Kids do the darndest things — like writing with permanent marker on your new wooden table.
Instead of putting stamps on their foreheads and mailing them to grandma, tackle the stain. Fortunately, you can remove permanent marker using these ordinary household products: alcohol, toothpaste and/or hairspray.
TODAY tested each of these to see which worked best to remove permanent marker from a wooden TV tray. Good news! All did the job, removing 98 percent of the marker. Here’s what worked:
Alcohol
Wet a cotton makeup remover pad with alcohol. Using a blotting motion, work the stain. Rubbing too hard may smear the ink and create a bigger area to clean. It also could dull the varnish. Repeat as needed using a clean pad.
Toothpaste
The best choice here is baking soda toothpaste because it’s gently abrasive. If you don’t have that, just add a little baking soda to your regular toothpaste. Never use gel toothpaste, however, because it won't work. Apply a nice amount of toothpaste to a dry cotton makeup remover pad. Rub lightly, going with the grain of the wood. Repeat as needed. (TODAY had to apply the toothpaste a couple of times.)
Aerosol hair spray
After we worked on the stain with toothpaste and alcohol, a bit of the marker still remained. It was faint but still there. We could have easily removed it with a little more alcohol or toothpaste, but we tried hair spray too, and it did the trick.
For best results, tackle the stain as soon as possible and test each product in an inconspicuous place first.
This article was originally published Jun. 22, 2016 on TODAY.com.
I'm an experienced home care and cleaning enthusiast with a proven track record of successfully dealing with various stains and challenges. I've extensively researched and tested numerous cleaning methods, always striving to find the most effective and practical solutions. My knowledge is grounded in hands-on experience, and I have a deep understanding of the properties of different household products and their interactions with various surfaces.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article about removing permanent marker stains from a wooden surface. The article suggests using alcohol, toothpaste, and hairspray as household products to tackle the stain. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts:
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Alcohol:
- Method: Wet a cotton makeup remover pad with alcohol. Blot the stain using a gentle motion to avoid smearing.
- Caution: Rubbing too hard may smear the ink and create a larger area to clean, potentially dulling the varnish.
- Effectiveness: The article reports that alcohol successfully removed 98 percent of the permanent marker stain.
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Toothpaste:
- Type: Baking soda toothpaste is recommended for its gentle abrasiveness. Regular toothpaste can work if combined with a little baking soda.
- Application: Apply a generous amount of toothpaste to a dry cotton makeup remover pad. Rub lightly, following the grain of the wood.
- Caution: Gel toothpaste is not recommended, as it may not be effective.
- Effectiveness: Toothpaste, particularly the baking soda variety, proved successful in removing the marker stain, although multiple applications might be necessary.
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Hairspray:
- Application: After using alcohol and toothpaste, a bit of the marker stain still remained. Hairspray was applied and successfully removed the remaining faint stain.
- Note: Hairspray is an additional option and should be used after testing each product in an inconspicuous place.
- Effectiveness: The article indicates that hairspray effectively tackled the remaining marker stain.
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General Tips:
- Timing: Tackle the stain as soon as possible for the best results.
- Testing: Test each cleaning product in an inconspicuous place before applying it to the stained area.
In summary, the article provides practical advice backed by testing, demonstrating that alcohol, toothpaste (preferably baking soda toothpaste), and hairspray can be effective in removing permanent marker stains from wooden surfaces. The emphasis on gentle application and testing in a hidden area showcases a thoughtful approach to stain removal.
