Download Article
The best cleaners for scrubbing away Sharpie and other marker stains
Download Article
Permanent markers are great when you want to label an item or draw a picture, but not so great when they get on your skin. Luckily, you won’t have to live your life with a permanent marker smudge on your hand or leg. We talked to board certified dermatologist Mohiba Tareen, MD to bring you the best cleaners to rid your skin of permanent marker, including alcohol-based cleaners, oil-based products, and others. We’ll also show you how to remove hair dye and stubborn glue!
Easy Ways to Clean Permanent Marker Off Skin
- Scrub the stain with rubbing alcohol.
- Lather your skin with hand sanitizer.
- Rub white cream toothpaste onto the stain.
- Wipe the stain with olive oil or coconut oil.
- Rub the stain with baby oil or hand lotion.
- Wipe the stain with makeup remover.
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
Best Ways to Remove Sharpie from Skin
Download Article
-
Rubbing alcohol Even the most stubborn permanent marker stains are no match for the powers of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Simply pour some rubbing alcohol directly onto the stain and use your fingertips or a paper towel to rub it onto the marker. [1] X Research source Continue rubbing the mark until all the ink is gone. Finish off by washing your skin with warm water and a bit of soap.- Use a rag or towel you don’t mind getting dirty. Permanent marker will stain your rag just like it stained your skin.
-
Coconut oil Tareen tells us that coconut oil is an effective stain remover, plus it gives your skin a little extra sweet-smelling moisture. Wash your skin with warm water and a little bit of soap, and pat it dry. Apply a small amount of the coconut oil to your marked skin with your hands. Rub and wipe the coconut oil against your skin with your fingers or a tissue until the marker is completely gone.
- You may need to rinse the oil off with warm water, then reapply it several times before the stain is gone.
- Olive oil is also an effective alternative.
Advertisement -
Hand sanitizer Hand sanitizer contains a good amount of alcohol, which works to thin and erase the ink from a permanent marker stain. [2] X Research source Squirt some hand sanitizer onto your hand, and then rub it onto the mark using a circular motion for 30-60 seconds. Rinse your skin off with warm water, and repeat the process until you've conquered the stain. As a bonus, your skin will be germ free!
- Or, use cleansing wipes that contain alcohol as an alternative to using hand sanitizer.
-
Sunscreen Sunscreen is your skin's best friend in the sweltering sun and during permanent marker stain crises. Coat the marker stain with a thick layer of sunscreen, and then rub it with your fingertips in a circular motion. Continue adding sunscreen and rubbing it in until all the marker has been dissolved. Rinse everything off with warm water, and you're good to go. [3] X Research source
- Either cream or spray-on sunscreen will work.
-
Baby oil or lotion Tareen says that baby oil “can attach to the excess oil on the skin and the marker ink to help remove the ink pigments.” It’s a gentle but strong cleanser that can remove permanent marker stains while moisturizing your skin. Apply the baby oil or lotion to a tissue and use it to blot and rub the marker stain. Then wash the area with warm water to remove the marker and the excess oil or lotion.
-
Shaving cream Shaving cream is another great oil-based marker remover. [4] X Research source Apply a large dollop directly on the stained area of skin. Then use your fingers or a tissue to rub the shaving cream into the stain. Continue rubbing the mark until you lift all of that stubborn ink from your skin, and then wash your skin with warm water.
-
Soap & baby wipes Permanent marker on skin will automatically fade away with time. Speed up the process by washing the stain with warm water and hand soap. [5] X Research source Or, grab a baby wipe, rub at the marker stain until it is dissolved, and rinse your skin with warm water.
- Try to use baby wipes as opposed to surface cleaning wipes, as baby wipes are more gentle on the skin.
-
Makeup remover To use a liquid makeup remover, apply a small amount onto a paper towel or cloth, and then rub at the stained area of skin. If you are using makeup wipes, the process is even easier. Simply rub and wipe the irksome stain away. [6] X Research source
-
White cream toothpaste Choose a white cream toothpaste—gel toothpaste won’t work as well. Run warm water and dampen your skin where the mark is and spread on a thick layer of the toothpaste. Let the toothpaste set for 1-2 minutes before you use your fingertip or a damp rag to rub the toothpaste into the skin. Rub it until the ink has dissolved completely, and then rinse with a little warm water. [7] X Research source
-
Butter Tareen says that butter has properties similar to oils, which makes it effective. Take a dollop of butter and smear it on the permanent marker stain. Let it set for 2-3 minutes, and then use a rag to rub it into the stain. Continue rubbing until the ink has dissolved, and then use hot water and soap to rinse off the butter and the ink.
-
Nail polish remover or acetone Although not technically a “skin product,” nail polish remover and acetone will dissolve permanent marker ink and nail polish alike, all without damaging your skin. [8] X Research source Pour some of the remover/acetone onto a cotton ball or rag, and rub the mark with it. Continue adding more polish remover and rubbing until the persistent smudge is gone. Then, wash off your squeaky-clean skin with warm water and pat dry.
- Nail polish remover evaporates fairly quickly, so you may have to use multiple applications.
