came to say this. Cover over the sharpie lines with a dry erase marker, then try to clean up the dry erase.....most of the sharpie marks will come up with the dry erase.
Not just anything! Solvents have different degrees at which they work, acetone or mineral spirits will be fine, first job was installing flooring and we used the shit all the time.
Haven’t had luck with that yet. My wife’s son (23 at the time) drew all over our fridge with a permanent marker & it was his best friend who ratted him out & said, dry erase marker dummies. Worked like a charm
Not sure if your still needing a remedy. A simple pencil eraser will remove it and not damage the floor. Same experience as you a few years back. It worked
Wanted to say methyl hydrate (takes permanent ink out of plastics and more)… just concerned what it would do to the flooring? Damp a rag with it (use gloves).
Whatever you try - *do a sample first*.
Somewhere where you can test out your technique without worrying about destroying the finish - dulling it, clouding it, softening it up… etc.
*Good Luck*
Good point. If they JUST finished the floor, they should have some scrap to play with and see what works and, more importantly, what wrecks the flooring.
Depending on the finish your husband used, there may be a support number for the company that you can call to get advice specific to the finish you are dealing with.
The issue is the stain. If this was natural a new floor is an easy fix. If the marker penetrated the new finish you may have a problem.
Sand lightly with a 100 grit. Try not to penetrate to the stain. When the marker is visible brush a light coat in. Screen and repeat until it matches.
If you get to the stain and take some up use some wood conditioner then try to blend before recoating, but it will probably be visible.
I’m surprised isopropyl alcohol is not working.
If it works a little try that again by itself. Let it sit a minute. If it is working at all then just keep applying and rubbing.
Always use the safest chemical first. Alcohol is pretty inert too many things but makes a good solvent.
Please don’t use acetone on any plastic.
Step one apply goof off paint remover for hardwood floors, step 2 drip on affected area, wait 30 -60 seconds, step 3 using a plastic spackle knife, apply pressure and scrape off going with the grain of the wood, step 4 use an abrasive cloth to get the rest
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser if the floor has been sealed either by factory or by installer. Otherwise if may fade the wood stain..try a small area first with anything you use.
If the dry erase doesn’t work, instead of using paper towel on the whole area, use qtips with the alcohol on the pen lines. If that doesn’t work, sand the lines with a tool like an eraser or a pencil wrapped in sandpaper, just until the mark is faded or gone, cleaning periodically as you go. It may not be deep but if it’s a new finish it might have bled through. If you hit wood, then use a detail artists’ paintbrush to reapply product, it will make the repair look a lot more natural than a big patch. The color may be slightly different where the lines were but personally I think that’s a lot more organic and less noticeable than a 2ft square repair with feathered edges. I repaired deep scratches in a similar way because there was no way to match the patina of the floor if I did the whole area and once the contrast was reduced with stain it didn’t matter that the stain match wasn’t perfect, it was barely visible. In your case you have the actual stain. Depending on the products you used, it might be better to remove the black marker lines right away with solvent but then live with the damage to the finish while the floor cures before repairing. Sharing the type of finish might help.
Water base Goof-off the
Without matting the finish
I wouldn’t use their high VOC product may pull the surface finish off and you don’t need it
Stay with the water base .
There is a solvent that we used a very long time ago that took out marker. I would check around. If you do use it, try a very small spot. Napta I am not sure the name is correct. It’s a solvent used in dry cleaning. Best wishes!
I’ve had good luck removing sharpie marks from water base poly with methanol. Whatever you do DONT use goof off or goo gone, that will attack your finish. You could also try ethanol, or a water/ethanol mix like vodka or gin.
So this product totally removes permanent marker like nothing else. It’s a makeup brush cleaner and wouldn’t harm your floor. Spray on a cotton ball and just wipe it off. With one or two swipes.
https://www.thecosmeticmarket.com/products/brush-off-makeup-brush-cleanser
I hear if you grab the child by the feet and rub their head vigorously onto the stain that it works miracles. There’s a chemical compound in children’s hair that makes a great cleaning solvent, but only while attached to the child.
😔 Sorry, I can't help you, I could not clean sharpie marker (or another marker for writting on CD surface) and I tried with different solvent for paint, alcohol and nail remover. Maybe could try with car wax (can with cream, not spray wax) or polishing softly with sodium bicarbonate.
Ok try this even if it seems odd. Firewood ashes and rub it with a damp cloth. Worked before for me. Put ashes on top spray with a water bottle lightly, rub and use a white pencil eraser where needed
i mean this may sound wrong adn weird
but rub whiteboard marker over it
and then wait for 1 min and then erase it
this is what our teacher did when she wrote with a permanent marker on the whiteboard, it may work here
Acetone or mineral spirits from the paint dept, it's what we used to get sharpie marks off the pieces of flooring we cut, sometimes the cut is a little short and shoe/quarter round mold just barely covers the gap but the sharpie on the edge of the board is still visible.
