What Gets Out a Sharpie Marker From a Couch?

Soap and Vinegar

• Mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, 2 cups of cold water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Dunk a white cloth or sponge in the solution, and dab it against the stain until you saturate the mark. Dab a second cloth against the stain, and keep dabbing every few minutes for at least 30 minutes. Pour cold water over the stain, and then dab with another cloth until the stain lifts off.

Rubbing Alcohol

• Pour rubbing alcohol directly on the stain, saturating the area. Dab a white or light-colored towel against the stain. Every time you dab the towel, a small amount of the marker stain lifts off. Check the towel, and if you do not see any signs of the marker, pour more rubbing alcohol on the stain. Keep dabbing the stain until the mark comes off. The same process works equally well with hairspray.

Ammonia

• Combine 1 tablespoon of ammonia, 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. While wearing rubber gloves, dip a sponge in the solution, and dab it on the stain. Blot the stain with a clean cloth, pulling off the ammonia mixture and the Sharpie stain. Dab a sponge dipped in fresh water on the couch, removing any excess ammonia. Do not use this method if you used any type of bleach on the stain, as bleach and ammonia produce a hazardous fume when combined.

Considerations

• Always use a white cloth or towel when removing the Sharpie stain. Certain products, including ammonia and rubbing alcohol, may pull the dye from a colored towel and spread it on the couch, which results in a larger stain. Test each method on an inconspicuous area of your couch first so the products do not damage your couch. Depending on your upholstery, the products may weaken the fabric or change the color of the dyes.