# Anyone know how to get black Sharpie marks off a laptop screen?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751 "2010-12-19T20:59:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/21 "2010-12-21T18:58:28Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > Have you tried white out? Silly, That’s just for typos. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/22 "2010-12-21T20:08:26Z")
I had a stubborn stain on my LCD monitor that rubbing alcohol didn’t remove but lighter fluid did. There was no damage done to the screen. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/23 "2010-12-21T20:35:52Z")
> [@ecseas](#): > > There are “erasers” you can buy to rub marks off of walls etc, I think they would work, and they don’t use liquid. the only problem I could see is it might scratch. Those work by being extremely abrasive. Not the type of thing you want rubbed on a laptop screen. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/24 "2010-12-21T21:33:53Z")
> [@labtrash](#): > > Silly, That’s just for typos. So just open a blank text document, misspell something, move the window around on the desktop until the misspelled word is right under the sharpie mark, then apply the whiteout. What’s the matter? Are you blond, or something, and can’t figure that out? ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/25 "2010-12-22T03:24:54Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > So just open a blank text document, misspell something, move the window around on the desktop until the misspelled word is right under the sharpie mark, then apply the whiteout. What’s the matter? Are you blond, or something, and can’t figure that out? Sure, but then I’d have to leave the word doc up there FOREVER. :rolleyes: geez! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/26 "2010-12-22T04:12:43Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I had a stubborn stain on my LCD monitor that rubbing alcohol didn’t remove but lighter fluid did. There was no damage done to the screen. YMMV. lighter fluid for a zippo lighter or lighter fluid to start a grill? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/27 "2010-12-22T04:45:05Z")
> [@labtrash](#): > > Sure, but then I’d have to leave the word doc up there FOREVER. :rolleyes: geez! Well, do you want the marker stain to go away, or not? 😕 Sometimes, you have to put up with that kind of thing, if you don’t want to have to buy a new machine. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/28 "2010-12-22T04:46:10Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Really? It seems like whenever I see “rubbing alcohol” in the store it says isopropyl alcohol underneath in parenthesis. But I am usually buying alcohol for work from medical suppliers and always refer to it as isopropyl. (I always use this to clean ink off things.) I just used “rubbing” because I thought that term was more familiar and I’d just had a big glass of wine and didn’t want to type isopropyl. [Wiki says](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol): Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol, USP / B.P. contains 68-99% of isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) by volume, the remainder consisting of water, with or without color additives, suitable stabilizers, and perfume oils. It also says that some rubbing alcohols might be ethyl, not isopropyl. The one you buy may well be straight up isopropyl, but it seems not all are. Could be a regional thing. ---
**Author:** ![ctywkr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@ctywkr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctywkr)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/29 "2010-12-22T04:57:41Z")
You should try going over the mark with the sharpie again, and immediately wipe it off. I’ve found that that this works pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/30 "2010-12-22T12:12:02Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > lighter fluid for a zippo lighter or lighter fluid to start a grill? For a Zippo. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/31 "2010-12-22T12:22:15Z")
A Mr Clean Magic Eraser should work fine and not harm you screen. ---
**Author:** ![tpatsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tpatsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tpatsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/32 "2010-12-22T15:50:10Z")
Dry erase marker. I used the wrong marker on something years ago so I just went over it with the the dry erase marker that is suppose to be removable and is and it went away. So I would test a small spot and see how it goes. Good luck!!! ---
**Author:** ![tpatsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tpatsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tpatsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/33 "2010-12-22T15:58:23Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > The ink in a dry-erase marker (for white boards) will get Sharpie ink off of white boards. > > However, I do not know how whether or not it will harm the screen. I just said the same thing. I didn’t read all the answers. So I agree. If the first marker isn’t hurting it I think if he/she goes over with the 2nd then it might be. I hope. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/34 "2010-12-22T19:49:37Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > A Mr Clean Magic Eraser should work fine and not harm you screen. yeah…no - Magic Eraser is pretty abrasive. I used one to clean a nonstick pan and it cleaned it very well, right down to removing the nonstick coating… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/35 "2010-12-22T20:10:25Z")
Modern sharpies tend to use an alcohol soluble ink. That being the case, I’d first try vodka 1:3 in water. If that’s not strong enough, 1:2 or 1:1 should be. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/36 "2010-12-22T22:36:06Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Modern sharpies tend to use an alcohol soluble ink. > That being the case, I’d first try vodka 1:3 in water. > If that’s not strong enough, 1:2 or 1:1 should be. Then, once you’ve finished drinking that, [read the manufacturer’s instructions](http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=DSN_DFCC6A44B2374EF6B398593361662C3B&isLegacy=true), which will advise against using ethyl alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/37 "2010-12-23T01:39:53Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > Then, once you’ve finished drinking that, [read the manufacturer’s instructions](http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=DSN_DFCC6A44B2374EF6B398593361662C3B&isLegacy=true), which will advise against using ethyl alcohol. That’s nice. Does the writer of those instructions know of what they speak, or do they just have a horror of ethanol? For most purposes ethyl and isopropyl alcohols are not all that different. My confidence in Dell’s notice is significantly decreased by their use of the term ‘ethyl acid’. WTF is that? Do they mean acetic acid, aka vinegar? If so, they should use standard terminology, if they know it. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/38 "2010-12-23T10:51:34Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > Have you tried white out? I take care of this response for you… \*\*\* BANG \*\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/39 "2010-12-23T12:00:42Z")
What ever became of this? ---
**Author:** ![ybot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@ybot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ybot)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751/40 "2010-12-23T16:51:23Z")
A gum eraser like one used in the drafting realm may work as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-get-black-sharpie-marks-off-a-laptop-screen/564751.md?page=3)