Dry Erase Marker Vs. Drywall

Updated on September 01, 2008
A.W. asks from Orange Park, FL
18 answers

Hello,

My 2 yr old Picasso has taught me how to get crayon, sharpie, pen, and pencil off the walls using Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. But Brandyn has stumped me with dry erase marker on drywall? Any ideas? Greased lightening doesn't work, windex doesn't work, nor does Dawn, Bleach, rubbing alcohal, clorox, magic eraser or good ol' soap and water. We try to keep the weapons where he can't get them, but he's also part monkey and sneak. Lets just say, he's my little adventure looking for a place to happen.

11 moms found this helpful

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So What Happened?

Well apparently this is a hot topic today because all of a sudden I'm receiving great advice, stories, and comments. Thanks to everyone, I've heard that Simple green is the best "least elbow grease" answer, besides padlocking all markers so the kids can't get to them in the first place. Thank you to everyone for the wonderful ideas, stories and entertainment :-)

I'm glad I'm not the only one stumped on dry erase marker on painted walls. We have the super washable kid friendly paint, but I figured out how to get it off!! Use a Mr. Clean magic eraser and put rubbing alcohal on it, and A LOT of elbow grease!! But my house looks pristine again so it was worth it!! Thank you for all the responses!!

Featured Answers

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D.P.

answers from Atlanta on

Can anyone tell me if these solutions work on clothes too? My DD got a dry erase marker stain on her white denim shorts that will not come out. I have tried Shout, Zout, bleach, Oxyclean and still no luck. Help!!!

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A.B.

answers from Waterloo on

supposedly 200 proof alcohol will take it off...my husband has been in training with the ethanol plant here and that stuff should work. The closest you can probably buy is everclear. rubbing alcohol is only 140 proof. Hope it helps.

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S.T.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I know you got it off already but i found out if you have permanent marker on your walls that regular toothpaste (not gel) will remove it. I have a friend who had some on her wall and it was there for years and it took it off. So there is some more helpful info.

4 moms found this helpful
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R.G.

answers from Phoenix on

Sorry I got to this one too late, my 2 year old just did the same thing 2 days ago and I heard from the queen of clean that the product "Simply Green" found in the automotive dept. in Walmart is an excellent cleaning agent. I went and bought that for the walls that my son covered with a blue dry erase marker. It literally melted away!! I didn't even have to scrub. I was shocked at how well that worked. Just another FYI. SIMPLY GREEN is amazing stuff!! Rachelle

4 moms found this helpful
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L.W.

answers from Peoria on

Dear A.,
I know for sure that you can remove permanent marker & dry erase marker with hand sanitizer. My little one drawed on my daughter's bedroom door. I heard from a friend that it works & it did.
L. W. a mom of 4
Ages 10 almost 9 5 & 3

4 moms found this helpful
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D.N.

answers from Providence on

A.
I just found your request and know that you have already solved this problem, but your children sound just like mine. I am always finding permanent marker, paint etc all over the place on the couch, rugs, walls, ceramic tile etc.. I have found a GREAT product called Solumel and this takes the permanent out of all of the tough stains, but with no elbow grease at all!! I shop with a wonderful company Melaleuca Inc. There products have taken the stress out of cleaning, and they are safer for you and the kids. But more importantly for a mom on a budget, I have found them to be cheaper than Walmart even with them being delivered right to my door! I would love to talk to you more about this, because I hate typing. If you are interested at all, just to hear more about Solumel alone is worth it! Give me a call. From one mom to another, we don't have the extra time for the elbow grease that it takes to use some of those products on the market, we want something that will DO THE JOB like it says it will!!Don't waste your hard earned money anymore.
Talk to you soon
D.
###-###-#### or ____@____.com

3 moms found this helpful
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P.H.

answers from Boise on

There is also a product that is natural that is called "Amodex". It will usually get marker off the wall, even permanent. I haven't specifically used it on dry erase markers. I use it on a clean wet Magic Eraser and it gets the marks the Magic Eraser didn't get before.

Also, it's gentle enough to use on the skin. My girls were doing face painting w/a Sharpie and a little Amodex on a clean washcloth took it all off w/out too much scrubbing on their gentle skin.

You can also use it on clothing.

I ordered it online..but I think you can get it @ Office Depot now. (It's originally for ink and printer ink.)

I have 3 Picassos and I'm getting pretty good at cleaning up after them. LOL

2 moms found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from Jacksonville on

It sounds weird but try using the dry erase marker back over the marks and wiping immediately.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.S.

answers from Des Moines on

I guess my only comment to mothers with small children is that ALL writing tools should be available only under adult supervision.....I had four children, at one time 3 with the oldest being only three yrs old. I never had a problem with budding artists drawing on walls or furniture as they didn't have ready access to any writing or coloring tools. At least today there are many good cleaning products... but why let the mess be created?

I have 6 grandchildren now.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Boca Raton on

Hi A., at first when I read that you used Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, I remembered a terrible article I once read. It entailed that the chemical formaldahyde is in this product. The claim was made false at www.snopes.com. I'm happy to report you have no worries and since I researched it further, here is what I found: http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp
Congratulations on a job well done.
A.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My mom got permanent marker off of stained wood once using a dry erase marker! I'm not sure what would get it off either! Have you purchased the dry erase board cleaner? (I think it's a spray) Good luck

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K.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I've found when all else fails, primer and paint work really good.

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C.T.

answers from Jacksonville on

Try hairspray. The cheap kind works well. My son, when he was younger, love to write on the walls to and that worked for me. Good Luck.

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C.K.

answers from Jacksonville on

have you tried goo gone in my experience it gets everything out

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S.T.

answers from Jacksonville on

I couldn't figure out what would take dry erase markers off the wall either and I tried almost everything you did. We ended up painting over it.

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

I know that you have already figured it out, but I wanted to reply to you to say THANKS for letting the rest of us! A few years ago, I had my son (then 5 yrs old) at the office with me....he asked if he could write on the section of the drywall board that wasn't being used, which was at the perfect height for him.....so I said sure! Well, when he went to erase, he basically used his whole body WHILE THE MARKER WAS IN THE OTHER HAND SCRIBBLING ON THE WALL.....MAJOR OOPS! I could not get this RED marker off the wall for anything....I work for a construction business, so I told my boss to get me the paint and I would paint the wall over the weekend. Well, I came in the next Monday and he had painted over it....didn't fuss and I was grateful to say the least. HOWEVER, the next time (a couple weeks later), I told my son you can only write on the board if you cap the marker and put it on the tray while you erase......of course he got too caught up in what he was doing and DID it AGAIN! Well, THAT marker stayed on the wall for many many many months....until my boss actually painted it again.....he wouldn't let me paint it or I would have..... It's nice to know that should that ever happen again, we know how to get it off!

Have a GREAT day!

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M.B.

answers from Tampa on

Yes, the Mr. Clean Dr. Eraser works well. But I'm telling you, it is harmful to the skin. Kids especially can feel the chemicals we can't in dyes etc. For instance, we made homemade playdoh with dyes, and my daughters hands started burning badly. So, please don't let kids clean up with the Mr. Clean Eraser. It's for gloved mommy's hands.

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A.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

When you say drywall is it not painted drywall? If so you won't get it off.
Otherwise it depends on the paint that was used. Glossy or flatt. If its glossy you might be able to reuse the marker and then earse it off. I can't garrentee that will work though. The flatt paint you will have to repaint over.
Good luck with your artist!

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