How To Get Rid Of White Board Markings?

If you have used a white board in your home or in business you understand that these are designed to be used with a specific type of marker. White-board markers are made with chemicals and colors that can be easily wiped off the slick surface.

Sometimes we slip up and use a permanent marker or we find that constant use has caused the white surface to be stained with “ghosts” of color.

How do we remove these markings and return the surface to its original whiteness (or get it as close as we can)? Permanent markers leave their colors on white boards and other materials because of the pigment that is used by the manufacturer. This pigment contains two chemicals that are considered toxic as well as extremely water resistant.

These chemicals adhere tightly to the surface they touch. The material isn’t dyed a different color, as is the case with clothing dyes. But the bond is so strong that it takes special cleaning methods to remove the marks. One of the simplest ways to attack this problem is to use a soft cotton rag and some nail polish remover. Put some of the liquid on the cloth or rag and rub the marks with slight pressure. (Acetone works for this process too.)

Step by Step
Make sure the white board surface is dust free and otherwise clean. Put a small amount of nail polish remover or acetone on the cloth or rag. Wipe the marks in a circular motion, using light pressure. Once the nail polish remover or acetone dries you can try the process once more then follow that up with some commercial glass cleaner sprayed onto a clean cloth or rag. You might be able to get similar results with paint thinner. Use this product with care and in moderation.

Some folks have reported success in cleaning white boards with coconut soap and a soft cloth. This seems to take off most of the marker color. One person reported to her “cleaning forum” that she used peanut butter (without the crunch). Apparently this removed a good deal of the marker color from the white board surface. Rubbing alcohol works to remove most of the marks from a white board. This should be applied as described above.

These steps might help on walls in the home too but there is an additional problem. Wall surfaces are much more porous than white boards. You can try some of the common cleaning methods but you may have to repaint the walls if they are plaster or wall board. In some cases, the simple application of warm water and a good detergent will do the trick. For older white boards, you may have to go to one of the chemical products already mentioned.

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