# Permanent, really permanent marker. Like Laundries use. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-really-permanent-marker-like-laundries-use/564761 "2010-12-19T23:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-really-permanent-marker-like-laundries-use/564761/1 "2010-12-19T23:25:06Z")
I need a pen of some sort to write on the inside, white pockets of my trousers. And, I need the ink to stay on. I know such a thing is possible, because a few dry cleaners have marked up some of my pants like that. And, it’s also on the inside of some cool shirts that I have picked up at garage sales. I have tried Walmart, but, what I got didn’t last long. In another thread, it was pointed out that Sharpies don’t last too long. Any ideas? Thanks, hh ---
**Author:** ![abderian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@abderian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abderian)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-really-permanent-marker-like-laundries-use/564761/2 "2010-12-20T00:35:42Z")
I don’t know if they’re still available, but years ago, I used to buy laundry-proof markers at sewing / fabric stores. Might be worth checking out if there’s such a place in your area. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-really-permanent-marker-like-laundries-use/564761/3 "2010-12-20T00:56:51Z")
Try a craft store, like A.C. Moore, and ask for fabric markers. They’re supposed to be for decorating, but I used them to mark the labels on my kids clothes, and the marks have lasted for at least 2 years now. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-really-permanent-marker-like-laundries-use/564761/4 "2010-12-20T00:58:48Z")
Alright! Thanks, guys! hh ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-really-permanent-marker-like-laundries-use/564761/5 "2010-12-20T01:38:16Z")
[These are the ones I remember…](http://www.laundrybagstoreonline.com/pen.htm?source=froogle) And you gave me a flashback to a particular hot summer day in 1985 when I was sitting on the tiled floor of a barracks room in Navy bootcamp, with around 80 other guys, using those very laundry markers. You shook it up a bit and then pressed the bulb on the end a few times to pump it up and then started writing. We were issued stencils of our names and SSN’s to guide the pens as we wrote our names on our uniforms. The smell was horrible. It was hot, there were over eighty of these pens in action. We were high as a kite. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-really-permanent-marker-like-laundries-use/564761/6 "2010-12-20T14:58:42Z")
The “real deal” [laundry pens](http://www.garlandsupply.com/product_info.php/cPath/0_29_35/products_id/245) in use today are not easy to find in single quantities, but if you ask nicely at your local dry cleaner’s, they might be willing to sell one for a couple of bucks. [This vendor](http://store.atlantathread.com/lamapen.html) will sell just one, but they have a $10 minimum order. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/permanent-really-permanent-marker-like-laundries-use/564761/7 "2010-12-20T17:07:00Z")
Ebay has them. This one has a stencil with it. less than $4 [http://cgi.ebay.com/Laundry-Marking-Kit-Pen-Tape-Stencil-fabric-/120590449295?pt=LH\_DefaultDomain\_0&hash=item1c13c03a8f](http://cgi.ebay.com/Laundry-Marking-Kit-Pen-Tape-Stencil-fabric-/120590449295?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c13c03a8f)