How to Get Sharpie Out of Clothes (and Everything Else It Stains)

No matter how careful you are with pens and markers, accidents happen, and those mishaps can leave stains on clothes, walls, and skin. Sharpie and other permanent marker stains can be difficult to remove—that's why they're called "permanent"—but removal isn't impossible. We spoke with laundry experts to learn the best methods for removing Sharpie stains from clothing, when it's best to call a professional, and how to safely remove marks from walls and skin.

How to Remove Sharpie From Clothes

Sharpie and other permanent markers are designed to last, which makes removing stains especially challenging. If a permanent marker stains your clothing and you want to remove it, you'll need a solvent, such as rubbing alcohol or acetone, says Kim Romine, a laundry scientist at Tide.

Laundry detergent alone isn't designed to remove permanent marker stains, so a stronger solvent is required.

Before applying rubbing alcohol or acetone, test the solvent on an inconspicuous area of the garment, such as an inside seam, to check for colorfastness, Romine says. If you don't notice any color transfer or discoloration, it's safe to use on the garment for stain removal.

To lift the stain, blot it with the solvent using a clean cloth, working from the outside in. Rinse the garment and launder it as usual, says Zack Saifi, chief revenue officer at Madame Paulette.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Rubbing instead of blotting: Rubbing a stain into a garment can cause permanent fabric damage. If you attempt stain removal at home, lightly blot with a clean cloth, working from the outside in. Follow up with a rinse and launder the item as you normally would.
• Using heat on a stained garment: Placing a garment in the dryer before the stain is fully removed can set the stain, making it much harder to lift.
• Applying solvents without testing: Always test any solvent on an inconspicuous area, such as an inseam, before treating the stain. This helps check for colorfastness and potential fabric damage.

When to Call a Professional

You can attempt to remove a Sharpie stain from clothing at home, but in some cases, it's best to leave the job to a professional to preserve your clothes. For delicate or high-value garments, such as silk, wool, cashmere, leather, suede, or vintage pieces, Saifi recommends taking them to a professional cleaner.

DIY methods can set the stain or permanently damage the fabric.

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How to Remove Sharpie From Walls

If your child gets hold of a permanent marker and draws on the walls, don't panic—there's an easy fix. To remove Sharpie marks, wet a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, squeeze out excess water, and gently rub the wall until the mark disappears, Romine says.

How to Remove Sharpie From Skin (Safely)

Removing Sharpie marks from your skin requires patience. Start by using regular hand soap to gently slough off marked skin cells. "Avoid aggressive rubbing or harsher cleansers as this could irritate skin," Romine says. "The rest of the permanent marker mark should disappear slowly over time as the rest of the marked skin cells slough off—you’ll just need to be patient."