Short answer
Test rubbing alcohol on a hidden spot, then lay the stain face down on a paper towel and dab alcohol through the back so the ink moves into the towel. Swap towels as they pick up ink, rinse in cold water, pretreat with detergent, wash as the care label allows, and check before drying. Repeat or use a dedicated ink remover if any mark is left.
Remove permanent marker from fabric: the alcohol blot method
- Act fast, keep it out of the dryer
Fresh ink lifts far more easily than set ink, and heat from a dryer sets the stain.
- Test for colorfastness
Dab rubbing alcohol on a hidden area with a cotton swab, wait 1 to 3 minutes, and blot. No color on the towel means you can continue.
- Set up a towel underneath
Lay the stain face down on a folded paper towel or old white cloth so the ink is pushed out the way it came in.
- Dab alcohol through the back
Apply rubbing alcohol to the back of the stain with a cloth or swab and blot, do not scrub. Move to a clean part of the towel as it picks up ink.
- Rinse in cold water
Flush the area with cold water to carry away loosened ink.
- Pretreat and wash
Work a liquid detergent or stain remover into the spot, let it sit about 5 minutes, then wash at the warmest temperature the care label allows.
- Check, then repeat
Look at the spot before drying. If any ink remains, repeat the alcohol step or try a dedicated ink remover, then wash again.
This follows Tide’s ink stain method, which uses rubbing alcohol, hair spray or hand sanitizer as the solvent, a paper towel under the stain, a cold rinse, a detergent pretreat and a check before drying (Tide ink guide). Tide also says permanent ink is the hardest type of ink stain and often needs a special permanent ink remover.
Removing permanent marker from fabric, fabric by fabric
Adapted from Tide’s ink stain guide
| Fabric | Method | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton, denim, canvas | Alcohol blot from the back, cold rinse, detergent, wash | Test dark denim for dye loss |
| Polyester, nylon, spandex | Stretch over a jar or glass and slowly drip alcohol through the stain | Rinse well; air dry until gone |
| Corduroy, velvet, chenille | Soak 30 minutes in half a teaspoon clear dish soap, 1 tablespoon white vinegar and a quart of warm water, then dab alcohol | Air dry; test the alcohol first |
| Wool | Blot with cool water, then hair spray or a 50/50 water and white vinegar mix | No hot water, no scrubbing |
| Silk | Blot with cold water, then hair spray or 1:1 water and vinegar | Delicate; a cleaner is safest |
| Suede | Consumer dry cleaning solvent dabbed carefully, or a professional | Easily damaged |
Remove Sharpie marker from fabric with a dedicated remover
When alcohol leaves a ghost, a product made for ink can finish the job. Two listed below:
- Amodex Ink and Stain Remover: its listing names permanent marker among the stains it treats and suggests leaving it on for 1 to 12 hours before laundering. The listing also calls it the only Sharpie recommended stain remover; that is the seller’s claim.
- Carbona Stain Devils #3: a spot cleaner for ink, marker and crayon. Its listing says to put a white cloth under the stain, apply it undiluted, tap it through, rinse with warm water, and avoid leather, suede, silk, acetate, carpet and upholstery.
Set-in permanent marker stains
If the garment has already been washed and dried, the stain is harder but not always hopeless. Tide’s advice for dried ink is to saturate the stain with rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer on a towel, then apply a detergent with bleach suited to the fabric, let it sit at least 15 minutes, rinse and repeat as needed (Tide ink guide). Expect several rounds, and accept that some dye-based permanent ink will leave a faint shadow.
Permanent marker on other surfaces
| Surface | Try | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Metal | Rubbing alcohol on a cloth | Abrasive pads on polished, brushed or stainless finishes |
| Painted walls | A damp Magic Eraser, light pressure first | High gloss, satin or dark paint |
| Glass and glazed tile | Rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner | Razor blades on coated glass |
| Leather and footballs | A little alcohol on a cloth, tested first | Soaking, scrubbing, magic erasers |
| Plastic | Rubbing alcohol on a cloth | Acetone on unknown plastics |
Mr. Clean says its Magic Eraser Extra Durable removes marker from walls with water: wet it, wring it out and swipe firmly. It says to test a small area first and not to use it on high gloss, polished, dark, brushed or satin surfaces, bare wood, copper, stainless steel appliances, non-stick coatings or car paint, and never on skin (Mr. Clean guide).
Stain removal supplies on Amazon
A solvent, two ink removers and a hard-surface eraser, each listing checked by hand.
-
Swan 70% rubbing alcohol, 32 fl oz, 2 pack
The solvent for the blot method on fabric and for wiping marker off metal, glass and plastic.
- 70% isopropyl
- 2 bottles
-
Amodex Ink and Stain Remover, 4 fl oz
A dedicated ink remover; the listing names permanent marker and says it can sit on a stain for hours before laundering.
- 4 fl oz
- For clothing and fabric, per the listing
-
Carbona Stain Devils #3, ink, marker and crayon
A spot cleaner aimed at ink and marker. Read the fabric exclusions on the listing first.
- 1.7 fl oz
- Apply undiluted
-
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, whole home extra durable
For marker on walls and other hard surfaces, never fabric. Test first, as Mr. Clean advises.
- Melamine pads
- Water only
Each pick links to an Amazon listing we checked by hand. Prices, colors and pack sizes change on Amazon, so check the listing before you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Preventing the next stain
- Cap markers before setting them down, and keep them out of pockets that go in the wash.
- Use the right marker on purpose: for clothes you mean to decorate, see Sharpie fabric markers and fabric markers.
- Paint pens behave differently: wet acrylic paint lifts with water; dried paint on fabric is covered in how to use paint pens on fabric.
Questions people ask
Does Dawn dish soap get Sharpie out of clothes?
Not on its own, in most cases. Dish soap is a detergent, not a solvent for permanent ink. Tide’s ink guide uses rubbing alcohol, hair spray or hand sanitizer to loosen ink first, and uses clear dish soap only in a soak with white vinegar for fabrics such as cotton, corduroy and velvet. Use alcohol first, then soap and detergent.
How to remove permanent marker from metal?
Wipe it with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol; on smooth, non-porous metal most permanent marker lifts after a few passes. Test on a hidden spot first if the metal is painted, coated or has a brushed finish. Avoid abrasive pads on polished, brushed or stainless steel, which can scratch or dull the surface.
How to remove permanent marker from a football?
Test first on a small, out-of-sight area, because footballs are leather, synthetic leather or rubber with a printed finish. Dab a little rubbing alcohol on a cloth and rub the mark gently, wiping off loosened ink as you go. Stop if the finish or printing starts to lift. Some ink may remain in the pebbled grain.
Will magic eraser remove permanent marker?
On many hard surfaces, yes. Mr. Clean says its Magic Eraser Extra Durable removes marker from walls with water alone: wet it, wring it out and swipe firmly. It also says to test a small area first and not to use it on high gloss, polished, dark, brushed or satin finishes, bare wood or stainless steel. It is abrasive, so it is not for clothes.
Does Dawn soap remove Sharpie?
Soap helps wash loosened ink away but rarely breaks down Sharpie ink by itself. On hard surfaces, rubbing alcohol on a cloth works better; on fabric, blot alcohol through the stain, then pretreat with detergent and wash. Tide notes permanent ink is the hardest kind to remove and often needs a dedicated permanent ink remover.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-12. Specs and availability change; check the listing before you buy.