It's an inexpensive wood table from ikea. It has a matte finish. The stain is fresh. Any ideas for how I might get it off without further damage?
Thanks
F. B.
Sharpie ink can be removed with isopropanol. Get the highest percentage you can buy, it's usually with band-aids and such in a drug store, and it should take it off.
ETA: Yes, rubbing alcohol, that's what I meant. Rubbing alcohol comes in ethanol and isopropanol. The isopropanol will work better.
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol will be your best bet for a first attempt at fading the mark.
Acetone polish remover will completely remove it, but it will also remove the finish on the table.
Sounds crazy, but it might work. Color over the permanent marker with a dry erase marker and it might wipe off. I'd try just a small spot first. I've done this to get permanent marker off a white board, linoleum floor and a glass vase.
Try hand sanitizer. Be careful it might take the finish off. But you can refinish the spot if necessary.
Alcohol...the rubbing alcohol kind...although maybe the other stuff might work, then you can have a drink afterwards...lol.
Use a Q-tip and rub at a small part to see if it will work and not take off the finish.
Good luck!!
As Retta said, rubbing alcohol. We've had to do this more than once...
On walls I've had good results using hairspray - but using that might take the finish off the wood.
Try the toothpaste method and see how that goes.
Good luck!
try nail polish remover with acetone. i would try a test area maybe on an inside leg or the bottom to determine if it will affect the finish before going after the actual stain. stay away from the magic eraser on this one, i doubt it would work and it is abrasive enough to leave a mark. good luck!! :-) S.
depends on whether you're okay with refinishing the table. anything that will get sharpie out will also 86 your finish.
being a lazy girl, i'd learn to live with a sharpie mark on a cheap table rather than refinish it.
khairete
S.
I used a mr clean magic eraser once and it took the finish off my dining room table - but worked like a charm. I was able to bring some shine back with polish - in my case, it was terrible and I was desperate. Another time, I used the toothpaste (not the gel kind) and it worked with a bit of elbow grease. Still took shine away, but didn't seem to be as bad. Good luck.
I've had good luck with toothpaste. Rub it one let it sit a minute and buff it off.
