# How can I get permanent marker off my car? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 6, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663 "2002-07-06T19:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/1 "2002-07-06T19:23:29Z")
So I was washing my brand new car the other day, and I noticed that some punk has spoiled it by drawing an “X” on the back with a Sharpie. It doesn’t really stand out against the dark blue paint, and there are a lot worse things he could have drawn, but I still want to get it off ASAP. So far I’ve heard alcohol, pencil erasers, toothpaste, and whiteboard cleaner, but they sound kinda fishy–whiteboard cleaner can’t even clean Sharpie off of a whiteboard. Anybody know what I can use to get the marker off that won’t damage my paint? TIA ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/2 "2002-07-06T20:13:22Z")
Brake parts cleaner (one brand is Brakleen) from an auto parts store. Do NOT use carburetor cleaner, which will dissolve paint (slowly), or heaven forbid brake FLUID, which will dissolve it quickly. ---
**Author:** ![MrPeabody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@MrPeabody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrPeabody)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/3 "2002-07-06T20:21:50Z")
You might want to try a cleaning car wax, they include a very mild abrasive. If that does not work try the white rubbing compound(it is a type of polish) you can find at any walmart or auto store. Good luck ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/4 "2002-07-06T21:43:46Z")
To help make a decision, break it down into your two basic options: 1. Abrasive. Find something agressive enough to rub the ink off, but without scratching the paint. 2. Solvent. Find something agressive enough to dissolve the ink, but not the paint. I say to start with a mild solvent, like mineral spirits or acetone. Nail polish remover is usually just acetone, fragrance, and skin softener. Since most people have nail polish remover lying around the house anyway, that’s a good place to start. If you are suspicious of any solvent, try it first on an inconspicuous part of the car, such as the underside of a painted bumper. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/5 "2002-07-06T22:15:26Z")
If none of the other ideas work for you, I reccomend that you use a 3M polishing compound called Finesse-It. I often use permanent marker in my work, and by allowing this material several minutes on the mark, I can wipe it off. I don’t know whether its the kerosene or stoddard solvent in the material that is the active ingredient, but it works every time. Check your paint though as previously mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Stupendous\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/6 "2002-07-06T22:48:39Z")
AN OXY-pad if you know anyone who has one… The liquid in those makes short work of marker. Like, I’m talking immediate one-wipe kind of thing. And I dohbt it will do anything to the paint. ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/7 "2002-07-06T23:20:17Z")
Ah , quit dickin’ around! A tiny bit of acetone (Your husbands nail polish remover is acetone) will clean it off in a New York second. When your done wash it, let it dry, and WAX it. Acetone will not harm your paint job if your quick about it. DO NOT USE ABRASIVES! Got that? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/8 "2002-07-07T02:04:10Z")
Did you try contacting the manufacturer of sharpie? (and next time don’t take up 2 parking spaces) ---
**Author:** ![Hilow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@Hilow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilow)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/9 "2002-07-07T05:01:07Z")
I’m not sure removal will be as easy as on a whiteboard, but if someone uses permanent marker on a whiteboard, you can easily just write over it with a non-permanent marker (the ones that usually come with a whiteboard) and rub it off with an eraser. It goes away immediately. The difference between the two markers is a single chemical, which will erase both. I would try that and a cloth first. I wouldn’t be surprised if it works just fine and I doubt it will damage your paint. Just for the record, though, I’m not paying for a new paint job if I am wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/10 "2002-07-07T05:31:11Z")
You might want to find an out of the way place on your car to test the removable whiteboard marker fluid on first but i am guessing it should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/11 "2002-07-07T05:43:00Z")
Thanks for the suggestions! All the auto parts stores were closed, so I ended up using rubbing alcohol. The marker came right off with some vigorous rubbing, but I ended up scuffing the paint, and had to drive across town to find a place that was open and sold wax. D’oh. (Note to self: Next time, wash the area thoroughly and don’t use a paper towel.) Turtle Wax’s “Polish 2001” hid the scratch pretty well, though I might put on another coat tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/12 "2002-07-07T15:31:56Z")
I would use soap & water, the gloss on the car should keep the sharpie from setting in, thus soap & water should work just fine. ---
**Author:** ![amazingb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@amazingb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amazingb)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/13 "2012-01-26T21:36:26Z")
This is the inmate way to get sharpie off of CD’s…Muscle Rub, Ben Gay would probably work as well. Try it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/14 "2012-01-26T22:12:53Z")
After 10 years, I think he probably solved the problem already. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/15 "2012-01-26T22:22:20Z")
Yeah, he should probably just sell the thing already. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/16 "2012-01-27T00:18:53Z")
I misread “car” as “cat”, which means that my advice of cutting your car’s hair and waiting for new hair to grow in would seem nonsensical. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-permanent-marker-off-my-car/117663/17 "2012-01-27T00:23:27Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > I misread “car” as “cat”, which means that my advice of cutting your car’s hair and waiting for new hair to grow in would seem nonsensical. And then you’ll have an excuse to give your car a perm. (Trying to give a cat a perm is suicide.)