In addition to my ever helpful and vast
knowledge of adhesives, I also learned a few helpful cleaning tips along
the way - some of those I learned the hard way. Between art school and teaching
Elementary Art, I had to clean up quite a few messes. Some clean ups were more successful than others- and often times It was my own inexperience
that put me in the position to have to clean the mess. On
the first day of school, the first year I went from teaching High School to
Elementary, I marble painted with 1st graders- without smocks, or paper on
the tables... Luckily I had a very understanding principal to field those parent phone
calls for me.
I thought some of these tips might come in handy in your home with messy kids or, as in my case, messy husbands.
I thought some of these tips might come in handy in your home with messy kids or, as in my case, messy husbands.
Sharpies are alcohol based, which is why they are
waterproof. Depending on the surface, there are a few things you can do to
remove Sharpie. I put them in order of harshness, so start with the gentlest
and move to the more aggressive with caution, unless the item is ruined and
this is your last hope.
Remove Sharpie FROM:
- glass/metal/plastic and other
non-porous surfaces - start with rubbing alcohol, then denatured
alcohol (from the hardware store). Next, try acetone (acetone can make some
plastics, like acrylic, loose its sheen- test a small discreet area first).
A varnished or
glossed surface- try GENTLY rubbing alcohol or a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If the
surface becomes the least bit tacky/gummy/soft, stop immediately. A slight
dulling should be fixed with furniture polish. You may have to sand and
revarnish/paint if that doesn’t work.
- On Walls or a
Painted surface - Try denatured alcohol, but if that doesn’t work, prime with
Kilz, and paint. Otherwise, Sharpie will bleed back through your paint .
- On Cloth or
Clothing- Soak in rubbing alcohol overnight. Do a test spot before soaking since the alcohol may change the color of the garment.
-On Skin- Acetone and
a paper towel.
Some people use
hairspray, bugspray, WD-40, or sunscreen to remove Sharpie too… so if you're in a
bind, you could try one of those.
UPDATE: 1947 Good Housekeeping Book said denatured alcohol would remove pen ink as well!
UPDATE: 1947 Good Housekeeping Book said denatured alcohol would remove pen ink as well!
Tough to Clean Hands/Clothes
When working with art supplies like charcoal, oil pastel, chalk
pastels, chalks, graphite, marker, food coloring, or whatever other highly
pigmented supplies remember this vital rule:
ALWAYS SOAP & LATHER, then RINSE.
I am not sure about the science here, but something awful happens
when you wet the hands first. Water first makes these things nearly impossible to get
off.
So soap (preferably dish soap) and Lather on dry hands, under
nails, and around cuticles. Then when you see the pigment loosening, you may
rinse.
Many of these supplies can be removed from clothes and surfaces
with baby wipes.
BUT NEVER use baby wipes on white boards, it breaks down the
protective barrier, and will eventually make them no longer come clean.
