Daughter and Friend Got into the Markers! HELP

Updated on June 11, 2009
P.R. asks from Fredericksburg, VA
35 answers

My daughter and her friend got into the markers. The decided to color my daughter pink. Now she has pink permanent marker all over her arms and legs. I immediately gave her a bath. That only lightened it. Does anyone know how to get the rest off. We have family pics on Saturday. Please Help! Any ideas would be great.

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for all your great ideas. It's been a few days and the marker has lightened. We have taken lots of showers and used alcohol and some of the other ideas and the worked. So I think we will be just fine for pictures. Thank you all for suggestions and ideas. Her dad and I took lots of pictures and got a great laugh out of it. It will be a very funny story to tell her in the future. Thank you all again.

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R.R.

answers from Nashville on

This is going to sound funny, but I actually just watched a video yesterday that said that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on it would remove permanent marker from skin. It looked like it worked perfectly! It's worth a shot before you try harsher things!

Hope it works for you!

2 moms found this helpful
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J.W.

answers from Lexington on

Have you tried rubbing alcohol? It may be a little cold, and a little stinky, but it may help. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.H.

answers from Louisville on

It might not help much since you've already given her a bath - but keep this hint for the next time ... before getting the marker wet with water, use rubbing alcohol on the marker spots and that should take it off (or most of it)! Got this hint from my pedi years ago when we got to his office and one of my own had gotten into markers at daycare!

1 mom found this helpful

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A.B.

answers from Charlotte on

Well luckily you have a couple of days - it will fade mostly - fingernail polish remover will also take most of it off. More than likely though it won't show in the pics by this weekend. And what a story you can tell her later!! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Huntington on

I know for sure finger nail polish remover will take it off, it won't hurt her skin, I'm sure that was a concern! It comes off easy if you put the remover on a cotten ball and gentley rub the marks, M.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Wheeling on

Salt+lemon juice= scrub lightly in a circular pattern. Moisturize very well for the next few days.

Sharpie will come off with just regular washing- it just takes a bit longer than most moms want to wait.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.J.

answers from Memphis on

try vinegar mixed with a little water, maybe a little lemon juice

1 mom found this helpful
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N.H.

answers from Knoxville on

Try shampoo (adult). I use to use to remove dye from my hands. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.J.

answers from Parkersburg on

P.,

My 5 year old son gets into the permanent markers at times and the only thing i use to get him clean is by using rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or wash cloth will remove markerings and then after i use the alcohol bathe him.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Raleigh on

The absolutely most cheapest hairspray will probably do it. I don't remember exactly why, but it does. The expensive ones do not work as well.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.M.

answers from Raleigh on

I know that our skin oils is what gets marker off, so maybe try olive oil? I dont' know. I knew a little boy who got permanent marker on his arm and just had to wait for it to wear off. Hopefully the oil will help :)

1 mom found this helpful
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K.A.

answers from Nashville on

Hair spray works on items around the house and it wouldn't hurt your little girl to try it. My grandaughter used permanent markers on my kitchen cabinets and the kitchen walls and dining room chairs. We haven't painted over it yet.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.F.

answers from Greensboro on

P.,

I read all of the responses you have gotten and here is another one I know this works on Koolaid on there faces Cologate toothpaste. Good Luck.

B.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.R.

answers from Knoxville on

Try a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. I would only do a small area. She could be sensitive to it. It also dries out your skin. If it works I would only do the parts that will show in the pics.

My grandma has school pics of my mom when she decided to make her own hair style. She looks terrible but it is on of my grandmas favorite pics and has a memorable story to go along with it.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.R.

answers from Greensboro on

Yes!! My sisters girls did this awhile back and what a mess. She used a paste made out of baby shampoo mixed with baking soda and the gently rubbed in a circular motion. the baking soda acts as a mild abrasive and it took most of the marker off. I hope this helps you. Good Luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Raleigh on

It may sting a little or irritate sensitive skin, but rubbing alcohol will cut Sharpie markers.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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V.C.

answers from Wheeling on

Since our skin is constantly replacing itself, some of the skin cells from today will be gone by Saturday. It'll gradually fade, but I agree that alcohol should help immensely. I know that lemon/lime juice will fade organic stains (like walnut hulls, berry stains, etc) and cheap hairspray works on laundry for ball-point pen ink.

I recently learned, too (just FYI) that the cheap 'Awesome' all-purpose cleaner ($1/24-32 oz at most dollar stores) is a wonderful pre-wash treatment for most food stains on clothes!

Good luck! Like someone else said, they usually do something weird before family portraits. At least it's not on her face. For my 2nd grade picture (in 1964) my sister had just cut my hair and almost 'ran out of hair before she got the job done', if you know what I mean PLUS I had my 2 front teeth out and didn't want to display their absence; SOOO I have this really short haircut and have my mouth puckered shut trying not to grin (and @ 51 my mouth is STILL rarely shut, so this was abnormal). It's now probably my favorite (or at least most memorable) school picture.

1 mom found this helpful
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E.T.

answers from Memphis on

Try men's shaving cream...the white foam kind. I have 2 sons and we found out by accident that it works on just about anything. They had a play shaving kit for the bathtub and the shaving cream that came with it would get out markers and tattoos that regular soap couldn't touch. Now we use my husband's and it works just as well. Just rub it on and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off. It has worked wonders for us!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.W.

answers from Chattanooga on

P.,

You can try dabbing with nail poslish remover. Then wash her skin well afterwards and put on moisturizer.

