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Easy DIYs to clean marker off your whiteboard
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- Dry Erase Marker |
- Whiteboard Cleaner |
- Rubbing Alcohol |
- Hairspray |
- Hydrogen Peroxide |
- Vinegar |
- Acetone |
- Baking Soda Paste |
- WD-40 |
- Toothpaste |
- Muscle Cream |
- Shoe Polish |
- Car Wax |
- Cleaning Powder |
- Coffee Grounds |
- Margarine |
- Expert Q&A |
- Tips |
- Warnings
You can erase old marks from a dry-erase board using many safe, non-abrasive household items. Many simple products in your kitchen pantry and under the bathroom sink can remove the toughest stains. Cleaning your board is simple and doesn't take much elbow grease. With the help of cleaning experts, we explain how to get those tough stains off of your dry-erase board in this article.
Quick Tips for Erasing a Dry Erase Board
Draw over the marks with a dry-erase marker, then erase the board to remove both the old and new marker. Alternatively, use whiteboard cleaner, rubbing alcohol, hairspray, or a mixture of vinegar and water to remove old marks from a dry-erase board.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan you use Windex to clean a dry erase board?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.Yes, Windex is safe to use on a dry erase board. However, you want to be sure to only use a soft cloth as you wipe the Windex. Scouring pads, steel wool, or anything abrasive can damage a dry erase board.
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QuestionHow do you clean a dry erase board eraser?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.Dry erasers are easy to clean. You can mix 1 Tbsp of dish soap with 1 quart of very hot water. Let the eraser soak in the hot soapy water for 20-25 minutes and then thoroughly rinse out the eraser under warm water.
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QuestionWhat can I use to "condition" the board after cleaning it? I hear car wax work well, but are there any other methods?Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids based in northern Colorado. Driscoll received her Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health in 2016.Yes, car wax works well to condition the board. WD-40 also works as a conditioner and lubricant.
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Tips
- To clean your dry eraser, dip a soft-bristled brush into a mixture of 0.5L of water and 0.5 TSP (2.5 mL) of liquid dish soap and sweep it over the surface. [13] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to sourceThanks
- Clean your whiteboard with a whiteboard cleaner every 2-3 days to help maintain its peak condition.Thanks
- There are three types of whiteboards: melamine, porcelain, and glass.
- Porcelain whiteboards are tough, non-porous, and magnetic.
- Glass whiteboards are durable, easy to clean, and take any type of standard dry-erase marker. They are also ghost- and streak-resistant.
- Melamine whiteboards are common and affordable, but due to their porous material, they wear down the quickest out of the different types of dry erase boards. They are susceptible to streaking and ghosting as the coating breaks down.
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.
- Avoid mixing baking soda and vinegar. Not only is it a weak cleaning solution, but it could potentially damage your dry erase board.
- Try scrubbing the marks with olive oil. You may still see a hint of the original marker, but only if you're looking for it.
- Hand sanitizer is a fast and easy way to remove stains that are multiple years old!
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Warnings
- Don’t use Magic Erasers, cloudy ammonia, or other harsh chemicals on your melamine white board. They will remove the sealant that makes the board dry erase.Thanks
- Don’t wipe off ink with your hands. Your skin contains oils that stain your white board over time.Thanks
- Don’t use permanent markers or rubber erasers on your dry erase board.Thanks
- Using a dirty dry eraser on your dry erase board can cause streaking.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7qxVzOF2vw8
- ↑ https://youtu.be/nGEZOfEIgYE?t=119
- ↑ https://youtu.be/m6h-N-TWj3E?si=fwOJbQK94b4cXKmR&t=26
- ↑ https://youtu.be/0zYds27qthQ?t=34
- ↑ https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Acetone
- ↑ https://youtu.be/m6h-N-TWj3E?si=UpT5gF25eYvq1rJ7&t=56
- ↑ https://howtocleanthings.com/how-to-clean-a-dry-erase-board/#google_vignette
- ↑ https://www.makerjosh.com/best-way-clean-whiteboards-9-tests/
- ↑ https://www.makerjosh.com/best-way-clean-whiteboards-9-tests/
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/mtm/methyl-salicylate-topical.html
- ↑ https://lifehacker.com/the-best-way-to-get-permanent-marker-off-a-white-board-1847628481
- ↑ https://www.makerjosh.com/best-way-clean-whiteboards-9-tests/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/global-water-sanitation-hygiene/media/pdfs/334204-E_NCEZID_IG_CleaningSolution-p.pdf
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To erase old marks off a dry erase board, wet a sponge with rubbing alcohol and rub it onto the stain, wiping the area clean with a dry cloth. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol, draw over the old stains with a new, dark colored dry erase marker, and erase as you normally would. It might take a few tries to remove the mark with this method. If the mark is permanent marker, use a paper towel to rub white toothpaste onto the stains. Then, use a wet towel to wipe the board clean. If you want to learn how to use other products, such as baking soda or hairspray, keep reading the article!
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,143,945 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I was required to change classrooms at school. The board in my new room had a lot of dried marks from markers of years gone by. I tried regular Expo whiteboard cleaner to no avail. I found this article and started trying a few of the suggestions. I tried the hydrogen peroxide, the ink was too dry. So today I tried toothpaste, it worked. After I worked the toothpaste in, I followed up with the Expo cleaner. Now the board is white, looking almost brand-new." ..." more
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"I was required to change classrooms at school. The board in my new room had a lot of dried marks from markers of years gone by. I tried regular Expo whiteboard cleaner to no avail. I found this article and started trying a few of the suggestions. I tried the hydrogen peroxide, the ink was too dry. So today I tried toothpaste, it worked. After I worked the toothpaste in, I followed up with the Expo cleaner. Now the board is white, looking almost brand-new."
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"My dry erase board sat for 2 years. I first tried using the Expo cleaner which barely budged any of the writing. I then tried the WD-40 method, which took off most of the writing but left large smudged areas. I scrolled back through the article and finally tried the white toothpaste. I now have a minty clean, well-conditioned board to write on. Thank you!"
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"I have some signs that have a dry erase surface. At first I had to rub the writing really hard. Nothing would work. The next time the writing didn't budge. I searched the internet and came to your site. I tried the hand sanitizer before and that didn't work. I saw you listed muscle cream and I happen to have some, and it worked like a charm."
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"Excellent tips. I had a board that I just could not clean. I paid a ton of money for it. I used glass cleaner, board cleaner, soap, water, you name it. By using 95% alcohol, it came off with zero effort. It literally wiped right off with no rubbing."
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"My white board was darkened from years of use. I tried Windex in several varieties to no avail. I never thought of trying alcohol, but when I did, I was simply amazed. Thank you for your help. I will recommend this site to my friends."
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