Sadly, if you have kids who are still in school, you may have to deal with erasing marker stains on your dress occasionally. However, removing erase markers from clothes is easier if you use the right products. We’ve compiled the different ways (and products) to eliminate this stain. Have an exciting read!
Does dry-erase marker wash out of fabric? Yes, here’s how
1. Murphy’s Oil
To use Murphy’s oil to remove erase marker from clothes, follow the steps below:
- Position an absorbent towel under the cloth
You may want to use an old towel since it’ll most likely get stained from the erase marker. Place the absorbent towel directly under the cloth you’re cleaning on a level surface, like a table. Ensure the towel is thick enough to absorb excess moisture.
- Dip brush in the Murphy’s oil
Get an old toothbrush and dip it into the oil. Ensure the toothbrush brush is wet. Saturate it completely in the oil.
- Rub the stain
Use the toothbrush dipped into the oil to scrub off the stain. Continuously add Murphy’s oil when necessary. Then, place the towel under the cloth to absorb the excess oil. Keep rubbing the stain until suds start appearing and rub until the stain fades away completely.
- Wash with dishwashing soap
Use a sponge or rag, put some water into it, rub it on the soap, and begin rubbing the sponge over the stain till it fades away completely.
- Rinse with clean water
Again, take a clean sponge and dip it in clean water, then rub the sponge on the clothing to get rid of the oil and dishwashing soap. Continue rubbing the sponge on the cloth till the water dorm the sponge dries off.
- Put the cloth in a laundry machine
After you’ve successfully removed the stain and rinsed the cloth, move on to launder the cloth as you would usually. After the laundering process, rest assured the stain will be completely gone.
2. Use Rubbing Alcohol and White Vinegar
These ingredients perform great magic when it comes to getting rid of dry-erase markers from clothes. Just follow the steps below:
- Place the stained cloth on an absorbent towel
Get a clean towel and place the stained cloth on top of it. Ensure they’re placed on a flat surface.
- Apply to rub alcohol on the stain
Use a clean sponge to dab a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the stain. Do this gently using blotting motions. If you rub the stain, it could cause a smear. So, keep blotting till the stain starts fading.
- Fill a bucket with vinegar and water
Add a small amount of warm water to the bucket, then pour a cup of white vinegar. Mix them using a spoon.
- Soak the cloth
Put the cloth into the solution and allow it to soak for at least 15 minutes. The stain would completely disappear when you remove it from the vinegar solution.
- Wash the clothes
Finally, launder the clothes as you would normally do after the stain is gone. Washing will help get rid of the rubbing alcohol and vinegar. Ensure you wring the garment out when taking it out from the bucket to prevent excess water from spilling on the floor.
3. Provide a Quality Wash
As weird as this may sound, a quality wash can help get dry-erase markers out of clothes. Here’s how to go about it:
- Follow the cleaning instructions on the label
Most clothes have the manufacturer’s label on them. All you need to do is read the label before you start laundry. This is to ensure that you follow all the specific cleaning instructions for the fabric, if there are any. For instance, some clothes should only be washed in warm water.
- Repeat the process
Repeating the process will apply if the stain doesn’t go out first. The thing is, dry-erase marker stains can be difficult to remove sometimes. So, it may take up to two attempts to completely remove the stains.
- Carry out a spot test
Some clothes may react badly to white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and Murphy’s oil. So, it’ll be in your best interest to test the cleaning product you’re using on a small hidden part of the cloth and allow it for about an hour. If that part of the cloth doesn’t get damaged or lose its color, the substance is safe for the fabric.
4. Use Hairspray and Alcohol
For this method, you’ll need rubbing alcohol, hairspray, a sponge, and a rough cloth. See the steps to follow below:
- Place cloth under the stain
The cloth will help absorb the stain during the entire process. Plus, hairspray and alcohol are effective substances that help break down the ink.
- Apply the hairspray to the stain
Spray the hairspray directly onto the dry-erase marker stain. You can use a sponge or any other unused cloth to are the spraying process easier.
- Apply the rubbing alcohol
Dip a sponge in the rubbing alcohol and use it to dab the stain in blotting motions. Do not scrub! By dabbing slowly, the dry-erase marker stain will fade away completely.
5. Use Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergents are effective dry-erase marker stain removers. To use a laundry detergent, follow the steps below:
- Place a rough cloth on a table
Take the stained cloth, with the stained side facing down on the rough cloth.
- Apply laundry detergent
Get a sponge and apply a small quantity of laundry detergent to it. Then, use the sponge to rub the stained spot visible from the back of the cloth. Then, pour the detergent from the back of the cloth directly onto the stain.
- Keep scrubbing
Continue to scrub the stain. Keep changing the rough cloth as it becomes wet. Repeat the process until you can no longer see the stain.
- Wash with clean water
Wash the cloth thoroughly with clean water. You can do this using a washing machine.
6. Use Stain Remover
All you’ll need for this method is a stain remover and rough clothes. The steps to follow are quite simple:
- Place the rough cloth on a flat surface.
- Lay the stained cloth with the stained side facing down on the rough cloth.
- Then, slowly apply the stain and remove the stains. As you do this slowly and gently, the stain will disappear in no time.
7. Use Stain Remover Spray
The steps to follow include:
- Place an unused cloth on a level surface.
- Position the stained cloth with the stained side facing the unused cloth.
- Use the stain remover spray (such as Shout Laundry Stain Remover Spray) on the stained areas. With one or two sprays, the stain will fade away permanently.