Marker On Vinyl
- Thread starter RCJG228
- Start date
This is definately a YMMV type of approach. I've never tried this on vinyl. I repeat, I have NEVER tried this on vinyl.
But...if I can get you to realize that if you are trying to find a solvent that works on the ink in that market, then realize that it is right there in the marker itself. The problem is how you remove the pigment before it dries again. What I'm suggesting is that if you take a permanent marker and draw on top of the same dried pigment of the marker, you can usually get it to smear/smudge.
I've removed sharpie off of a painted surface before by spraying the surface with a surfactant spray and then scribbling new marker on top of the old stain.
1.) spray some kind of surfactant that will keep the marker ink in suspension on the surface as you are about to add even more marker pigment (horizontal is best)
2.) Take the same marker that made the mark and scribble on top of the existing stain. Actually sort of "scrub" with the market tip. It has to be a fresh marker as you are trying to use it while IN a wet solution. It should put the old pigment back into solution.
3.) Quickly wipe up the liquid and never let it dry, lest you create an even bigger stain.
4.) Last time I did this I was spraying with white board cleaner, but you really could use any number of products, even carpet cleaner.
5.) Black is my marker color of choice to use. The pigment/solvent is easier to not set up than other colors. I don't know why.
I noted that even when I got the pigment out, there was a slight telltale. The pigment/solvent in the sharpie had actually slightly etched the surface, which you can't remove. The pigment I got out.
This might be a very last ditch option and definately test it out of the way first. But if nothing else works, this technique I've successfully used on 4 or 5 occasions with various degrees of success. I've never tried it on vinyl and I'm not going to volunteer to go first. But again, if nothing else works.
But...if I can get you to realize that if you are trying to find a solvent that works on the ink in that market, then realize that it is right there in the marker itself. The problem is how you remove the pigment before it dries again. What I'm suggesting is that if you take a permanent marker and draw on top of the same dried pigment of the marker, you can usually get it to smear/smudge.
I've removed sharpie off of a painted surface before by spraying the surface with a surfactant spray and then scribbling new marker on top of the old stain.
1.) spray some kind of surfactant that will keep the marker ink in suspension on the surface as you are about to add even more marker pigment (horizontal is best)
2.) Take the same marker that made the mark and scribble on top of the existing stain. Actually sort of "scrub" with the market tip. It has to be a fresh marker as you are trying to use it while IN a wet solution. It should put the old pigment back into solution.
3.) Quickly wipe up the liquid and never let it dry, lest you create an even bigger stain.
4.) Last time I did this I was spraying with white board cleaner, but you really could use any number of products, even carpet cleaner.
5.) Black is my marker color of choice to use. The pigment/solvent is easier to not set up than other colors. I don't know why.
I noted that even when I got the pigment out, there was a slight telltale. The pigment/solvent in the sharpie had actually slightly etched the surface, which you can't remove. The pigment I got out.
This might be a very last ditch option and definately test it out of the way first. But if nothing else works, this technique I've successfully used on 4 or 5 occasions with various degrees of success. I've never tried it on vinyl and I'm not going to volunteer to go first. But again, if nothing else works.
I had some stains that would not come off some vinyl and someone told me to try a product used to clean zodiak inflatable boats. I tried searching to see if I could remember the brand, but nothing rings a bell.
It removed the stains pretty well. I tested it first in an underneath area.
I'll check the name if I still have it on the boat.
It removed the stains pretty well. I tested it first in an underneath area.
I'll check the name if I still have it on the boat.
I removed some kind of stain from my bowrider's vinyl seats with mineral spirits. I noted that some vinyl cleaners list mineral spirits in their ingredients, so reasoned that a bit higher strength of the same stuff would probably not prove fatal. In my case it worked fine, and two years on, there is no discoloration or weakness in that area.
Just because that worked on my stain and my seat, doesn't mean it's right for you, but maybe it's a possibility you could try out in an inconspicuous spot.
Just because that worked on my stain and my seat, doesn't mean it's right for you, but maybe it's a possibility you could try out in an inconspicuous spot.
My wife actually works for Sanford, the makers of the Sharpie marker, and said that this is how they get marker off of hard surfaces, but she didn't know what it would do on vinyl.
I went to the Sharpie web site and they say to use Amodex, which you can buy at Office Max. I bought it and got it to lighten up significantly, but you can still see it. I may try a bleach & water solution on a rag and let the rag sit on the stain.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
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I've used Denatured Alchohol, it didn't remove it all, but enough. The rest faded out over time. In my case I had a rollerball pen leak in my pocket, got on my pants and leather car seats. After a month or so I couldn't find the stain anymore. I have also had good luck using WD-40 to remove stains in my car floor mats and carpet.