How to Clean Marker off a Doll

Co-authored by Kamel Almani

Last Updated: February 4, 2023 References

Sometimes accidents happen and marker winds up on your doll. Any porcelain doll should be handled with care, and consider seeking a professional for help. You can use acetone and peroxide to clean cloth dolls. For plastic dolls, you can clean immediate marks with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. For tougher stains, try using baking soda or benzoyl peroxide. Cleaning off your doll is easy, and it will look their best again in no time!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Porcelain Dolls

1
Pour about 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of acetone into a small bowl or cup. You will only need a little acetone to clean away a few small marks. Pour a little bit more if you are cleaning larger marks.
- You can use either rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover, since both contain acetone.
2
Dip your Q-tip or cotton ball into the acetone. Let your cotton pad soak up the acetone to apply it directly to your doll. Use a washcloth if you prefer.^{[1]
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3
Rub your acetone over the marker in small, circular movements. The marker should lift up and disappear as you rub. Wipe away the extra acetone and marker with a paper towel or washcloth.^{[2]
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- Acetone binds to the chemicals in the markers and helps lift them from the doll.
- Repeat this for all of your marker spots.
4
Wipe your doll with a wet cloth to clean away the acetone. You don't want the chemical to remain on the doll, as it can eat away at the porcelain.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Marker from Cloth Dolls

1
Try washing your doll in the washing machine. A normal laundry cycle and lift away non-permanent ink and marker stains.
- If you have permanent marker spots on your doll, your washer may not take them out thoroughly.
2
Apply acetone to your doll's marker spot using a cotton pad. Pour either rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover into a dish, and dip your cotton pad into it. Rub the cotton pad over the marker spot on the doll.^{[3]
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- Your marks should start to fade away.
- Instead of acetone, you can use any alcohol-based cleaner or thinner.
3
Rub some hydrogen peroxide over the marker spots after the acetone. Pour a bit of hydrogen peroxide into a dish, and dunk a second cotton pad into the peroxide. Go over the same spots you applied the acetone, rubbing the hydrogen peroxide over the marker spots.
4
Apply soapy water to rinse away leftover marker and chemicals. You can add a few squirts of soap into a spray bottle or onto a washcloth. Rub the soap into the cloth to lift off any leftover marker, acetone, or peroxide.^{[4]
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5
Reapply acetone and hydrogen peroxide if the marker is not removed. Some spots will need a few coats to fully remove the stain. Repeat your application as many times as needed.
- You can wait for your doll to dry before reapplying, so you can remove as much of the marker as possible.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Treating Marker on Plastic Dolls

1
Wipe off immediate marks using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Magic Erasers are square, multi-purpose cleaning tools. Run your Eraser under warm water to moisten it and activate the chemicals. Rub back and forth and apply steady pressure over all of your marker spots. Try moving in small, circular motions to help lift away the marker.^{[5]
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- Purchase Magic Erasers online or in home supply stores.
- As long as the marker hasn’t been sitting on the doll for a while, the Magic Eraser should lift up the marker.
- Wipe off your doll with a wet cloth when you are finished.
2
Use baking soda to clean away marker spots without harsh chemicals. Mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of hot water into 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) of baking soda. Dab your washcloth into your mixture, and rub it over the marker spots. Evenly cover the marker with your baking soda mixture. Scrub the marker away using small, circular motions. Wash off any remaining baking soda with a wet washcloth.^{[6]
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- You can also squeeze in a few drops of lemon juice. Lemon juice is very acidic, which can help lift stubborn marker from your doll.
- Use an old toothbrush to scrub with, if you need something tougher than a washcloth.
3
Apply Benzoyl Peroxide (acne treatment cream) to remove large marks. Apply a generous amount of cream using a Q-tip or your finger, and rub it in over each spot. Cover the spots in plastic wrap to keep the cream moist. Leave the doll in the sun for 2-5 hours to bleach away the marker spots. Wash your doll with soap and water after all marker spots are removed.^{[7]
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- Acne treatment cream is a good option if you have many marker spots, or if the marker has been there for a while.
- Purchase acne spot treatment cream with at least 10% benzoyl peroxide. Oxy10 is a recommended brand.
- You can also cover the rest of your doll with a towel to prevent any sun damage.
4
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I clean Expo markers off a doll?

Community Answer

Here are some suggestions: baby oil, alcohol, nail polish remover. If none of these work, there are commercial cleaners that can be found at department stores.
Question

How do I get Sharpie off an Ever After High doll's face?

Community Answer

You can try lightly sanding the doll's face with a very fine grit sandpaper. Use a rougher grit like 400-600, then one that you would use for auto-paint finishing or buffing (1000+ grit) to make it as smooth as possible.
Question

How do you get marker off of a porcelain doll?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Porcelain dolls can be fragile and sensitive, so you want to remove any markings from them properly to avoid damaging them. Pour about 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of acetone into a small bowl or cup. You will only need a little acetone to clean away a few small marks. Pour a little bit more if you are cleaning larger marks. Soak a cotton swab or cotton ball in the acetone and then rub the marker in small, circular movements. The marker should lift up and disappear as you rub. Wipe away the extra acetone and marker with a paper towel or washcloth. Then, wipe your doll with a wet cloth to clean away the acetone. You don't want the chemical to remain on the doll, as it can eat away at the porcelain.

Warnings

Test a small area with a method of your choice before you decide on how to clean your doll. There is a possibility that the method will smear the marker over the doll, rather than removing the marker.

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Do not try to clean porcelain, vintage, or antique dolls. Seek a professional doll maker for help cleaning special dolls. These are fragile and require extra care.

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