How to Remove Sharpie from a Painted Wall

If your toddler has gotten a hold of a Sharpie, you may find yourself with more wall decorations than you bargained for. A Sharpie is a permanent marker that can be your best friend or worst enemy. There are a number of methods to removing Sharpie marks from a painted wall, and most of them involve using common household items.

Things You Should Know

Rub off the Sharpie with something containing alcohol, like rubbing alcohol, hairspray, or hand sanitizer.
Alternatively, apply white toothpaste to the Sharpie, let it sit for up to 10 minutes, then wipe it away with a damp cloth.
For stubborn Sharpie stains, try applying WD-40.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Baking Soda

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Dampen the sponge and place a small pile of baking soda on it. Place the sponge against the effected wall area and gently rub in a circular motion. You will probably need to rinse and repeat depending upon how dramatic the line and the color. (This is probably why people find that toothpaste also works - toothpaste contains a large amount of baking soda!)

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Dry Erase Marker

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The dry erase marker should ideally be the same color as the Sharpie marker.
Both marks should come off with little residue. You may need to repeat the process a couple of times to fully remove the Sharpie marks.^{[1]
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Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Toothpaste

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Do not use the gel kind of toothpaste;^{[2]
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Research source} cheap, white toothpaste seems to work best. Alternately, you can dilute the toothpaste slightly by mixing it with a small amount of water in a cup. Spread this diluted mixture on the Sharpie mark.
Use a circular motion to help lift the mark off the wall.
The mark should be gone.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Chemical-based Toiletries

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Try isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), hand sanitizer, hairspray,^{[3]
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Research source} or nail polish remover. Wear gloves when using these cleaning agents. This will also keep the ink from staining your hands. If you are working on a large area of the wall that has been covered in Sharpie, consider opening a window as well.
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Test the cleaning agent on your wall. Put a small amount of the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area of the wall. Many cleaning agents can discolor or remove paint, so scrub carefully to see how your wall reacts.
- If you have latex paint, be very careful about applying cleaning agents to your wall to remove stains. Latex paint will start to turn tacky or come off if you rub something like isopropyl alcohol or nail polish remover on it. It will also remove any gloss on that spot.
If you are using a rag, make sure it is something you don't mind throwing away.
If blotting doesn’t work, try scrubbing in a circular motion. It may take a few passes to remove all of the Sharpie marks.
After the Sharpie mark is removed, cleaning the wall will remove any residual harsh chemical on your wall.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

WD-40

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WD-40 is a multi-use chemical lubricant, dirt and grime remover, and water displacer. If you are working on a large area of the wall that has been covered in Sharpie, consider opening a window as well.^{[4]
X
Research source} Be sure to pay attention to any warnings with this product.
Hold a cloth underneath the mark while you spray. This will ensure that any drips won’t further stain your wall.
After the Sharpie mark is removed, cleaning the wall will remove any residual harsh chemical on your wall. ^{[5]
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Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Household Stain Removers

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These products are made to remove tough stains from surfaces. For example, you might try products such as: "Mr. Clean Eraser," "Magic Eraser," "Simple Green," "Erase," "Dawn Power Dissolver," or "Totally Awesome." Always read the instructions to be sure the product is appropriate for the wall.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Ashley Matuska
Professional Cleaner

Expert Interview}^{[7]
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^{[8]
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Expert Source

Ashley Matuska
Professional Cleaner

Expert Interview}
This will wipe off the mark.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Ashley Matuska
Professional Cleaner

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After the Sharpie mark is removed, cleaning the wall will remove any residual harsh chemical on your wall.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Paint Over the Mark

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If the mark is too large, or none of these methods seems to get rid of the Sharpie mark, you may have no other option than to paint over the mark.
Alternatively, purchase a test pot in the exact color if you do not have the original paint. Use paint charts if you don’t know the name of the color.
Wipe clean, scrub if needed, and allow to dry.
Paint several times to ensure it is covered. Smooth the paintwork into the existing wall color to prevent it from standing out too much as a “patch.”

Community Q&A

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Question

Will the sharpie come off immediately?

Community Answer

It will not come off the second you put it on, it will take some scrubbing.

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Question

How can I remove permanent maker from unpainted drywall?

Community Answer

You can either use paper whitener or white out, which is available in stationary stores.

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Question

Does this work for tile as well?

Community Answer

Toothpaste should work for tile.

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Tips

The faster you attend to the marker stain, the better, to prevent it from being totally absorbed into the paintwork.

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These methods can be used to remove marks from other brands of permanent markers, not just Sharpies.

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Semi-gloss and gloss painted walls will be easier to clean than matte or low sheen painted walls.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Many of these methods also work with Sharpie on the floor! Just test an inconspicuous area first to make sure your floor doesn't get damaged.

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Warnings

Any scrubbing and many removal products can leave streaks, marks and shiny patches on painted walls. There is also the risk of lifting paintwork off the walls. If this happens, repainting is your only option.

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