Last updated on September 14th, 2022 at 11:00 pm
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Last updated on September 14th, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Sharpies are one of those writing tools that almost everyone has lying around. They are great for writing notes, memos, and more.
Whether you use Sharpies for crafting or just everyday writing, it is important to store your Sharpies properly. An improperly stored Sharpie might end up drying out much faster than anticipated.
So what is the proper way to store your Sharpies?
If you have a dual-ended Sharpie, you should store your marker horizontally. Single-ended markers should be stored writing end down. This will keep the ink down near the felt tip and prevent it from drying out.
If you were to store a dual ended marker on either end, the ink would run down to only one end. One side of your marker would have plenty of ink while the other end would be quickly drying out.
How Do You Keep Sharpies From Drying Out?
Everyone loves a good Sharpie, unfortunately, it may not always work. Often, you can find yourself reaching for your Sharpie to jot down a quick note, only to see that the marker is not writing well.
Instead of just throwing it away and purchasing new Sharpies, is there a way you can keep them from drying out or reviving them?
One of the best ways to prevent Sharpies from drying out is to always put the lid very firmly on. Protecting your Sharpie from the air will help it to last longer.
Since Sharpies are alcohol-based, they tend to quickly dry out. The alcohol in the marker evaporates at a lower temperature than water, the tip will tend to dry out rather quickly.
The best way to revive your dried out Sharpie is with rubbing alcohol. All you need to do is pour some rubbing alcohol into a small container.
Once it is in the container, place the tip of the Sharpie in the liquid. Leave the Sharpie in the container until you start to see the ink running into the rubbing alcohol.
Remove the Sharpie from the container and immediately place the lid on. Wait at least 15 minutes until you use the Sharpie.
If you have to use this process to revive your markers a few times, it’s best to just purchase some new ones. If you do not have rubbing alcohol, you can also use the same process with white vinegar.
How Do You Make Your Sharpies “Sharp” Again?
After a while Sharpies tend to not be so sharp. After many notes and memos that it has been used to write, the tip begins to wear down.
Sharpies work so much better with a fine tip, so is there a way to make your Sharpie sharp again?
Unfortunately, there is no way to resharpen your Sharpies. Once the point begins to get dull, it is best to get a new Sharpie.
Even though the tip of a Sharpie may be dull, it doesn’t mean the Sharpie won’t work. You can continue to use a dull Sharpie, you just won’t get a fine line when writing.
While you can sharpen the tip of the marker with a knife, it is not recommended.
How Can You Remove Permanent Marker Writing From Surfaces?
While Sharpies may be great to use, when not used on paper they can become problematic. Not all spaces are great to have Sharpie writing on them.
So how do you remove permanent marker writing from various surfaces?
Removing Sharpie From Carpet
Rubbing alcohol is the best way to remove Sharpie from carpets. Be sure to blot the area with rubbing alcohol instead of scrub.
When you blot the spot with rubbing alcohol, it will prevent any further spread to other areas of the carpet.
Removing Sharpie From Plastic/Laminate
You can use almost any oil-based product to remove Sharpie from plastics and laminate without removing the finish. This could be by using hand sanitizer, nail polish remover, hairspray, cooking oil, or even tea tree oil as well.
Allow the oil to sit on the stain for a few moments and then gently rub away the Sharpie.
Removing Sharpie From Skin
Sharpie ink on the skin can be removed with most makeup removers and wipes. Rub in a circular motion to remove the ink.
You can also use rubbing alcohol, however, be sure that it won’t agitate your skin even further.
Removing Sharpie From Walls
Lemon oil is a great product for removing Sharpie from your walls. The oil and the acidity from the lemon combine to remove the stain from your painted walls without removing the paint.
Pour the oil onto a clean cloth and rub away at the marker stain. If the cloth is covered in ink and you still have more stains on the wall, grab another cloth to avoid any smearing and keep scrubbing.
White toothpaste and hand sanitizer can also be other options to remove any type of unwanted Sharpie writing on your walls. If you use hand sanitizer, try a small amount on an unnoticeable spot first to make sure that the alcohol base won’t eat away at your paint.
Removing Sharpie From Wood
Toothpaste won’t only keep your teeth clean, but your Sharpie stained wood too. Whether it’s your hardwood floors or end tables, toothpaste with a little bit of baking soda can remove Sharpie stains.
Put a decent amount of toothpaste and sprinkle baking soda on a cotton ball and gently rub the stain while going along with the grain. You can also use citric oil on a magic eraser to remove the stain as well.
Be careful not to scrub hard as the eraser may leave scratches on your wood.
Removing Sharpie From Fabric
Before you place your Sharpie stained clothes in the washer, be sure to use one of these methods to remove the stain before washing. Either rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, non-gel toothpaste, hairspray, or hand sanitizer can be used to remove Sharpie stains from fabric.
Dab the stain with one of these choices and allow it to sit for a bit before throwing it in the wash. You can also use baking soda on the stain and scrub with a toothbrush to remove the stain as well.
Removing Sharpie From Leather
It is best to remove the stain from leather as soon as possible. The stain can be easily removed if taken care of right away.
Use distilled white vinegar and allow it to sit on the stain for a few minutes. You can then wipe the stain away with a damp cloth in a circular motion.
If your first attempt to remove a stain doesn’t work, you can try one of the other methods. Always be sure to try a small surface first to ensure that you won’t further damage the surface.
Never use heat on the stained area until you know for sure that the stain has been removed.
Final Thoughts
Be sure to store your Sharpies properly to ensure that the tips won’t dry out. If you do happen to get Sharpie ink somewhere you weren’t expecting, use one of the above methods to quickly wipe away the stain.
Last updated on September 14th, 2022 at 11:00 pm