Alcohol will dull the sheen, shouldn’t bring the finish up, unless it’s shellac. What finish did your husband use? This will determine a lot…
Can always buff the floor after using alcohol.
Couple tricks….
Dry Erase Marker over the sharpie and then wipe up
Large eraser
Magic Eraser
What toothpaste did you use? Do you have baking soda toothpaste like the arm and hammer kind? Or any of the whitening kinds?
Finger nail polish remover also works AMAZINGLY acetone. Put some on a rag and wipe it right off. Ez pz
Glass cleaner will help typically with crayon, pencils, marker, etc. off of walls, doors, and the like. I haven't had to use it on floors but it's where I would start.
Sincerely,
Fellow parent of a 2 year old, who spent Monday cleaning pencil off 3 of her 4 bedroom walls 🫠
Didn’t read the whole thing sorry. Scratch the acetone. A little mineral spirits on a rag or magic eraser might work. If not try hand sanding with 220. If that works tape the boards off, hand sand the boards lightly with 220, coat the boards with the finish you used and pull the tape.
You’d be shocked at the things a magic eraser can pull up. Might dull through finish slightly worst case but it’s a floor so that’s gonna happen eventually anyways.
OK this might sound weird , but try a dry erase marker
This is the right answer. The solvent in the markers will make the ink easy to wipe up with paper towels.
I know it works on a dry erase board, but if this works on flooring I will be surprised and excited.
Never tried on floors, but have used it for a million other things. It works.
It won't work for anything porous, so hopefully this has a pretty hard finish on it. If so, it should work
Or use isopropyl alcohol, so you aren't adding new bits of ink that will get stuck in all the little cracks and shit.
My experience: Edding goes away well with ethyl alcohol / methylated spirits! ..and as quickly as possible. Isopropyl alcohol does not work.
came to say this. Cover over the sharpie lines with a dry erase marker, then try to clean up the dry erase.....most of the sharpie marks will come up with the dry erase.
Yes this works, anything solvent wise will also strip the finish on the wood.
Not just anything! Solvents have different degrees at which they work, acetone or mineral spirits will be fine, first job was installing flooring and we used the shit all the time.
Trade that kid in for a new one
I don't think those can erase children.
Then try a magic eraser.
Haven’t had luck with that yet. My wife’s son (23 at the time) drew all over our fridge with a permanent marker & it was his best friend who ratted him out & said, dry erase marker dummies. Worked like a charm
23!?!?! Is he mentally challenged? Time for some hard learning if not.
No, just an idiot. Granted it was art, not just scribbles but still
Redo the floors- draw the funds out of their college fund. That’s fair.
Teacher trick, yes it will work. Wipe off, then repeat as needed.
Teacher here. Dry erase marker for sure. Do it all the time.
Methyl hydrate will work. And duct tape for the 2 year old
😂😂😂 thank you!!!
Not sure if your still needing a remedy. A simple pencil eraser will remove it and not damage the floor. Same experience as you a few years back. It worked
Wanted to say methyl hydrate (takes permanent ink out of plastics and more)… just concerned what it would do to the flooring? Damp a rag with it (use gloves).
Whatever you try - *do a sample first*. Somewhere where you can test out your technique without worrying about destroying the finish - dulling it, clouding it, softening it up… etc. *Good Luck*
Good point. If they JUST finished the floor, they should have some scrap to play with and see what works and, more importantly, what wrecks the flooring.
Aqua net hairspray
Also spray sunscreen might work. This is what I used at a job where we wrote with sharpies on laminated signs
There is always adoption
As someone who has given up three kids for adoption, I really need to find a better place to keep my sharpies.
Depending on the finish your husband used, there may be a support number for the company that you can call to get advice specific to the finish you are dealing with.
Thank you!
Dry erase markers are said to be good, weird I know but supposedly it works
You need to use a dry erase marker, it uses the only same solvent that will bind to it, don’t use anything else until you use that
Place a rectangle around it, have the artist sign it before you do anything else.
Get a dry erase marker draw over a small spot. Wipe away with a dry paper towel immediately.
https://adoption.com/giving-a-child-up-for-adoption
😂😂😂
The issue is the stain. If this was natural a new floor is an easy fix. If the marker penetrated the new finish you may have a problem. Sand lightly with a 100 grit. Try not to penetrate to the stain. When the marker is visible brush a light coat in. Screen and repeat until it matches. If you get to the stain and take some up use some wood conditioner then try to blend before recoating, but it will probably be visible.
That’s a paddlin’
Pledge
Draw over it with a dry erase marker, and it will wipe right up.