I have done that before with my daughter and it works.

Good luck.

E.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Nashville on

My daughter once scribbled her face with a black sharpie. I tried washing it and all, but I used a baby wipe and it came right off. I am not sure if it will work. Last night she tried "painting" her toenails with a blue highlighter, and she still has blue toes. There are also some other great tips on the board. Baby wipes are easy to try and you probably still have some.
Good luck and hope that your pictures turn out wonderfully!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from Nashville on

Ok, this may sound a bit strange, but WD-40 will probably work. It takes dried paint off of walls so will probably work on skin. Now, it is made with fish oil and I get it on my skin at work with no problems but I recommend a small test place to make sure she is not allergic to it. It does smell funny, but the smell comes out with a good bath! Good luck. Let us know how it works out!

1 mom found this helpful

T.G.

answers from Lexington on

You've been offered several suggestions. If, for some reason, they are not completely effective then try this. Apply Petroleum Jelly to the skin. Let it sit for 10 - 15 min. Then wipe off. Repeat, if color still appears. This method worked real well to remove lip staining lip color, which my daughter got into a few days before picture day.

FYI: Females (of any age)should not soak in a "bubble" bath for more than 5 or 10 minutes. Plain water is OK, for a longer soak. However, bubble bath in the water kills good bacteria in the vagina and/or urinary tract. My OB, and my child's MD have both informed me of this info, mentioning that it can create a perfect environment for infection to set in. Just thought I'd share, after the suggestion to have a child soak for an hour in a bubble bath.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Huntington on

oh dear!! well, try applying lime, and wash with warm water. i guess lime takes off stains....hope it'll go off soon...

All the best!!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Raleigh on

Kids! What are ya gonna do? ; ) P., I know that when the permanent marker gets on anything else, we just mark over it with a dry-erase marker, wipe, and it comes off. It depends how much pigment has been absorbed into her skin, but I would try dry-erase (wash immediately after), or even turpentine.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.C.

answers from Nashville on

They always do something right before pictures!! (My daughter cut her bangs once right before pictures!) You can always scrapbook the picture with the title Princess Pink! I don't know if you can do anything except maybe wash her twice a day. Try not to get angry, one day you will miss this! And you also have a great story to tell at her wedding! My favorite phrase is by Billy Dean " Let them be Little!"
P.S. I am a proud army wife of 8 years! And served 4 years myself! I know the life!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from Nashville on

It sounds like a bubble bath day to me. Let your daughter soak in a bubble bath for an hour this morning, an hour before naptime, and an hour before bedtime. Put lots of toys in the bathtub with her. Keep putting in more warm water so she doesn't get cold. Let her play in the bathtub about three times today and the marker will wash away with the bubbles and she will have fun playing.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.D.

answers from Knoxville on

I have used alcohol in the past on my daughter. She used a black marker. I would scrub an area for a few moments then move to another area and then go back to the previous area. It will take quite a bit of scrubbing to remove. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Nashville on

Sorry I don't have any advice for you but being a grandmother now, I can tell you that if the marker shows in the picture, 20 years from now, it will be funny. You have proof that she was not always the angel and shouldn't expect her children to always be perfect. Right now you are frustrated by it. I know from experience that this will be priceless many years down the road.
Thank you for your sacrifice for our wellbeing and continue to enjoy your family and life in general.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.A.

answers from Louisville on

When I was spray painting last summer, my feet ended up a strange tint of green from the paint! I used BeautiControl microdermabrasion and it took it off. You would not want to use something that harsh on a two year old, but the same concept would apply. I'd try salt and lemon juice or water and baking soda. These are as natural ingredients as anything that might do the trick. Make sure to use lots of moisturizer for several days afterward.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.T.

answers from Nashville on

Did you try putting hair spray on a cotton ball and see if it would wipe off with that?

1 mom found this helpful
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A.H.

answers from Clarksville on

P.,
Rubbibg alcohol should do the trick. I use it on all ink stains regardless of color. Good body moisturizer sure fix the dry skin. Good luck.

A.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.L.

answers from Jacksonville on

Not really any advice, but definitely some sympathy. My 3 1/2 year old still markers himself every chance he gets, and it is usually gone in a few days with a daily shower. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.A.

answers from Wilmington on

Try baking soda and baby soap together and gently rub it on your girls skin. Hopefully it will help.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Lexington on

hey patti,
have you trid using germ x it really works miracles for markers and even stains.

D.B.

answers from Memphis on

I'm sorry but being the Mom of 5, I had to chuckle just a bit, but know that right now, it's not funny. I found these tips online:

Scrub your hands gently with table or coarse (Kosher) salt. Lather on soap(preferably with a bar soap), and water, then rinse.

Dry your hands completely before using them to eat.

Make sure that you do not come in contact with your eyes or mouth.

Hand sanitizer works really well to get it off. Just squirt a dab on the permanent marker spot and rub away gently with a tissue.

Use rubbing alcohol on cotton ball or cloth and rub it on the skin. The ink will come to the surface and you can wash it off.

Hairspray also does a pretty good job of removing permanent marker from skin. Just spray liberally on the area, rub it a little, and wash your hands with soap and water before the hairspray dries.

And also fingernail polish on cotton ball or paper towel.

Try sunscreen lotion. This is what swimmers use at meets!

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