How to Remove Sharpie From a Wood Table

You’re not alone if you’re trying to find out how to remove Sharpie from a wood table. We’ve all been there, from children’s crafts gone awry to ink bleeding through paper. It’s devastating to realize there’s permanent Sharpie ink on your wooden tabletop. Wood is a stunning natural material. It offers character and depth to a space, yet it looks messy if covered in ink splotches or children’s drawings.

Many homeowners are intimidated by removing Sharpie from a wood table, and understandably so. Permanent markers are designed to be durable. Their pigment goes on heavily and persists under harsh conditions. Thankfully, the process is painless once you know how to get Sharpie off a table.

Though permanent marker ink is durable, it dissolves readily in suitable solvents or with the proper cleaning solutions. Don’t waste money on expensive marker removers. Use everyday products like rubbing alcohol, white vinegar, and dry-erase markers to make your wooden table look incredible.

Clever Ideas for How to Get Sharpie off a Table

Discover how to remove Sharpie from a wood table, and rest assured you won’t be spending money on a replacement. Removing Sharpie from a wood table may seem tricky because it’s so long-lasting and typically heavily pigmented.

Fortunately, all it takes is select household items and the correct information. Follow our step-by-step guide and eliminate the Sharpie from your wooden table for good.

Does Permanent Ink Come off Wood?

Unlike washable markers, Sharpie marker is durable and difficult to remove from unfinished or finished wood without the proper technique. Luckily, permanent ink comes out of wood with knowledge and elbow grease.

If the Sharpie ink is still wet once you see it, soak up as much as possible with a dry cloth. Use a patting motion, rather than rubbing or wiping, to prevent the pigment from accidentally spreading.

How to Remove Sharpie From a Wood Table

White vinegar is the go-to for several kinds of stain removal. It unsurprisingly helps lift Sharpie spots off your wooden table. Mix this basic marker remover spray with household ingredients.

Shake the spray canister to combine the ingredients. The best way to remove Sharpie from wood is to evenly distribute the cleaner over the permanent ink. Gently dab the cleanser into the Sharpie using a cloth or soft sponge, and let it sit for ten minutes. Blot the patch with a damp cloth to collect excess cleaning solution and ink. Leave your table to dry naturally.

Erase Permanent Marker Ink From a Wood Floor or Table

Rubbing alcohol is an excellent stain remover that quickly removes permanent marker marks from a wood surface. You probably have rubbing alcohol in your first aid box. Treat the Sharpie ink with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel or clean cloth. Keep the alcohol away from nearby wood as much as you can.

When the stain is completely coated, rub the clean cloth over it repeatedly. Remove any residue with a damp cloth. Because alcohol breaks the connections in ink, the discoloration wipes away. Apply extra alcohol to the area and wipe it again if the Sharpie stain persists.

Continue until the traces of the blemish are gone. Don’t use rubbing alcohol if you have a painted wood table, as it might strip the paint.

Removing Sharpie From a Wood Table

If a permanent ink stain ends up on your hardwood furniture, get a Magic Eraser from your neighborhood hardware store. Cleaning permanent marker ink from a wood table is easy with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

This melamine foam wedge is a stain remover. It cleans wood surfaces with light abrasion and hundreds of tiny air bubbles to erase permanent writing. Read the instructions carefully; some erasers work best dry, and others work better when wet.

Check the product label to determine if the eraser is recommended for use on wood and comprehensive instructions. Scrub the Sharpie mark carefully with the Magic Eraser, so the table is free of unsightly ink blotches.

Getting Sharpie off a Table With Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is the best option for speedily and simply cleaning permanent marker scribbles from your wood table or for cleaning marker on wall surfaces. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer quickly absorbs into Sharpie ink. It dissolves for efficient removal because of its high alcohol content.

Squeeze hand sanitizer onto a cotton ball and massage it into the marked spots. For more widespread applications, use a cloth. In a pinch, try this DIY remedy to get Sharpie out of clothes when you’re not at home.

As the hand sanitizer evaporates on the wall, the alcohol weakens the ink, allowing it to be cleared with a wipe. Apply again and keep dabbing at the Sharpie until no ink remnants are visible.