-
Dish soap & baking soda In a small bowl, mix together equal parts of dish soap and baking soda. Then, use your finger or a paper towel to lather the mixture into your skin. The mild abrasive of the baking soda will help scrub the stain away. [9] X Research source Meanwhile, the dish soap breaks down the ink.
- Keep lathering and rinsing until the stain is gone!
- Similarly, you might also try rubbing a sea salt scrub or a bar of lava soap onto the stain.
-
Bug spray Similar to hand sanitizer, insect repellents often contain alcohol. [10] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source Alcohol helps dissolve permanent marker ink. Cover the stain in bug spray and and use your fingers or tissue to rub it onto your skin. Then wash your skin with soap and water. Repeat until the stain is gone.
-
Hairspray Hairspray is an effective, if surprising, way of removing permanent marker . Choose an alcohol-based hairspray, move into a well-ventilated area, and spray the hairspray onto the stain so that it is completely coated with the liquid. [11] X Research source Use your fingertips or a cloth to rub the hairspray into the stain. When most of the ink has been dissolved, wash your skin off with soap and a bit of warm water and pat it dry.
- Note that hairspray may irritate sensitive skin. Test the spray on a small patch of skin and wait 15 minutes to see if you have a negative reaction before using more.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionIs it safe to draw on your skin with Sharpie?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.Sharpie is marked as nontoxic to the skin. However, Sharpie can have harmful effects on the body if it enters the bloodstream, so use it with caution.
-
QuestionIs Sharpie toxic on skin?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.According to the ACMI, Sharpie is nontoxic to the skin and will not cause any ink poisoning. However, occasionally someone may experience a negative allergic reaction to the sharpie.
-
QuestionWhat removes Sharpie marker from skin?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.Sharpie can be easily removed from skin. You can use an alcohol-based cleaner, such as rubbing alcohol, hairspray, or hand sanitizer. Or, if you prefer, you can rub a glob of sunscreen or coconut oil into the Sharpie until it is gone then wipe it away with a tissue.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Always use skin-safe products to remove permanent marker before moving on to household products.Thanks
- Remember to moisturize your skin after using these methods as some of them may dry it out.Thanks
- Make sure to tell an adult if you are under 18 and choose to use acetone.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- If you can't get the marker off with any of these methods, it will eventually wear off on its own. If the mark is small or not offensive, this might be the easiest course of action.
- Try using an Expo dry erase marker, then Expo marker spray to wipe off the Expo marker.
- Use an old toothbrush to rub the toothpaste in to avoid getting messy.
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Always be careful when using rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, and hairspray near an open flame as these products are highly flammable.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/ph/floor-and-surface-cleaning/how-to-remove-permanent-marker-from-surfaces.html
- ↑ https://www.popsci.com/how-to-erase-permanent-marker-graffiti/
- ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/882177/why-you-should-use-sunscreen-to-remove-permanent-marker-stains/
- ↑ https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/remove-permanent-marker/
- ↑ https://www.nnepc.org/poisons/m/marker-ink-permanent
- ↑ https://choosemarker.com/get-crayola-markers-off-skin/
- ↑ https://www.tomsguide.com/news/i-tried-this-tiktok-toothpaste-hack-to-remove-permanent-marker
- ↑ https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-makes-ink-permanent
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ0zX76ZY_s
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/deet
- ↑ https://abc13.com/life-hacks-removing-permanent-marker-stains-from-clothing-how-to-get-out-clothes/3588954/
- ↑ https://www.nnepc.org/poisons/m/marker-ink-permanent
- ↑ https://www.nnepc.org/poisons/m/marker-ink-permanent
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-super-glue-off-your-skin
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To remove permanent marker from your skin, rub it with an alcohol-based product like hairspray, hand sanitizer, bug spray, or rubbing alcohol. If you don't have an alcohol-based product on hand, try rubbing it with an oil instead, like coconut oil or baby oil. You can also rub the permanent marker with sunscreen or shaving cream to get it off your skin. If you have baby wipes or makeup wipes, you can try scrubbing it with those as well. If you want to learn how to use toothpaste or nail polish remover to clean up permanent marker, keep reading the article!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,780,205 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I had Sharpie all over my hand because I was bored in class and drew all over. I tried the hand sanitizer hack, and it worked! The Sharpie is still visible, but very faint. This really helped, thanks so much!" ..." more
Advertisement
100%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I had Sharpie all over my hand because I was bored in class and drew all over. I tried the hand sanitizer hack, and it worked! The Sharpie is still visible, but very faint. This really helped, thanks so much!"
..."
more
"I was drawing with my sister and I had marker all around my fingers. I was trying to take it off with a makeup wipe and then it took it off. Then I tried the alcohol hack, and it worked! And all of it is gone, thanks to the alcohol hack! "
..."
more
"My granddaughter got permanent paint marker all over her hands doing a hand print. I tried all of the suggestions, then finally put Dawn and a bit a rubbing alcohol in a bowl of water and had her soak. In 15 minutes, it was all off! "
..."
more
"I decided it would be a good idea to draw in Sharpie on my skin during class, it wasn't. I was immediately embarrassed and had to remove it. This really helped, but it smells like hand sanitizer now."
..."
more
"My fifteen- and thirteen-year-old grandkids drew with permanent marker on my 8-year-old granddaughter. Thank you for your advice, you were right. "
..."
more
