• About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Us
    • The Creative Team
    • Disclosures
  • Subscribe
  • Shop Our Products
  • My Account
  • Cart
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • DIY & Decor â–¾
    • Crafts
    • Home Decor
    • Home Improvement
    • Technology
  • Recipes â–¾
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizers
    • Side Dishes
    • Easy Dinner Ideas
    • Slow Cooker
    • Fun Food
    • Desserts
  • Clean/Organize
  • Kid Ideas â–¾
    • Birthdays
    • Castle Playroom
    • Outer Space Bedroom
    • Teacher Appreciation
    • Travel Tips
  • Free Printables
  • Holidays â–¾
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Mother’s Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Independence Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s
    • Gift Ideas

Ideas for the Home

You are here: Home / Cleaning and Organizing Ideas / Dry Erase Marker Removal: How to Get It Off Walls Easily

By Carrie Ypma on October 24, 2014 20 Comments

Dry Erase Marker Removal: How to Get It Off Walls Easily

Cleaning and Organizing Ideas

  • Share
  • Tweet

Your child just drew on the wall with dry erase markers instead of the marker board. Don’t panic! Here’s the simple solution you need for Dry Erase Marker Removal!

When my son drew on his bedroom wall with dry erase markers, I thought it would never come off. Then I discovered this easy trick for dry erase marker removal. Let me show you how to get dry erase marker off walls in today’s tutorial.

MUST PIN! Dry Erase Marker Removal - I know I'm going to need an easy way to get dry erase marker off walls sooner or later!

When C1, our four-year-old, started preschool this year, we wanted to create a little communication center in his bedroom where we could hang his school schedule, a monthly calendar and make notes of upcoming events.

We thought the large magnetic marker board we found at Costco would do the trick. The dry erase markers and eraser both had magnets built into them so they could be attached directly to the board whenever they’re not in use. We knew having dry erase markers within reach of a four-year-old was very risky and in hindsight, not our best decision!

When we installed the dry erase marker board, we went over the rules with C1: 

  1. Always put the lids back on the markers when you’re not using them so they don’t dry out.
  2. Keep the markers on the board so we don’t lose them.
  3. NEVER EVER write on anything with the dry erase markers except for the marker board. If we find you’re using them on walls, books or toys, we’ll take them away. Despite the warnings, we knew it was only a matter of time before we’d have to figure out a solution for dry erase marker removal.

Sure enough, within the first six weeks, we found marker on the wall in C1’s room. Thankfully, it was just a small green dry erase marker line about 4-5 inches long. It looked more like he’d gotten overly exuberant drawing on the board and accidentally went over the frame:

MUST PIN! Dry Erase Marker Removal - I know I'm going to need an easy way to get dry erase marker off walls sooner or later!

Easy Dry Erase Marker Removal from Walls

What You Need:

  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Cotton balls or cotton swabs
  • A clean wet rag or wash cloth

Instructions:

  1. Put a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.
    MUST PIN! Dry Erase Marker Removal - I know I'm going to need an easy way to get dry erase marker off walls sooner or later!
  2. Lightly wipe the rubbing alcohol over the dry erase marker lines on the wall. The dry erase marker will magically disappear.
  3. Wipe the wall with a clean wet rag or wash cloth to remove any residue from the rubbing alcohol.

It’s that easy! When the incident first occurred, I tried rubbing the spot on the wall vigorously with a wet wash cloth. It didn’t do anything. We were afraid we’d have to repaint the wall to cover the dry erase marker. Then I remembered how we used rubbing alcohol to remove pink highlighter out of fabric last winter and thought that might work. Sure enough, the dry erase marker was gone in an instant!

MUST PIN! I Dry Erase Marker Removal - know I'm going to need an easy way to get dry erase marker off walls sooner or later!

I only tried this technique on the light yellow walls in C1’s bedroom. I don’t know how it would work on darker walls. If you try it, comment below and let us know. I did notice a small amount of yellow paint came off on the cotton ball, but the wall looks as good as new.

Unfortunately, we found orange dry erase marker on the wall just a few days later. This time, I used a cotton swab rather than a cotton ball, so it didn’t take as much paint off the wall when I removed the dry erase marker.

Meanwhile, after two strikes, we also removed all the dry erase markers out of C1’s bedroom. Lesson learned: Don’t let your 4-year-old use dry erase markers unsupervised.

Thankfully, it was only a few lines and dots on the wall. He didn’t actually scribble or draw anything. He also didn’t get any dry erase marker on himself or any toys or books. My Mom STILL holds it against me that I drew stick figures all over a brand new steel door with a permanent marker when I was around the same age. She said she knew I was the culprit because all the stick figures had square heads!

