Artltdmag is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

How to Get Marker Out of Comforter: 5 Ways You Might Not Know!

Written by Robert S. Brown / Fact checked by Helen B. Harris

how to get marker out of comforter

Markers are such popular items that everyone has at least a few of them in their house, right? However, you will never be able to know when your little artistic child would find the marker and start doodling with them. Then, what will come will come.

One day, you found out your child was in the middle of creating his/her art masterpiece not on a piece of paper, but on your comforter. I bet you must have felt so frustrated and anxious finding out about the expo marker on the comforter as well as figuring out a way to get Sharpie out of the comforter.

Well, don’t worry because I’m here to help. As a person who was in a similar situation, I also tried various methods to get stains out of white comforter. Therefore, I’m confident that the tips listed in this article will not let you down.

Before getting started, let’s have a look through the five methods I am going to introduce on how to get marker out of comforter:

  • What You Will Need: Generally, prepare some paper tissues or an old cloth to wipe off the marker stain. It is also advised that you have a toothbrush to scrub the marker ink, but this is not compulsory. Any additional products will be discussed in their corresponding sections.
  • Don’t Forget to Test Your Method! It is vital that you test the cleaning product that you are planning to use to make sure that it will not cause any damage to your comforter.
  • Four Easy Methods On Removing Marker from Comforter:
  • 1. Rubbing Alcohol: Pour some rubbing alcohol onto the prepared cloth and rub it gently on the marker stain to remove it.
  • 2. Mixture of Dish Soap and Rubbing Alcohol: Mix two portions of dish soap with 1 portion of rubbing alcohol and apply the mixture to the stain. Let it sit a few minutes before rinsing the comforter.
  • 3. Acetone/Nail Polish Remover: Similar to the first method, apply the product on a clean cloth and quickly rub it on the marker stain. Repeat a couple times to see the final result.
  • 4. Combination of Lemon Juice and Detergent: Mix detergent with lemon juice in a 1:1 ration and apply the mixture to the marker ink.
  • How About Comforters with Colors? Clorox might be the best solution in this case, specifically the one called Clorox-Regular Bleach with CLOROMAX.

Are you excited to learn how to get markers out of bed sheets and comforters? Let’s begin with the first section right now!

What You Will Need

get-dry-erase-marker-out-of-comforter

Regardless of the method you are going to use, some clean cloth or cotton balls are necessary. Paper towels can be an alternative, but go for the thick ones with multiple layers so that they won’t be torn apart easily when we try to get ink out of the comforter.

To save more time and gain greater efficiency, consider using a toothbrush or a scrub brush to remove your child’s art masterpiece from your beloved comforter. Regarding the cleaning products, the amount relies on the surface area of the stains as well as how long that marker ink has been on the comforter.

Don’t Forget to Test Your Method!

Doesn’t matter which technique you want to try, it is always important that you test your product before applying it to the whole surface. Otherwise, the product might permanently ruin your comforter.

It is less of a concern when you need to get ink out of white comforter, but applying too powerful a product might lead to your comforter being bleached. Thus, never forget to test the product on a tiny inconspicuous area of your comforter. Ideally, this place could be tucked under the mattress.

Wait approximately 10-15 minutes after applying the product on your comforter and watch out for any signs such as color change. If something does happen, use a paper towel or cloth to get rid of the product and try another one. If no reactions occur, your product is good to go!

Four Easy Methods on Removing Marker From Comforter

get-sharpie-out-of-comforter

It is much easier to get dry erase markers out of the comforter or stains that are still new. However, there might be methods that are applicable for old marker stains and permanent markers. Now, let’s get started with the first one!

1. Rubbing Alcohol

Generally, rubbing alcohol is considered to be a safe choice as its probability of bleaching is relatively low. Yet, it can still be incompatible with some synthetic fabric. Additionally, this method works perfectly for stained areas that are not too big. If there is no rubbing alcohol readily available, hand sanitizer is a good alternative.

Firstly, pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cloth or cotton ball. Then, use the blotting technique to apply rubbing alcohol to the marker stain. Do NOT rub vigorously as it will create a greater mess.

After a few seconds, you will notice the ink beginning to loosen. Feel free to apply more rubbing alcohol when it stops having effects. Repeat until the marker ink is completely removed from the surface. Then, you can take your comforter to rinse with warm water or put it in the washing machine to thoroughly remove any residual product or marker ink.

2. Mixture of Dish Soap and Rubbing Alcohol

Since many marker ink is oil-based, the addition of dish soap might be helpful as it can loosen the bond between your comforter and the ink. This will ease your journey of getting rid of the marker stains from the comforter.

Prepare a mixture of rubbing alcohol and dish soap with a ratio of 1:2. Once again, use a cloth or cotton ball to apply it to the stained surface and let it sit for 15 minutes. Gently scrub the stain in circular motions for a better outcome. Then, use a piece of paper to remove the residual product before rinsing your comforter with some warm clean water.

3. Acetone/Nail Polish Remover

The mechanism of this technique is quite similar to that of the previous methods since this product also breaks the bond between the marker ink and the comforter. Remember to place a cloth or paper towel under the comforter before applying nail polish remover directly to the stained area.

This will prevent the marker ink from staining your mattress or whichever surface you put your comforter on as it passes through. Use the same technique described in the first method.

4. Combination of Lemon Juice and Detergent

If none of the ingredients are readily available at home, this combination is a home remedy that also works wonderfully. Mix equal parts of detergent and lemon juice together and apply it to the marker ink. It is impossible to tell how much is sufficient but start with a small amount and try it first. You can always make more if there is not enough.

Apply the mixture directly to the area and let it sit for approximately one hour. The acidic and soapy cleanser will break down the bonds and allow us to operate more easily. Then, use a toothbrush to scrub the marker ink in circular motions.

Rinse the comforter with warm waters thoroughly and check if there is any marker left. Repeat the steps if you notice any remaining marker ink, and then launder your comforter if possible.

How About Comforters With Colors?

Using Clorox is also a great way to remove marker stains out of the comforter. To be more specific, you can use the Clorox 2 – Stain Remover & Color Brightener to pretreat your comforter before putting it into the washing machine.

Apply a small amount of that liquid Clorox to the marker spot on your comforter and wait around 10 minutes. Then, put your comforter in the washing machine but remember to set it with warm water.

Adding some more Clorox while laundering can be a good idea. Once the washing and rinsing is over, you probably want to air dry your comforter even though it can be a pain. Repeat the instructed step until your comforter is as clean as new.

Conclusion

That is the end of today’s article about “how to get marker out of comforter”, we hope that you’ve had some useful tips. There are several ways you can try; don’t give up until you have worked out the most effective one!

Let me know in the comment section which technique you used. If this article is helpful, share it with your friends and family as well.

5/5 - (3 votes)