Cleaning Felt Tipped Sharpie off a Table With a Dry Erase Marker

This tactic works best on flat, smooth surfaces like a varnished or painted wood table. The dry-erase ink needs to cover the Sharpie completely. It is worth attempting on rough or unfinished wood as a last resort.

Removing permanent ink off your wood table with a dry-erase marker pen is straightforward. Using your dry-erase pen, trace over the Sharpie mark until the dry-erase ink thoroughly mixes with the permanent ink. Let the inks sit for a short while, and remove the stain with a sponge or other dry material.

The ink used on dry-erase surfaces is soluble and easily cleaned. Since the dry-erase ink penetrates the Sharpie and releases it by disrupting the links in the permanent pigment, both pen markings are removed.

Washing Black Sharpie off a Table Using Nail Polish Remover

Acetone, an ingredient in some types of nail polish remover, is a tried-and-true DIY method for removing permanent marker stains from wood. The majority of drugstores and cosmetic merchants carry affordable acetone.

This strong solvent is a great way to get Sharpie stains off your wooden table. Due to its potent fumes, it is best to use nail polish remover outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Pour some acetone on cotton wool or a cotton ball and scrub it over the mark to remove permanent ink.

Polishing Sharpie Stains off a Table With Toothpaste

For elegant wood furniture or a high-end hardwood dining table, permanent marker doodles are disastrous. Fortunately, many of us already have the items we need at home to remove Sharpie pens from wood. Grab regular toothpaste and a fresh cloth to remove the Sharpie stains and quickly clean your wood table.

Use standard cream toothpaste instead of gel since it is more effective at eliminating permanent ink. Spread toothpaste on the ink stain and press it with a clean cloth. Scrub the wood in a circular motion until the ink is removed, then wipe the area with a lukewarm damp cloth and let it air dry.

Try Scrubbing Sharpie off a Wooden Table With Hairspray

Though it seems unlikely, the hairspray you use to prevent flyaways and maintain your style is a Sharpie remover. Since hairspray often has a high percentage of alcohol, it works similarly to rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to remove permanent marker streaks from wood.

Apply hairspray liberally over the Sharpie marks, then massage the tabletop with a clean cloth until the hairspray completely disappears. Repeat as necessary to ensure there is no ink stain left.

Remove the Permanent Marker With Baking Soda

Baking soda’s popularity as a deep cleaner and stain remover is well known. Yet, fewer people are aware that it removes marker from wood. Mix baking soda powder into a paste with water for a mess-free application while you get Sharpie drawings off your table.

Combine the water and baking soda powder in a small bowl and stir until thick paste forms. Coat the Sharpie ink stain with a thick smear of the baking soda paste, worked in with a cotton swab. Leave it to sit for 15 minutes before removing it with a moist towel.

Use toothpaste in place of water to make a paste that is twice as powerful to lift the darkest Sharpie stains from your wooden table. Take care when using baking soda on dark-colored or unfinished wood, as it may lighten the fibers.

Removing a Permanent Marker Stain From Wood

There are numerous uses for the lubricant WD-40, from greasing car parts to removing permanent ink on your dining table. This dark liquid, frequently offered in a spray bottle in auto parts stores, provides an inexpensive solution for Sharpie stains on wood.

If you’re concerned about oily residue or light-colored wood or paint staining, test WD-40 on a small, discreet patch before applying it to the tabletop. Spray liberal amounts of WD-40 over the ink, scrub with a toothbrush or cloth to remove the stain, and wipe away the remaining ink with a moist towel.

Sanding Out Sharpie From Unfinished Wood

If Sharpie got on your project table before you could stain it, a little fine-grit sandpaper and some elbow grease are all you need to remove permanent ink from the wood grain. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes and work in a well-ventilated space or outdoors.

Rub the fine grit sandpaper on the table until the Sharpie isn’t visible. Start with the lightest pressure and increase, removing only as much wood as necessary to get rid of the marker.

Don’t panic if you don’t know how to get Sharpie off a table. It happens a lot, whether it’s your kids getting creative with their art or a slip of the pen while you’re working. Thankfully, ugly Sharpie marks on your wood table don’t have to be permanent. Choose one of our remedies based on your preferences and the supplies you have. Get to work on returning your table to its former glory.

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