is slowly revealed word by word as the steam collects on the mirror. It seems as if there's some type of oil or something in the marker ink that isn't wanting to come off...I really thought alcohol would take it off lol

 

[Sparx]

The only thing is it seems like the steam is one is causing the issue because when the mirror is dry it looks like the cleanest mirror in the entire world...I mean it sparkles...because it's been cleaned an insane amount today lol

A few minute after running the shower and letting steam gather in the bathroom you can stand there and watch as the note is slowly revealed word by word as the steam collects on the mirror. It seems as if there's some type of oil or something in the marker ink that isn't wanting to come off...I really thought alcohol would take it off lol

it sounds like the same thing that happens if you touch the mirror with your fingers.

i remember once when i was in school a sub wrote on the board with a permanent marker, accidentally. they took it off with men's body spray, like ax? i don't know if this would work for a mirror though. but it sounds like the same premise as hair spray.

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

IT'S GONE!

I'm not sure what did it...but after applying all that stuff I thought I would give the Magic Eraser one more chance since that stinkin' thing takes off nearly anything....I'm pretty sure I could scrub some of my freckles off with that thing!...anyway...I turned the shower on to let it steam up in there and started scrubbing away with the magic eraser and it was as if you could sit there and watch the letters erase........lived up to its name tonight!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

all I know is if someone tries to smoke in our mirror it is going to explode into flames lol

Thanks for the laugh! Dare I ask what you wrote? Glad you got rid of it.

 

[swald91]

Disneydaytripper, ok so now that it's off-go write on it again & let me know if the hairspray works....JK!!!!

 

[DisneyDayTripper]

Thanks for the laugh! Dare I ask what you wrote? Glad you got rid of it.

That's the thing...it wasn't bad at all and was completely appropriate...I'm really glad I wasn't being a little silly that night and write something off the wall lol......it was straight from the heart

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I was going to suggest toothpaste. DD wrote on the computer screen (a flat screen that isn't glass) and nothing was taking that sharpie marker ink off except toothpaste. Just a little on a damp cloth and the black marker was gone.

 

[cybrkitn]

IT'S GONE!

I'm not sure what did it...but after applying all that stuff I thought I would give the Magic Eraser one more chance since that stinkin' thing takes off nearly anything....I'm pretty sure I could scrub some of my freckles off with that thing!...anyway...I turned the shower on to let it steam up in there and started scrubbing away with the magic eraser and it was as if you could sit there and watch the letters erase........lived up to its name tonight!

That's great! Saves you from getting ribbed by your friend