How to Remove Marker From Unfinished Wood

How to Remove Marker From Unfinished Wood
Written By
Diana Braun
Diana Braun
Published: Dec 19, 2009
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Marker can quickly penetrate the porous surface of an unfinished wood table. You can use a few common household items to remove marker and ink stains from unfinished wood.

Things You Will Need

  • Non-oily liquid hairspray
  • Paper towels
  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • Wood stain
  1. Moisten a paper towel with non-oily liquid hairspray.

  2. Rub the marker stain with the moistened paper towel. The hairspray will cause the ink in the stain to lift and absorb into the paper towel.

  3. Reapply the hairspray to a new paper towel and continue to rub the marker stain out.

  4. Sand the marker stain out by rubbing over the area with fine-grit sandpaper.

  5. Apply a wood stain to prevent further substances from penetrating the surface of the material.

The Drip Cap

  • Markers are often the choice of writing utensil when a permanent message or depiction wants to be left.
  • The hairspray will cause the ink in the stain to lift and absorb into the paper towel.
  • Reapply the hairspray to a new paper towel and continue to rub the marker stain out.

Photo Credits

NA/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

NA/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

Diana Braun

Diana Braun began her writing career as a consultant and technical writer for a software company focusing on how-to, training, white paper, and internal process documentation. After two years, Braun left to pursue her entrepreneurial…

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