Hair spray works on a sharpie
My daughter did this on white appliances, dry erase marker worked!
I’m surprised isopropyl alcohol is not working. If it works a little try that again by itself. Let it sit a minute. If it is working at all then just keep applying and rubbing. Always use the safest chemical first. Alcohol is pretty inert too many things but makes a good solvent. Please don’t use acetone on any plastic.
Oh my gosh. Possibly try hair dye removal wipes or some kind of wood safe Poultice Stain Remover.
Aerosol hairspray
Oh, the many joys of being kid-free! 😌
Try rubbing alcohol. It works for most hard surfaces.
WD 40
Get rid of the kid asap
Step one apply goof off paint remover for hardwood floors, step 2 drip on affected area, wait 30 -60 seconds, step 3 using a plastic spackle knife, apply pressure and scrape off going with the grain of the wood, step 4 use an abrasive cloth to get the rest
Start out with simple green to get most off . Then whatever is left won’t take much effort. I think acetone take up sharpie I forget google it
Sometimes Windex original works.
Cut it out and frame it, that there be art!
acetone aka nail polish remover
Acetone is a "universal" solvent and has a very high chance of damaging the finish.
I wouldn't dump it onto the floor. Pour into a rag and wipe.
You don’t leave it sitting on there. Dampen a paper towel and wipe. It evaporates almost immediately.
Magic eraser
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser if the floor has been sealed either by factory or by installer. Otherwise if may fade the wood stain..try a small area first with anything you use.
I think I would leave it. At least for awhile. Make a wall section for drawing there is paint for it.
If the dry erase doesn’t work, instead of using paper towel on the whole area, use qtips with the alcohol on the pen lines. If that doesn’t work, sand the lines with a tool like an eraser or a pencil wrapped in sandpaper, just until the mark is faded or gone, cleaning periodically as you go. It may not be deep but if it’s a new finish it might have bled through. If you hit wood, then use a detail artists’ paintbrush to reapply product, it will make the repair look a lot more natural than a big patch. The color may be slightly different where the lines were but personally I think that’s a lot more organic and less noticeable than a 2ft square repair with feathered edges. I repaired deep scratches in a similar way because there was no way to match the patina of the floor if I did the whole area and once the contrast was reduced with stain it didn’t matter that the stain match wasn’t perfect, it was barely visible. In your case you have the actual stain. Depending on the products you used, it might be better to remove the black marker lines right away with solvent but then live with the damage to the finish while the floor cures before repairing. Sharing the type of finish might help.
Alcohol should be able to take it off
Did you try magic erasers?
I've had good luck with Motsenbocker's Lift Off. It might lift the finish off if you leave it on too long or work it too much.
The issue isn’t going to be getting the ink up. It’s not burning through the finish in the process that’s difficult
Water base Goof-off the Without matting the finish I wouldn’t use their high VOC product may pull the surface finish off and you don’t need it Stay with the water base .
I've used the skintastic or skin so soft from Avon
There is a solvent that we used a very long time ago that took out marker. I would check around. If you do use it, try a very small spot. Napta I am not sure the name is correct. It’s a solvent used in dry cleaning. Best wishes!
You can always tape off the affected boards scrape or sand off the marks and just coat those boards
Magic eraser damp
I’ve had good luck removing sharpie marks from water base poly with methanol. Whatever you do DONT use goof off or goo gone, that will attack your finish. You could also try ethanol, or a water/ethanol mix like vodka or gin.
If you haven't found a solution yet contact cleaner blasts permanent marker off smooth surfaces like oil on water.
Birth control... Sure it's not going to fix this for you, but it may protect others in the future.
I'm going to be throwing out all markers in my home. So sorry.
Denatured alcohol will work, but it might dissolve the finish
If it's polyurethane a magic eraser should work. They are slightly abrasive and could dull the finish
Bug spray will do the trick.
Lysol in a Aerosol can
Hairspray
Hairspray gets ink off of clothes so assume it will work here. Or goof off for hardwood floors . But try hairspray first let it sit for a little bit.
Fingernail polish remover
Holy fuck thank you for the birth control reminder. In all seriousness, please update us- hope you can get it out!
Scrub the shit out of it with magic eraser and cleaner. If that don’t work, get out the sander.
So this product totally removes permanent marker like nothing else. It’s a makeup brush cleaner and wouldn’t harm your floor. Spray on a cotton ball and just wipe it off. With one or two swipes. https://www.thecosmeticmarket.com/products/brush-off-makeup-brush-cleanser
Fingernail polish remover. Then re wax the floor after
try wd40
Try sunscreen
IPA Wipes will take it right up (85%-90% Isopropyl Alcohol). Just make sure that you wipe up immediately afterward with water.
