Just because Sharpie marker or dry-erase marker ink makes its way onto clothing, furniture, and other surfaces, doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it. Don’t let an unexpected marker stain ruin your day or your favorite furniture. Discover how to get dry erase marker out of a couch made of fabric with these no-fail tips and tricks.
How often have you leaned against a whiteboard in your cream-colored shirt or looked down at your pants to see some streaky marker transfer? Take that feeling of terror and amplify it by a thousand when it comes to marker stains on expensive living room furniture or plush new carpets.
Fortunately, there’s no need to rush out and replace your sofa, upholstered wood furniture, or carpet just because there’s a stubborn stain lingering in the fibers. Learn helpful household hacks to try on your ink stains, and watch how refreshed your furniture looks. Stop using creative throw pillows or strategically placed blankets to cover ink stains; get rid of them today.

- How to Clean Dry Erase Marker off a Couch
- Getting Dry Erase Marker Out of a Couch
- Try Aerosol Hairspray to Remove Ink Stains
- How to Clean Ink Stains With Hand Sanitizer
- Use Nail Polish Remover to Clean Ink Stains on the Couch
- How to Clean Ink Stains With White Vinegar
- How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of a Couch
- Murphy Oil Soap to Remove Ink Stains
- How to Clean Ink Stains With a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- Tips for Removing Permanent Marker Stains
- Make a Convenient Stain Removal Spray
- How Many Different Kinds of Ink Are There?
How to Clean Dry Erase Marker off a Couch
Although markers belong on dry erase boards, life happens, and we’re often left with surprise marker stains where we least expect them. Don’t let these sneaky stains render your favorite furniture and fabrics unusable. Learn the finer points of cleaning dry erase marker off a couch in this guide.
Discover how to treat unsightly ink streaks with affordable, all-natural options. Learn which household products to use and how to apply them for expert results and sparkling clean sofas. Your fabric furniture will look brand new when you’re finished. This article gives you the confidence to tackle any ink stain clinging to your upholstery.
Getting Dry Erase Marker Out of a Couch
Find out the best ways to get marker out of fabric sofa cushions with two simple things – a cotton ball and a little rubbing alcohol. These two powerhouse ink fighters dissolve the pigments and chemical components in dry-erase markers for safe and effective removal.
Soak the cotton ball in rubbing alcohol, blot the ink stain from the outside, and work your way toward the center; this prevents the ink from spreading to the surrounding fabric and creating a bigger mess.
Wipe any excess moisture with a clean cloth, and allow the spot to air dry. If you see any residue, repeat the rubbing alcohol treatment until clean. This quick and easy strategy works for most kinds of fabric, but it’s always best to do a tiny test patch on each fabric type before you proceed.
Try Aerosol Hairspray to Remove Ink Stains
Aerosol hairspray is another fast and effective way to get marker off leather couch cushions. However, it’s important to be aware that most modern hairspray lacks one essential ingredient to make it work on dry-erase ink stains, a high alcohol content.
Alcohol is drying on your hair and every other organic material. Excess alcohol damages leather, suede, and even cotton. Although uncommon, some inexpensive hairspray brands still use alcohol-based formulas. If nothing else, you may have a bottle for occasional stain removal.
Check the ingredients list on your hairspray and grab a few sheets of paper towel. Spritz a little hairspray on the paper towel and gently press it against the marker stain. Inspect the paper towel to see if the stain lifts, and continue until the stain disappears. Use a clean, damp cloth to soak up sticky residue and allow time to air dry.
How to Clean Ink Stains With Hand Sanitizer
When life gives you dry-erase marker stains, reach for your trusty bottle of hand sanitizer. That’s right; hand sanitizer is a super-convenient way to fight ink stains on fabric and upholstery. Find out how to clean dry erase marker off a couch, your curtains, and even your hands.
The main ingredient in hand sanitizer is, you guessed it, alcohol. A hearty helping of hand sanitizer on a clean cloth should dissolve any dry erase marker stain you’re up against. Once the marker ink is gone, mist the area with water and blot. Always use clear hand sanitizer, as anything containing dye could stain light-colored upholstery and fabric.
Use Nail Polish Remover to Clean Ink Stains on the Couch
Nail polish remover isn’t just for removing your latest coat of color; it’s also fabulous at getting dry erase marker out of a couch made of wood and fabric upholstery. There are two types of nail polish remover; acetone and non-acetone based. This recipe requires acetone-based nail polish remover to dissolve ink particles effectively.
An acetone-based nail polish remover can irritate the delicate skin on your fingers and hands. We recommend wearing sturdy rubber gloves over disposable nitrile gloves as they don’t offer adequate protection against the harshness of the acetone.
Once your gloves are on and the workspace is well-ventilated, soak a cotton ball with nail polish remover and gently blot your way around the stain’s perimeter.
As the ink breaks up and lifts, use a clean cloth to soak up the excess and continue until you’re satisfied with the process. Be on the lookout for fabric discoloration as you work, and stop use if you notice any problems.
How to Clean Ink Stains With White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is a helpful household acid that demonstrates efficacy against unwanted germs, bacteria, and stains. Vinegar removes Sharpie stains from fabric furniture and can be used on many types of material. Explore how to make an incredible vinegar-based stain remover that you can keep in a spray bottle for ink-related emergencies.
Acetic acid is vinegar’s secret ingredient; it’s a mild solvent that often does a better job removing stubborn marker stains than many expensive grocery store cleaners. Mix a batch of this stain remover in a clean spray bottle and put it to work washing dry erase marker off a fabric couch or microfiber couch.
