How to Remove Sharpie from a Painted Wall

Last Updated: December 17, 2021 Approved

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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Dry Erase Marker

1
Write over the Sharpie mark with a dry erase marker. The dry erase marker should ideally be the same color as the Sharpie marker.
2
Rub at both sets of marks with a dry, clean cloth. 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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Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Toothpaste

1
Spread a small amount of white toothpaste with a cloth directly onto the Sharpie mark. Do not use the gel kind of toothpaste;^{[2]
X
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.
2
Let the toothpaste sit for 5-10 minutes.
3
Scrub at the mark with a cloth. Use a circular motion to help lift the mark off the wall.
4
Wipe away the toothpaste with a damp cloth. The mark should be gone.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Baking Soda

1
Use a sponge with a green abrasive side. 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 4

Method 4 of 7:

Chemical-based Toiletries

1
Try isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), hand sanitizer, hairspray,^{[3]
X
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.
2
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.
3
Pour the cleaner onto a soft rag or cotton ball. If you are using a rag, make sure it is something you don't mind throwing away.
4
Blot the cleaning fluid on the Sharpie mark. If blotting doesn’t work, try scrubbing in a circular motion. It may take a few passes to remove all of the Sharpie marks.
5
Clean the area with gentle soap and water. 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

1
Put on gloves before using WD-40. 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.
2
Spray a small amount of WD-40 on the Sharpie mark. Hold a cloth underneath the mark while you spray. This will ensure that any drips won’t further stain your wall.
3
Scrub the mark in a circular motion with a clean, dry rag.
4
Clean the area with gentle soap and water. 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

1
Try a stain remover product. 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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2
Apply the stain remover to the Sharpie mark.
3
Scrub gently at the mark with a soft cloth. This will wipe off the mark.
4
Clean the area with gentle soap and water. 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

1
Paint over the mark to conceal it. 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.
2
Find the old paint can with the right color from your paint storage. 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.
3
Prepare the area of wall as for any paintwork. Wipe clean, scrub if needed, and allow to dry.
4
Paint over the mark. 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.”
5
Allow the paint to dry.

Community Q&A

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.
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.
Question

Does this work for tile as well?

Community Answer

Toothpaste should work for tile.

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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