Here’s how to get dry erase marker out of clothes:
- 1. Act fast
- 2. Place a clean cloth underneath the stain
- 3. Dab the stain with rubbing alcohol
- 4. Rinse with cold water
- 5. Machine wash with laundry pods
- 6. Air dry and inspect
You can wipe a dry erase marker off a whiteboard like it was never even there. But when it hits your kid’s clothes? That’s a different story.
School’s back in session, which means at some point, your kid is going to come home looking like they wrestled a whiteboard and lost. Dry erase marker stains are deceptively tough because the oily ink is designed to sit on slick surfaces and glide away. On fabric, though? Those same oils sink in like they’re signing a long-term lease.
Good news: You can evict them. You just have to move fast. Here’s how to wipe a dry erase marker off your kid’s clothes as easily as erasing it from a whiteboard.
1. Act Fast (Like, Right Now)
Dry erase marker stains get more stubborn with every second they sit there, and body heat can set them like a bad tattoo decision. If you catch it fresh, your chances of winning this battle go way up. Don’t wait. Don’t “deal with it later.” Later is when you lose.
2. Place a Clean Cloth Underneath
Before you start your stain surgery, slide a clean cloth underneath the stained area. This catches any runaway ink so it doesn’t migrate and set up shop somewhere else on the shirt. It also gives you a firm base to work with, so you can put some muscle into the fix without stretching the fabric out.
3. Dab with Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is your secret weapon here—it dissolves the oily ink before it becomes a permanent souvenir. Soak a clean white cloth, cotton ball, or paper towel, and dab the stain. Don’t scrub. Scrubbing pushes the stain deeper, like rubbing in bad news.
Once you stop seeing ink lift, you can stop dabbing. No rubbing alcohol? Check your bathroom cabinet for hairspray with alcohol in it. It’s not as fancy, but it’ll get the job done.
4. Rinse with Cold Water
Cold water keeps the ink molecules from locking into the fibers like a safe deposit box. Warm or hot water? That’s basically a stain crockpot. Keep it cold, let it run, and flush as much out as you can.
5. Machine Wash with Laundry Pods
By now, the stain’s clinging on for dear life—time to finish the job. Enter: Laundry Sauce.
Our laundry pods don’t just smell like a high-end boutique (hello, French Saffron). They’re also enriched with bio-enzymes—microscopic stain assassins that break down the oils in dry erase marker ink until there’s literally nothing left to hold on to.
The shirt will smell so good, other parents might “accidentally” lean in for a whiff at pickup.
6. Air Dry and Inspect
Do not (and we cannot stress this enough) toss that shirt into the dryer. Heat will bake the ink in for eternity. Air dry it like the precious artifact it now is. Once dry, check it under good light. Still see something? Run through steps 2–6 again.
Common Questions About Dry Erase Marker Stains
If you still have some concerns about dry erase marker stains, here’s everything else you need to know about them.
Are Dry Erase Marker Stains Permanent?
Not if you act fast. The longer they sit, the worse they grip, so speed is your best friend here.
What Dissolves Dry Erase Marker?
Alcohol-based solvents like rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, or hairspray work best. Vinegar or ammonia can also help, but always spot-test first unless you want a new stain and a faded shirt.
What Water Temperature Should I Use?
Cold water only. Heat just gives the stain a free pass to stay forever.
Can I Bleach White Clothes with Dry Erase Marker on Them?
Sure, if the fabric can handle it—but bleach won’t break down the oil in the ink, so it’s more like a desperate Hail Mary than a real solution. Spot-test first.
Smudge-Free Starts with Laundry Sauce
Dry erase marker stains are like tiny graffiti tags on your kid’s wardrobe. But with the right game plan, you can make them disappear. Armed with Laundry Sauce pods, you’re not just cleaning clothes. You’re restoring them to their pre-marker glory while wrapping them in fragrances so good you’ll cringe every time you remember running a load with something sad, like “Meadow Fresh.”
