Doing art projects with your children is a great way to teach them a wide range of skills. Ideally, this activity should be done with adult supervision and the art supplies need to be stored in a place where your kids cannot reach them. But what if they manage to get the permanent markers and draw on your TV or PC monitor?
Let me share three methods on how to remove permanent markers from TV screens using a dry erase marker, some rubbing alcohol, or toothpaste.
Table of Contents
What You Need
Although I found many ways to get Sharpie off TV screen, the methods that I’m about to share are the easiest and most efficient for me. There is no need for you to create mixtures of different products. All you need to do is choose between a dry erase marker, some rubbing alcohol, or toothpaste m.
1. Dry Erase Marker
Believe it or not, a dry erase marker can get permanent markers off TV screen or PC monitors. That’s because dry-erase marker inks contain a solvent, which is typically alcohol. A solvent, as we learned from our chemistry subject, is a substance capable of dissolving.
Simply put, you are applying the solvent onto the permanent marker ink when you draw over it with whiteboard markers. Thus, it dissolves the permanent marker ink underneath.
2. Rubbing Alcohol
If you don’t have a dry-erase marker readily available, you can use isopropyl rubbing alcohol. As I mentioned earlier, alcohol is a solvent. Besides the TV screen, I rely on it to remove stains on most porous and non-porous surfaces.
3. Toothpaste
Although classified as a personal hygiene product, toothpaste can get permanent markers off computer screens because it is mildly abrasive. This trick will work as long as you are using white toothpaste instead of the colored gel. More often than not, gel toothpaste contains dye, which can discolor surfaces.
4. Clean soft cloth
Regardless of whether you use dry erase markers, rubbing alcohol, or toothpaste, you will need a clean soft cloth, like a microfiber towel or suede cloth. This fabric comes in handy for applying the alcohol or wiping off any residue left on the screen.
Avoid using abrasive materials like paper towels as they can leave tiny scratches on the surface of your screen.
A Guide on How to Remove Permanent Marker Ink on TV or Computer Screen
Strategy #1: Dry erase or whiteboard markers
Step 1: Grab a dry erase marker and trace all the permanent marker drawings on your TV or computer screen. Make sure to cover the ink stains on the surface. Check out this video by Ryan Thomas Dalton to see how he did it. You can leave it to dry for a few minutes.
Step #2: Get a dry clean rag or a whiteboard eraser then wipe the affected area. Do not apply too much pressure on the LCD or LED screen.
As you wipe, you should see the permanent marker ink being lifted from the screen along with the whiteboard marker ink.
Strategy #2: Rubbing alcohol
Step #1: Pour a little bit of rubbing alcohol onto a clean cloth. Use it to gently wipe the stain on your TV or computer monitor as shown in this Youtube video by Nathanael Newton. You can add small amounts of alcohol onto the cloth to clean up larger ink stains.
Note: Alcohol usually dries away on its own so you don’t need to wipe the screen to dry it.
Strategy #3: Toothpaste
Step #1: Put some toothpaste onto your finger. As instructed in this video by Im Leany, you don’t need large amounts of the product to get marker off tv screen.
Step #2: With your finger, rub the toothpaste gently on the permanent marker ink on your screen. In the process, you will see the ink getting lifted by the toothpaste. Continue to rub until the ink is completely gone.
Step #3: Get a clean cloth, dampen it with water, and use it to wipe off the toothpaste residue and faint ink marks on the screen. Finish off by wiping the moisture with a dry cloth.
Conclusion
All the three methods I shared on how to remove permanent markers from TV screens have been tested and proven not just by me but also by many parents who had toddlers scribbling on their TV screens and computer monitors!
How about you? Did you find this tutorial helpful? Please leave a comment as I’m eager to hear your thoughts. Lastly, feel free to share this article with your family and friends!
Art has always been a part of my life; it influences my upbringing and later my career choice. For me, it is always a part of my parenting technique. So for whichever purpose that you come to art, you can start here with us.