Permanent Marker in Washer---- HELP!

Updated on September 14, 2008
S.P. asks from Parsons, KS
20 answers

A permanent marker got into the washer and ruined several of my son's favorite shirts and jeans. I have started using Spot-shot (for carpets) and it is lifting some of it out, but I'm at a loss on what else would work. The clothes have NOT gone through the drier yet. I'm going to keep them moist until I can find a good solution.
Thanks!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Well, I tried many of the suggestions and found that Oxy Clean worked about the best. The ink is still there, but it has faded considerably. I just stuck with solutions that I had around the house. Even though the products might be great, I really didn't want to order anything special just for a couple of old t-shirts. Thanks everyone for the tips! You all are super!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.P.

answers from Kansas City on

Permanent Marker In The Dryer
My 4 year old daughter managed to put a permanent marker in the dryer with the cap off. You can imagine what happened. One of her cloth shirts was blotched with black ink. We left it like this for 10 months! Then, my wife said to me, "Why don't you try some of these Melaleuca products on this shirt. It will be a good test!" So I proceeded to spray the stains with Pre-Spot and then soaked the shirt in Mela Power for 1 day and rubbed the stains away! You must understand-- it was a few months so it needed a little more time.

The permanent marker stains went away completely without damaging my daughter's cloth shirt!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.P.

answers from Kansas City on

S.,

Probably by now you have tried all the other suggestions. I tried hairspray before and it helped with some ink stains, but took a lot of spraying and rubbing and was really sticky. A while back one of my children got black sharpie on their shirt. A friend told me to use "GermX"--you know the waterless hand sanitizer stuff? I actually had the brand name stuff and it worked like a charm. Much better than hairspray without all the stickiness! Just keep putting it on and rubbing and marker magically disappears!! I tried it on a photo album that I had labeled incorrectly and it worked for that too. Hope you got the stains out!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.G.

answers from Kansas City on

I don't know what part of town you live in, but if you can get to the Mop Bucket in NKC they have a product called "Avenge". It's actually a carpet cleaner, but it works pretty well on clothes. If you don't live close they may be aware of someone in your area that sells it. It's pretty expensive if you buy the big bottle, but a little one isn't too bad - it's one of those things that's pretty good to have on hand!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Have you tried rubbing alcohol? It works well at removing marker and ink from leather and hard surfaces. You might have to soak it awhile.

Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Kansas City on

If the other ideas don't work, Lestoil. Not everywhere has it, but Walmart just started carrying it here where I live. It works on everything...including glue & tar in clothes. It's amazing. It stinks & you have to wash them a few times after to get the Lestoil smell out, but it really works great on everything.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.T.

answers from St. Louis on

Try soaking the stains with WD-40. Of course after it comes out, you will need to get out the WD-40, but at least it will come out. Oh, the more you wash the I wouldn't wash the clothes the more you might be setting the stain. MY husband is an artist as a hobby & has gotton permenant marker on many things. The next time it happens, don't wet the stain, just douse it w/Spray & Wash & blot until the marker is dissolved & gone. Spray & Wash doesn't work that well for permenant marker after the fabric gets wet or other products have been used.

Good luck!
J.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from Kansas City on

This will sound very strange but it works every time - spray sunscreen. Either aerosol or pump will work.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Kansas City on

This happened to us just last month. I used US Advantage cleaner...it removed it 100% even after it dried on!!!!...I ordered it online. Gets out anything. Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi S.,

Whenever something gets on my kids' clothes like that, I take a scoop full of Oxy-clean and poor it in a large bowl of water. It makes the concentration of the Oxy-clean greater than what they recommend. I then let the clothes soak in the bowel for sometimes as much as 4 or 5 days. The way I look at it is if the Oxy-clean discolors the clothes (which so far it never has) no big deal. They were already ruined. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.Y.

answers from Wichita on

My husband has left ink pens, screws, sawdust, and industrial glue. So to get permanent marker out try hairspray and cold water. wet the garment, run cold water over it. you might have to do this several times. good luck. by the way the glue and scew were the only damaging items in my wash.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.H.

answers from St. Louis on

shout advance- blue bottle. you can leave it on for a day or 2.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.G.

answers from Kansas City on

Hair spray works the best to get ink out. Put paper towel behind stain and spray until the stain has gone away. Then wash. Aquah net works the best.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from Wichita on

Good morning S.. I was hoping others had some ideas, but didn't see anything yet. I would just keep on doing what your doing. Could try some baking soda and a little white vinegar paste to rub it in good. I have used Simple green so much and just let it soak in the water.
Medicinal Peroxide is supposed to remove blood. Might try that with a little water. I have removed ink from hubby's shirt pockets before with rubbing alcohol and dish soap. Geeez I guess I have used a lot of things until they work lol
Alot of elbow grease too. When hubby or someone says don't worry about it, the stain won't come out. I get to work to see if I CAN get it out, to me it's a challenge. Only one gave me fits. Tar!! I got rid of the stain, cut the jean legs off and made shorts :))

Good Luck S., hope you find something that works for you

K. Nana of 5

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.F.

answers from Columbia on

I have had the best luck with hairspray on permanent marker and ink stains. I use Matrix Vavoom aerosol spray can...it's expensive but I found it on sale for 1/2 price so I bought 2...I keep it in my laundry area! I have tried Aqua Net and cheaper brands but didn't have much success. Good luck! A.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.F.

answers from Kansas City on

Tra making a paste with oxy clean and scrub with a toothbrush a few times. I have got many stains out of things using oxy clean.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Memphis on

This happened to me once. I used hairspray-the aresol kind worked the best. Just soak it with the hairspray and blot it out. It didn't get it all out, but it sure helped. They had already gone through the dryer before I got to them. The hairspray also took the marker off of my dryer. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I have had luck with hairspray, then scrubbing, and soaking in rubbing alchol and scrubbing. I have soaked clothing in the rubbing alchol for up to 2 days with no fading or bleaching, it just seems to dissolve the ink. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.W.

answers from Kansas City on

Hairspray gets out sharpie markers on anything. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Kansas City on

The best is perfume or body spray. The alcohol lifts the marker and when the dryer heats up the next time you won't have the AWFUL smell of burning rubbing alcohol!!! Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.G.

answers from St. Louis on

Nature Bright is twice as effective as oxyclean. You can only order it through a distributor, so let me know if I can help you further.
Happy day!
J.
http://www.jessicagrimm.com

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches