In an ideal world, we’d never find sharpie stains on wood. But unfortunately, mistakes happen — and it may feel like the furniture has been permanently ruined if there’s a sharpie mark on it. Thankfully, that’s not always the case; there are many methods you can try to get sharpie stains off wood.
Sharpie stains on wood are relatively easy to get rid of with the proper tools. Many common household items like rubbing alcohol, vodka, and even hairspray can be used to remove sharpie stains. Be careful not to use strong substances like bleach on wood.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the different ways you can try to get sharpie stains off wood, including the difference between real and laminated wood, and some options you should steer clear of.
How to Get Sharpie Stains Off Wood
Sharpie stains can be very stubborn on wood, but there are several methods that are known to work in many cases. These include:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Vodka
- Nail polish remover (on Amazon)
- Baking soda and toothpaste
- Hairspray
Although it can be tempting to try using bleach or another strong substance, it’s best to stick with these lighter ones. You should also never use a household product that you haven’t done research on, as it’s impossible to tell how wood is going to react to them. Many things can discolor and damage wood.
Let’s take a closer look at how to use these safe items, which should do the job as long as you use them appropriately.
Rubbing Alcohol
The rubbing alcohol method is one of the most popular ones to use because it works so well, but you have to make sure you do it right— otherwise, you could damage the wood.
Take a small spot of rubbing alcohol on a cloth and dab lightly at the sharpie stain. Then, use a cloth damp with only water to wipe away the residue and see if the sharpie stain remains.
If it does, you can repeat the method a second and third time, and so on, until the job is done.
Although it might be tempting to scrub fiercely at the wood with rubbing alcohol, you should avoid the temptation, as this can just damage the furniture. Patience is key with this method.
Vodka
If you have some vodka in your house, you can use the same method as you would with rubbing alcohol to try and get rid of the sharpie stain. Rub at it gently with a vodka-soaked piece of cloth and then wipe it away with a damp cloth.
You can keep repeating this but, much like with rubbing alcohol, be careful not to scrub the wood, as this will just damage your furniture and make the problem worse.
Nail Polish Remover
You should be very careful when using acetone or nail polish remover to remove a stain, as it can do damage when used improperly — much like vodka or rubbing alcohol can. However, you can let nail polish remover sit on a stain for a few seconds then wipe it away.
Nail polish remover is a strong substance, so people often find this works to get rid of their sharpie stains.
Baking Soda & Toothpaste
If you want to put a little more elbow grease into it, baking soda and toothpaste is a great combination that can remove some stains from wood — including sharpie.
Mix the two together and then use an old toothbrush to rub gentle but firm circles around the stain and then wipe the mixture away with a damp cloth. If you repeat this a few times, you should see the stain fade.
Hairspray
Many people are surprised to learn that spraying hairspray on a stain and then wiping it away can get rid of the stain. Since hairspray is a common item to have around the house, it’s a good idea to try this, especially if you don’t have anything else.
Removing Sharpie Stains From Real Wood vs. Laminated Wood
The main difference between real wood and laminated wood is that laminated wood is much more resilient. On laminated wood, you can get away with using stronger chemicals like diluted bleach, whereas hardwood floors wouldn’t be able to handle this.
Laminate flooring is also more stain-resistant in general, so even though it can take stronger chemicals, you shouldn’t need to use them in the first place! In fact, you should be able to wipe away most substances on laminate flooring before they actually become stains.
What to Avoid When Cleaning Wood
There are a few substances and methods that are important to avoid when cleaning wood:
Steel Wool
Steel wool — and other scratchy materials — should be avoided when cleaning wood. The reason for this is that wood damages easily, and scrubbing at it with a harsh substance means the sharpie stain may just be replaced with actual damage, which is the last thing you want.
Steam Cleaners
Although you can vacuum a hardwood floor, you should never use a steam cleaner on it. These are designed for softer surfaces like carpets and can do irreparable damage if used on a floor.
Bleach
Although a tiny bit of dilute bleach may be okay on laminate flooring, it’s best to avoid it on wood unless it’s necessary to kill off mold. It’s certainly a bad idea to use it for stains. This is because it can discolor and damage the wood, causing issues far larger than a sharpie stain.
Ammonia
Ammonia is another strong substance that shouldn’t be used on wood. Many people use this as a cleaner, but even when mixed with water, it’s just too strong for wood.
Never mix ammonia bleach — not only is this far too strong, but it can also cause toxic fumes in the air which can be very dangerous.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide may not be quite as potent as ammonia or bleach, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to use it to clean wood. Just like the stronger substances, it can discolor and damage the surface.
Commercial Substances Not Made for Wood
In general, you should avoid any commercial solutions that aren’t specifically formulated for hardwood floors. Many of these substances contain harsh chemicals and bleaches, and using them on wood — even to get rid of a stain — may leave the surface looking worse than when you started.
The Final Word
All in all, a sharpie stain on wood is usually fairly easy to get rid of. There are many household items that can do the job — even hairspray!
However, you should be careful not to get impatient and scrub too hard at the wood or use equipment and substances that are too harsh. The wood may end up looking worse than when you started.
If the stain is just too stubborn or you’re afraid of doing damage, consider calling a professional cleaner to do the job for you. They have the right equipment and training to do the job without any risk to the wood.