If this tip for Dry Erase Marker Removal worked for you, please share it with your friends or pin it for later:

MUST PIN! I Dry Erase Marker Removal - know I'm going to need an easy way to get dry erase marker off walls sooner or later!

You may also be interested in these other Cleaning Ideas on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry® – 

  • Stain Removal: How to Remove Highlighter from Fabric
  • Spring Cleaning with Small Children: 5 Tips to Make It Fun
  • Homemade Antibacterial Cleaner with Just 3 Ingredients

Dry erase marker cleaning questions

How do you get dry erase marker off the walls without rubbing alcohol?

There are a few other options you can try. Some people suggest using a product called Krud Kuter. Others say dry erase board cleaner works like magic! Just remember to spray the solution on a rack or cotton ball, not directly on the wall.

How do you get dry erase marker off clothes?

Apply some rubbing alcohol to the back of the cloth and dab with a paper towel. The towel should start absorbing the ink from the marker. If this doesn’t work you can try Murphey’s Oil soap instead.

How do you get dry erase marker out of carpet?

Mix a solution of 1/2 a cup Free & Clear All with enough water to make a paste. Rub that into the stain and let it sit. Begin adding more water and dab until the stain comes up.

  • Share
  • Tweet

Cleaning and Organizing Ideas

About Carrie Ypma

Carrie is the chief writer, crafter and creator here at Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®. She's an optimist by nature and enjoys sharing recipes, trying new craft ideas, planning for parties and events as well as organizing and decorating. She and her husband, Kent live in Michigan. She also loves to hide away in a castle under the stairs reading to her two young boys and help guests plan vacations at Sunshine Villa at Glenbrook Resort, their short term vacation rental home in Orlando near Walt Disney World.

Whether you’re cooking, crafting or creating for your family, follow Carrie on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get inspiring ideas for your home. For home organization tips and ideas, check out her other website, Clutter Keeper or follow her on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

In this ultimate guide, you'll learn how to make a burlap wreath with ribbon for your home. The FREE eBook includes easy step-by-step instructions plus inspiring craft and decor ideas to make wreaths for fall, Christmas, Easter and other holidays.

Subscribe today to get ideas in your inbox plus FREE exclusives only for Idea Insiders!

Almost there! Now just check your email to confirm your e-mail address and get your free eBook.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

You're already signed up! YAY! As an Idea Insider you have instant access to our Kenarry Idea Insider Resource Library with exclusive printables, offers and other freebies as soon as you confirm your subscription.
Previous Post: « Green Pepper Dip: An Easy Cheesy Appetizer
Next Post: 4 Plumbing Repair Red Flags You Can’t Afford to Dismiss »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:01 am

    Hi, just tried it on a wall I painted with Dry Erase Paint. I had written on it with red dry erase marker and found it wouldn’t erase off. The blue one did however. Unfortunately the alcohol didn’t work on my dry erase painted door. Love your blog.

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      October 24, 2014 at 9:53 pm

      Oh Susan, I’m so sorry to hear the rubbing alcohol didn’t work for you on the Dry Erase Paint. I’ve never used Dry Erase Paint before. Seems funny that not all dry erase markers will erase off Dry Erase Paint! How frustrating for you?! Have you tried using actual Dry Erase Board Cleaner? Another reader just mentioned her son wrote all over the walls in her home and glass cleaner removed most of it for her. You could try that too. Please do let me know how you finally get it off!

      Reply
  2. Erica says

    October 24, 2014 at 1:52 pm

    This is such a good tip! I particularly love your happy mom and sad mom drawings haha too cute!

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      October 24, 2014 at 9:48 pm

      I just draw it like I feel it! LOL. Have a great weekend, Erica!

      Reply
  3. Beth says

    October 24, 2014 at 7:06 pm

    My son just did this! But I was less lucky than you; he hid behind the door and drew all over the wall and the back of the door. I got most of it off with glass cleaner, but I will have to try the alcohol for the little bits that didn’t come off.

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      October 24, 2014 at 9:44 pm

      Oh noooo…. Beth! You must have been so frustrated to find that huge mess. I’m glad to hear glass cleaner took most of it off for you. Let me know if rubbing alcohol works on the rest. Good luck!

      Reply
  4. Amanda @ Dwelling in Happiness says

    October 24, 2014 at 10:56 pm

    Great tip, I had no idea!! Everyone has some rubbing alcohol in the house, what a perfect solution! My little one is still too little, but I’m sure this will be happening soon enough! Pinning for future reference. 🙂

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      October 25, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      You’re definitely going to want to hang on to this tip, Amanda! You never know when a little one with a dry erase marker will strike your home!