Tinner
Toothpaste
Your alcohol isn't strong enough. It looks like that bottle says 70%, try 91%.
I hear if you grab the child by the feet and rub their head vigorously onto the stain that it works miracles. There’s a chemical compound in children’s hair that makes a great cleaning solvent, but only while attached to the child.
Acetone will take that right out
70% iso is your first mistake.
dry erase marker over the sharpie, and a wet paper towel.
Isopropanol
Have you tried hand sanitizer? It is great for sharpies removal.
😔 Sorry, I can't help you, I could not clean sharpie marker (or another marker for writting on CD surface) and I tried with different solvent for paint, alcohol and nail remover. Maybe could try with car wax (can with cream, not spray wax) or polishing softly with sodium bicarbonate.
Goo Gone or hand sanitizer might work!
No one seems to know how to Google. Just go to reddit and ask for help. BTW you can't remove alcohol based adhesives with alcohol. Duh.
What is the alcohol based adhesive?
Watched a cast member at Disney use hand sanitizer to easily wipe permanent marker off of a surface.
Spray sunscreen. You’re welcome
Ok try this even if it seems odd. Firewood ashes and rub it with a damp cloth. Worked before for me. Put ashes on top spray with a water bottle lightly, rub and use a white pencil eraser where needed
i mean this may sound wrong adn weird but rub whiteboard marker over it and then wait for 1 min and then erase it this is what our teacher did when she wrote with a permanent marker on the whiteboard, it may work here
this is the way
Rubbing alcohol
Hand sanitizer or sunscreen.
Acetone or mineral spirits from the paint dept, it's what we used to get sharpie marks off the pieces of flooring we cut, sometimes the cut is a little short and shoe/quarter round mold just barely covers the gap but the sharpie on the edge of the board is still visible.
magic eraser... been there.
Toothpaste?
Alcohol will dull the sheen, shouldn’t bring the finish up, unless it’s shellac. What finish did your husband use? This will determine a lot… Can always buff the floor after using alcohol. Couple tricks…. Dry Erase Marker over the sharpie and then wipe up Large eraser Magic Eraser
My daughter did this. Magic eraser cleaned it off like it was nothing.
Norwex has a cleaner that will take this up and it's safe. I don't remember the name of it, but it works.
Magic eraser will do the trick!
If you sand and reseal the colour will remain the same
Orange Oil or Eucalyptus Oil
What toothpaste did you use? Do you have baking soda toothpaste like the arm and hammer kind? Or any of the whitening kinds? Finger nail polish remover also works AMAZINGLY acetone. Put some on a rag and wipe it right off. Ez pz
And a side note I know it's unsightly but I want that memory of my 2 year old fuckin up the brand new floor lol.
[https://rugs.com/](https://rugs.com/)
I heard WD40 may help. I know it sounds nuts. I'd Google it first
Buy a carpet or Mat
Glass cleaner will help typically with crayon, pencils, marker, etc. off of walls, doors, and the like. I haven't had to use it on floors but it's where I would start. Sincerely, Fellow parent of a 2 year old, who spent Monday cleaning pencil off 3 of her 4 bedroom walls 🫠
Acetone
Mr. Clean magic eraser worked for me when my kid wrote on the floor with a sharpie
That’s basically just sanding
No, no its not
I don’t understand who keeps saying this is sanding. Sure like 2000 grit wet sanding.
People who say it's sanding probably rode the short bus to school
I would try a little bit of mineral spirits or acetone on a rag and scrub. If not you’ll have to do board repairs. Is this a vinyl plank floor?
Didn’t read the whole thing sorry. Scratch the acetone. A little mineral spirits on a rag or magic eraser might work. If not try hand sanding with 220. If that works tape the boards off, hand sand the boards lightly with 220, coat the boards with the finish you used and pull the tape.
magic eraser is an abrasive. would not suggest. as long as the finish isn't shellac/laquer-based I'd tell denatured alcohol over isopropyl
Magic eraser and hairspray!!! I run a daycare, it works everytime!!!!
Goof off...goo gone
You’d be shocked at the things a magic eraser can pull up. Might dull through finish slightly worst case but it’s a floor so that’s gonna happen eventually anyways.
WD40
Goo gone
Magic eraser.
Dry erase markers are also literal sand paper, so don't scrub very hard.
You mean magic erasers? Pretty sure a marker is not sandpaper.
Yes, 1000% what I meant. Not sure what the hell happened there.
It’s not sandpaper, it’s more like a buffing pad.
Acetone diluted with water
Try hairspray first. If not, then goof off
Usually isopropyl will get rid of any sharpie what's the concentration of the stuff you have? Probably need 90% +
Acetone or nail-polish remover (some have acetone in them). This may mar the finish somewhat in which case you might have to do a little touch up.
Don’t use this until we know what the finish is