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How to Get Black Permanent Marker Out of Clothes

Mario Calhoun

A black spot on your favorite shirt or pair of pants from a permanent marker isn't a lost cause as long as you treat the stain as soon as you notice it. Stains that set into the fabric become harder to remove without the use of heavy chemicals, which can damage the fabric if it is a delicate fiber.

Remove permanent marker stains from your clothing with rubbing alcohol.

When laundering, always spot test in an unnoticeable area to determine the safety of the cleaning product.

  1. Lay two to three paper towels onto a flat surface, and place the clothing onto the paper towels with the stain against the paper towels.

  2. Dampen the cleaning cloth with alcohol, and blot the area around the stain. By blotting the area around the stain you prevent the permanent marker stain from bleeding.

  3. Sponge the stain with the alcohol-soaked cloth, and change the paper towel frequently to soak up as much of the ink stain as possible.

  4. Rinse the clothing with cool water in the sink, and wash the garment as directed on the cleaning instructions.

  5. Air dry or place the clothing in the dryer on a low heat setting.

The Drip Cap

  • A black spot on your favorite shirt or pair of pants from a permanent marker isn't a lost cause as long as you treat the stain as soon as you notice it.
  • Sponge the stain with the alcohol-soaked cloth, and change the paper towel frequently to soak up as much of the ink stain as possible.