Spray the stain directly or spritz a microfiber cloth and use it to blot the ink marks out of the fabric. Once the treated area dries, give it another look for any remaining residue and repeat the steps as needed. The vinegar smell evaporates after a day or so.
How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of a Couch
When we think of regular toothpaste, we could be forgiven for going right to oral hygiene. However, toothpaste has a few other unexpected uses around the house, namely ink stain removal.
Modern toothpaste has several main components: detergent, fluoride, and mild abrasives. Most toothpaste contains about 20% abrasive ingredients or insoluble particles that remove plaque and bacteria. These ingredients are also helpful when breaking down an oily silicone dry erase stain.
If you try toothpaste as a stain remedy, use plain white toothpaste instead of gel because those types contain dye and are prone to leaving a light blemish behind. Spread a small amount over the ink stain and let it soak for an hour, then soak it away with a damp cloth.
Murphy Oil Soap to Remove Ink Stains
Murphy Oil Soap is a natural, non-toxic soap. Many DIY enthusiasts claim it’s the number one product for cleaning hardwood, tile, laminate, and linoleum. When they say it’s a multipurpose cleaner, they mean it. Murphy Oil Soap is even great against dry-erase ink stains and stubborn marker streaks.
Determine how to clean dry erase marker off a couch using Murphy Oil Soap for outstanding results. Murphy Oil Soap is inexpensive, clocking in at a few dollars a bottle and lasting for ages. It’s gentle enough to use undiluted and works well if poured directly onto the marker stain.
Get a soft bristle brush and work dry-erase marker stain in small circles starting from the stain’s perimeter and working inward. Dampen a soft cloth and blot the soapy ink out of the couch fibers; you may need to rinse the rag as you clean. Continue until the spot disappears and you have a fresh, clean sofa.
How to Clean Ink Stains With a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
The famous Mr Clean Magic Eraser isn’t just for walls and bathroom surfaces; it also cleans stains from fabric. The Magic Eraser may look like an ordinary sponge, but when it’s wet, the micro-scrubbers activate and lift stains for easy removal.
Grab a package of Magic Erasers and use them to remove dry erase marker from upholstery and furniture. Treat the ink stain with Murphy Oil Soap or our vinegar-based stain remover, and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Dampen the Magic Eraser with clean water and scrub the stained area in gentle, small circles. Use a clean cloth to sop up the suds, and inspect for any remaining ink stain particles. Work toward the center of any stain to stop it from overwhelming the surrounding fabric.
Tips for Removing Permanent Marker Stains
Permanent marker residue is one demanding customer in the world of stain removal. The average permanent marker contains a mixture of stubborn resins, pigments, and adhesive chemicals, making removing ink a hassle. You need these top tips to scrub felt tipped marker out of a couch.
To remove Sharpie stains or any permanent marker stain from your upholstery, lay a paper towel over the ink stain and ready your sponge. Fill a small bowl with a half cup of rubbing alcohol and dampen the corner of a clean sponge. Press the sponge into the paper towel to transfer and remove permanent marker stains.
This process may take several paper towels and even more patience, but it does work against the resistant formula in many permanent markers. Allow the stain to dry to tell if there’s a lingering spot. If so, repeat these steps, or pretreat the area with a dab of clear dish soap and try again.
Make a Convenient Stain Removal Spray
Oxiclean is a trusted household cleaner and stain remover. You might see it as a laundry additive because it boots the stain-fighting potential in each load. Getting dry erase marker out of a couch is much easier when you have a reliable stain remover on standby.
Oxiclean was marketed as a “miracle cleaner” in the 90s; it lives up to the name. Oxiclean combines non-toxic ingredients that react with water, dissolving and breaking down aggressively clingy stains.
Get a clean spray bottle and fill it with water, Oxiclean, and hydrogen peroxide. This recipe works best for light-colored upholstery. However, removing the hydrogen peroxide component makes it color-safe. Spray the affected area, leave it to sit for several minutes, and blot the ink away with a soft, clean cloth.
How Many Different Kinds of Ink Are There?
The history of ink goes back at least 40,000 years, and it’s fair to say there have been many variations before the invention of the white board. Even after all this time, ink is still a vital component of our everyday lives, and we use it far more often than we realize.
Knowing the type of ink you’re working with helps with successful removal; if you aren’t sure, check the manufacturer’s website for information. Common types of ink include pen ink, printer ink, permanent ink, and dry-erase ink. Each type of ink contains its own water-based, oil-based, or alcohol-based formula.
Don’t let difficult marker stains dampen your day; you have all the skills to banish dry-eraser maker stains for good. Knowing how to get dry erase marker out of a couch or upholstered item prolongs the life of your furniture and saves on costly professional cleaning services, so put these tips to work.
When the dry-erase marker leaves the whiteboard, it’s time to act. The longer you let ink stains linger, the more challenging they are to eliminate. Tackle the ink with an alcohol-based product like aerosol hairspray, hand sanitizer, or rubbing alcohol. These mild household solvents work wonders against fresh and set-in ink stains.
You have many stain removal options; experiment with fabrics and strategies to find the ones you like best. If you prefer an alcohol-free stain remover, mix a batch of vinegar-based spray or Oxiclean and hydrogen peroxide. Or, if you want something completely biodegradable, choose Murphy Oil Soap.

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