Q&A for How to Get Highlighter Out of Clothes

Rub over the dried stain with either rubbing alcohol or a mixture of baking soda and hot water, using your fingers or a small bristle brush to work the treatment into the fabric. If that doesn't work, use bleach mixed with hot water.

According to the Illinois Poison Control Center, highlighter ink is unlikely to cause serious symptoms if you swallow a small amount of it. You might experience a mildly upset stomach and some temporary staining in and around the mouth. However, if you’re worried, call your doctor or your local poison control center and ask for advice.

Lemon juice is great for fading highlighter marks in books. Carefully rub a small amount onto the marks with a cotton swab. You might also be able to use it on clothing stains, but take care not to leave it on too long, or you could accidentally bleach your clothing.

Cotton is usually a pretty sturdy fabric, so you can probably use a regular stain pre-treatment and then wash it out with detergent. If that doesn’t work, you can try applying a little acetone-based nail polish remover to the spot. Be careful, though, since acetone could bleach your shirt if it’s colored or patterned. Try it in an inconspicuous spot first, like under the collar or inside a cuff.