Does anyone know how to get ink and marker marks out of vinyl? I have a tan vinyl top card table that my son has drawn all over and would like to remove the marks without ruining the table. I have tried a few cleaners, but none have worked. I even heard hairspray would take up the pen marks, but no such luck. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
I remove ink with hair spray. It works every time. (05/03/2004)
By Linda
There is a spray can that is called Vandalizim or Grafitti spray. A hardware store or paint store can help you find it. You spray it on the markings and wipe off. It is a petroleum based product. Works great. (05/03/2004)
By Syd
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser took Sharpie off of my wood footstool with no problem. Maybe it would work? (05/03/2004)
The best thing I've found for removing permanent markers is nail polish remover. (05/03/2004)
By Jackie S.
I use Clorox Clean-up. I used to work in a daycare and it works wonders on marker, pen, and crayon. (05/04/2004)
By Tawnda
I just had the great opportunity to find out which product works best on my vinyl floor. After using bleach pen, Magic Eraser, tooth paste, alcohol, and hairspray, I decided to do a last effort with my nail polish remover. It worked like a charm! I think I'll invest in a gallon of this stuff! (07/19/2005)
By tx amy
Rubbing alcohol.
(07/30/2005)
By Joey
Be careful using acetone (most nail polish removers) to get ballpoint pen ink off of vinyl. I removed some of the color on my bag (gray) as well! I think if I had used less nail polish (ie. very little, barely damp cotton ball), this wouldn't have been a problem. The acetone works very, very well! (05/02/2006)
The best way to remove pen off of vinyl is to mix acetone and sea salt. But be careful, and don't rub too hard. (06/11/2006)
By Zach
Feedback from the graffiti removal industry: Please be careful with some of the suggestions. We are talking about removing ink from VINYL. Many petroleum-based products will shrink, dry out, or bleach the vinyl. It may look good now; however, the vinyl can deteriorate very quickly thereafter.
There are 100s of types of vinyl, citrus-based cleaners work well on some and hair spray works on others. We have found no single method that works on all types of vinyl. Always remember to test the cleaner, solvent, etc. on an inconspicuous area of the surface you wish to clean first.
Ciao,
Robin (01/24/2007)
By Robin
Try Oxy-10 (or generic acne cream with 10% benzoyl peroxide). Leave it on and put it in the sun for awhile. Can take time, but it works wonders on vinyl and plastic dolls. You can use a heat lamp, but proceed with caution, as this can burn the vinyl. Never leave a heat lamp on an object unattended. Some have used straight peroxide with success. Good luck! Rob (03/18/2007)
By Rob
I used Goof Off and a S.O.S pad and in under 3 minutes got black permanent marker off the siding of the house. You can buy it at a hardware store (05/04/2007)
By Candice in Calgary
We got Sharpie off paint and wood veneer with mosquito spray. It came off immediately. Maybe it works on vinyl. (06/26/2007)
By JK
I work at a tattoo shop and I can tell you that we have tried everything you can think of to get ink off our white vinyl tattoo chairs and nothing worked, until I came across this site. The hairspray thing worked like magic. But, I also used it in conjunction with one of my new favorite things, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. Those things are awesome. So yea, if you need to get anything out of vinyl a lil hairspray and a Magic Eraser will be the answer to your prayers! (08/02/2007)
By Nicole
We used Kaboom and a sponge, and it came right off! Good luck! (12/14/2007)
By Josie
I am a teacher and I am constantly removing marker and pen from all of the surfaces in my room. I have had excellent results with Germx. It is mostly alcohol but it seems to take everything off of my desks, chairs, woodwork and even my plastic storage bins. (04/18/2008)
By Charlotte
We just used a SOS pad, worked great! (04/29/2008)
By Samantha
The vinyl seats in my car didn't respond at all to hairspray, perfume, leather/vinyl cleaner, multi surface cleaner. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser began to work, but only lightened the stain a bit. Nail polish remover seems to be my haven. (05/20/2008)
By Jenna
I woke up this morning to find graffiti on my white vinyl fence. Black permanent marker. I used a suggestion from this site and it worked! OFF mosquito spray took it all off with lots rubbing. Thanks! (06/07/2008)
By Dana
In response to the marker on the fence; try using Simple Green. I removed permanent marker that was on my counter top with a simple wipe using that. Not sure if it will work on the fence, but worth a try. Test it someplace first though to make sure it doesn't leave a green stain - the color of the cleaner. (06/14/2008)
By JM
I just used Clearasil to clean some ink off the vinyl armrest in my car, and it worked like a charm! Dabbed it on over the spots, left it for a couple hours, wiped it off with a damp cloth and spots were gone completely. (06/14/2008)
By Derek
There is a product by Melaluca called Sol-U-Mel that does an excellent job of removing permanent Sharpie marker. Seems like if it would remove permanent Sharpie marker it would remove other types of ink? Use it full strength on a cotton ball or cloth. Might want to test an area just to be sure. (07/07/2008)
By Susan
First of all: remember that not all applications and messes are created equal. That said, I had to remove a bunch of blue Sharpie permanent marker drawings from vinyl wallpaper. I first used Magic Eraser, worked some, but started to take the finish off the wall. I next used another solvent from Service Master, and it also took off the finish.
My point, be careful, what products you use on the surface you need cleaned. I used a product by Zep, called Write Away-Ink and Graffiti Remover, and it worked like magic. This product is an aerosol, non-chlorinated solvent, that when used in conjunction with industrial/shop towels. The marker came off with a couple of applications (shouldn't need a Brillo pad, scouring pad, etc.).
Just be careful to have towels on hand, as the marker, literally bleeds off the wall. I sprayed the wall around the blue Sharpie mess to ensure no blue walls. I am moving heaven and earth to find this product! It looks like you can only get this product online, and must spend at least $50 dollars worth (good for 6 bottles) to get the actual product from ZEP themselves. I must say for larger/industrial jobs this product works extremely well. It is odd how each color Sharpie reacts differently to this product and all other cleaners in general. I have used toothpaste, Magic Eraser, isopropyl alcohol, and everything under the sun, but this stuff works! LARGE JOBS ONLY, and would probably be more useful in industrial jobs. PS. I have kids and I need at least one bottle of this citrus smelling life saver! (11/07/2008)
By Michael
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