How to Get Sharpie Marker off a Canvas Tote

How to Get Sharpie Marker off a Canvas Tote
Written By
Jaimie Zinski
Jaimie Zinski
Published: Mar 24, 2011
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

A Sharpie marker stain on canvas is difficult to remove, but through the use of household stain busters it can be greatly reduced in size and color.

Things You Will Need

  • Paper towel
  • Cotton balls
  • Hairspray
  1. Lay the canvas tote onto a flat surface.

  2. Place a piece of paper towel inside of the bag directly under the Sharpie marker stain.

  3. Spray a cotton ball liberally with hairspray.

  4. Dab at the sharpie marker stain with the cotton ball. You will notice that the cotton ball will slowly begin to pull up the stain.

  5. Continue to dab the stain with the hairspray soaked cotton ball until you remove as much of the stain as possible. Use a new cotton ball when required.

  6. Remove the paper towel from the inside of the bag, which was there to protect the other side of the bag from becoming soaked with permanent ink.

  7. Launder the canvas tote according to the label’s directions.

  8. Remove the tote from the washing machine and allow it to air-dry. If there is still Sharpie stain remaining, continue to blot it with the hairspray.

The Drip Cap

  • Sharpie markers rose to popularity during the 1960s because they were the first mass-produced “permanent” markers that wrote cleanly on paper without leaving smudges or smears.
  • Remove the tote from the washing machine and allow it to air-dry.

Photo Credits

Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images

Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images

Jaimie Zinski

Residing in Chippewa Falls, Wis., Jaimie Zinski has been writing since 2009. Specializing in pop culture, film and television, her work appears on Star Reviews and various other websites. Zinski is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in history at…

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