How permanent is a permanent marker on fabric?

by Anya
(W,Y)

I did this in third grade I took markers and different types of detergents and first I took the fabric and put marker on it then tested it with different detergents.

Barry's Response - Interesting premise, for sure. And one with good commercial potential as well. Did any of the detergents remove the marker effectively? Were some markers better than others? Thanks for the idea, Anya.

What if you have a real problem with marker ink in an unwanted area. It just might not come off without some special effort.

For some types of pen, WD40 might just do what you need. Prepare to use a good amount, and have paper towels handy for post cleanup. Spray the lubricant into the towel and work into the affected area using a circular motion, sorta like "wax on...wax off". You might need more to dilute it even further.

Use a second rag to remove the oil and colour residue. One more thing: test this method in a small hidden area first if using this technique on a sensitive item such as clothing, carpets or furniture. This is just to be sure no greater damage results.

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