      Reply
      • Sarah says

        July 5, 2017 at 11:54 pm

        I have a dry erase board on my wall and I was drawing on it but a little got on the wall. I tried to rub it off with water but then it smeared. So I went onto Pinterest and found your tip! It came right off. Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
        • Carrie says

          July 7, 2017 at 2:04 pm

          Oh yay! I’m so glad this simple trick worked to get the dry erase marker off your wall, Sarah. Thank you for letting me know!

          Reply
  5. Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen says

    October 25, 2014 at 2:16 am

    Such a great tip, Carrie! I just recently started letting you-know-who use dry erase markers for projects (the rainbow eating chart) and it’s been getting on our fridge, and the wall next to the fridge. I’m totally trying out this tip because I was actually thinking just yesterday how in the world I was going to get that off! Thanks friend. 🙂

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      October 25, 2014 at 4:15 pm

      Oh Ashlyn! I can just imagine how carried away he’s getting with marking up that cute Rainbow eating chart! Let me know if rubbing alcohol does the trick on the walls. Does water get it off the fridge? Or will you try rubbing alcohol on that too? Glad I could post this for you just when you needed it! That’s what friends are for, right? 🙂

      Reply
  6. Sarah @ Little Red Brick House says

    October 28, 2014 at 11:07 am

    Oh, how I could have used this tip a few years ago! LOL! I will definitely store this away for future use, though. You never know when you might need it! 😉

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      October 28, 2014 at 10:49 pm

      You just never know when you might need this, Sarah! I’m sure I’ll need to put it to use again myself. Probably sooner, rather than later – though I DID take the dry erase markers away now.

      Reply
  7. vidya sudarsan says

    November 12, 2014 at 10:47 pm

    I can really use this tip in my home! we have a white board.. and we somehow see to be scribbling outside! thanks for this tip. BTW, visiting you from Do Tell Tuesday 🙂

    Reply
    • Carrie says

      November 13, 2014 at 8:51 pm

      I’m so glad you found us, Vidya! Hope the tip works on those scribbles!

      Reply
  8. Joe Kelly says

    December 21, 2020 at 1:30 pm

    This morning I discovered that my grandson decided to swipe the used dry-erase market across a wall painted in a light color. This left a trail of muted, darkish smudges in the wall.
    I searched the Internet and found your suggestion. I was skeptical, but it did remove the dry-erase ink marks.

    Thanks for posting your suggestion.

    -Joe-

    Reply
    • Carrie Ypma says

      December 21, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      Hi Joe,
      I’m sure it was a shock to find the mark from your grandson on the wall. I’m so glad this solution worked for you! Thanks for letting us know.

      Best wishes,
      Carrie
      Ideas for the Home by Kenarry

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 35 Spring Cleaning Ideas & Tips | My Life Abundant says:
    March 23, 2017 at 8:00 am

    […] Dry Erase Marker Removal: How to Get It Off Walls Easily […]

    Reply
  2. Relaxed Cleaning: Living Room | Lifting Up Treehouse says:
    May 17, 2018 at 8:01 am

    […] dry erase markers […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Carrie Ypma from Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®Hello, I'm Carrie! Welcome to Ideas for the Home by Kenarry® where we want to help you create a home you love. We're glad you're here! Read more...

Sign Up and Get a Free Gift

Subscribe to become an Idea Insider. You'll get our weekly newsletter plus special deals and other resources that are only for subscribers -- all for FREE!

Almost there! Now just check your email to confirm your e-mail address and get your free eBook.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

You're already signed up! YAY! As an Idea Insider you have instant access to our Kenarry Idea Insider Resource Library with exclusive printables, offers and other freebies as soon as you confirm your subscription.
In this ultimate guide, you'll learn how to make a burlap wreath with ribbon for your home. The FREE eBook includes easy step-by-step instructions plus inspiring craft and decor ideas to make wreaths for fall, Christmas, Easter and other holidays.
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Shop Our Products
  • My Account
  • Cart

Footer

Disclosure: Posts may include affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own. You are reading and following advice from Kenarry, LLC at your own risk. Always use safety precautions. You should read and follow manufacturer’s directions for the products and tools you use. Read more.

 

Privacy Policy: The privacy of your personal information is important. We make every effort to safeguard your information and will never sell it to third parties. Read more.

Terms of Use: You are welcome to link to this site or use a single image and brief description to link back to any post. Republishing posts in their entirety is prohibited without permission. All images are property of Kenarry, LLC. Do not crop or remove watermark. Do not reproduce without link back or permission. If you do link to this site, please contact us to let us know. All free printables offered are for personal use only. Pinning is always welcome and appreciated. Thank you!

As it relates to comments and content posted on this blog by those other than the owners, any such content that contains the copyrighted and/or proprietary work of others is expressly prohibited and will be removed. Repeated posting of such content by the same user may result in that user being banned from this site.

Copyright © 2021 Kenarry LLC · Powered by Captivating Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in