Having kids in the house is undoubtedly fun, but it is also quite messy. Case in point, when your young ones discovered the permanent markers and decided to create art on the walls. Even if this has not happened to you yet, you need to learn how to get pens off the walls without removing paint.
These tips will help you get rid of the stains without having to go through all the trouble of repainting the walls. This is also good when you are living in a rental. With this knowledge, you can somehow guarantee that your rental deposit will still be intact.
How to Get Pen Off Walls Without Removing Paint?
If you accidentally got pen marker stains on your walls, you should not panic just yet, not at least you have tried using the following tips:
Using Rubbing Alcohol
What you will need:
- Isopropyl or Ethyl Alcohol, or whatever kind of rubbing alcohol you have
- A clean washcloth
- A bowl of water
- A dishwashing sponge (the one with an abrasive pad)
Instructions:
Step 1 – Test the alcohol on a hidden part of the wall first. Check if it will discolor the paint too much (the alcohol will slightly lighten the area). If you notice that some paint came off with the alcohol, take note of it and scrub the stained area a bit lighter.
Step 2 – Once you figure out that the alcohol does not affect the paint, pour a bit of alcohol on the washcloth. Make sure that you soak it well. After that, proceed to scrub the stain. Start to scrub the stain gently to loosen it a bit. Once the ink starts to loosen, scrub a bit harder.
Step 3 – Now, grab the bowl of water and the sponge. Dip the sponge in the water and then use the abrasive side to remove the remaining ink on the wall. If you think that it’s necessary, add a bit more alcohol to the sponge.
Step 4 – Repeat steps 1-3 until you have washed off all the ink from the wall. It is possible that there will still be a bit of ink left on the surface, so repeat the previous steps until you are satisfied with the result.
Using Toothpaste and Lemon Juice
What you will need:
- A small bowl of warm water
- White toothpaste
- Juice of one lemon
- An old toothbrush or a bunch of cotton swabs
Instructions:
Step 1 – Combine the ingredients. First, mix a dollop of white toothpaste into the bowl of water. Once the toothpaste has been mixed thoroughly into the water, pour the lemon juice into the bowl. Mix thoroughly.
Step 2 – Scrub the cleaning solution onto the stain. You can use an old, clean toothbrush or a couple of cotton swabs. Soak the brush in the solution and then gently scrub the stain.
Step 3 – Rinse the toothbrush in some clean water. This is to remove the dirty cleaning solution before repeating the first two steps.
Step 4 – Repeat steps 1-3 until you have removed all the ink. After that, use paper towels to wipe away the cleaning solution.
Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
Materials you will need:
- A small bowl of warm water
- A teaspoon of baking soda
- A tablespoon of white vinegar
- An old toothbrush or a couple of cotton swabs
Instructions:
Step 1 – Combine all ingredients. In the small bowl, combine the warm water, white vinegar, and baking soda. Stir the solution until all the baking soda is dissolved. The solution should be a bit fizzy.
Step 2 – Dip the toothbrush into the cleaning solution and gently scrub the stain. Do this while the solution is still fizzing. This chemical reaction will help lift the stain off the surface of the wall.
Step 3 – Rinse the toothbrush and repeat steps 1 and 2. You will need to do this to remove the dirty cleaning solution so you won’t put the ink bank on the wall again. You don’t need to do this if you are using cotton swabs. Just replace the dirty swabs with a new one. Repeat until all the ink stains are gone.
Using Magic Eraser
Yes, you can also use the popular cleaning product Magic Eraser on smaller marker stains, and it does it well.
What you will need:
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- A bit of tap water
Instructions:
Step 1 – Soak the Magic Eraser under the tap. Place the Magic Eraser under some running water to get it soaked. Squeeze out most of the water. Test the Magic Eraser on a hidden portion of the wall first to find out if the product will not harm the paint.
Step 2 – Scrub the stain gently. Use the Magic Eraser to scrub the stain away. Typically, you will need to scrub at the stain several times to remove it.
Conclusion
Finding permanent marker stains on your once pristine walls can be a shock. However, if you act quickly, you can still get it cleaned up nicely.
Now that you know how to get pen off walls without removing paint, you can get rid of the ink stains before they get a chance to seep into the paint and become a permanent blemish on your walls.