How To Get Dry Erase Marker Out Of Carpet (9 Ways Do To It!)

Patricia Oelze
by Patricia Oelze

Those dry erase markers are excellent tools for giving presentations at work or school. But they are not so great when they leave spots on your carpet. Even though they erase like magic from a whiteboard, it does not disappear from the carpet that way. There are many solutions to getting dry erase marker out of your carpet.

Soak a cotton ball or sponge in rubbing alcohol and blot the dry erase marker stain until it is gone. A combination of vinegar and baking soda can also remove dry erase marker stains from carpet. You can also soak a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide and blot the stain to remove it.

Before trying any of these cleaners, be sure to test it first. Just apply the cleaner to an inconspicuous area inside a closet or basement. Wait five minutes to make sure it does not ruin the carpet before using it on your stain.

Do You Need Carpet Cleaning Services?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with Rubbing Alcohol

  • Put on gloves and a mask because rubbing alcohol can irritate your skin and lungs.
  • For a small stain, dip a cotton ball or Q-tip into the alcohol and dab it onto the marker until it is gone.
  • If you have a large stain, use a clean cloth dipped in alcohol to blot the marker, moving to a clean spot on the cloth and rewetting it as needed. Do not rub the spot or you may make it worse.
  • Continue to clean the spot until all of the marker has been absorbed by the cloth.
  • Use a clean dry towel to absorb any excess moisture and let it dry before vacuuming.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with Hydrogen Peroxide

  • You should wear gloves since peroxide can irritate your skin.
  • If you have a small spot, use a Q-tip or cotton ball soaked in peroxide to dab the spot until it is gone.
  • For a larger spot, dip a sponge in the peroxide and squeeze the peroxide out onto the spot.
  • Let it sit for a minute before using a clean dry sponge or cloth to soak up the ink from the fibers.
  • Repeat steps 3 and 4 if needed.
  • Dry the spot with a towel and vacuum after it is completely dry.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with Nail Polish Remover

  • Put on your mask and gloves to protect your skin and lungs from the nail polish remover.
  • If the spot is small, dip a cotton ball or Q-tip into the nail polish remover and blot the ink carefully, without touching any of the nearby carpet fibers.
  • To clean a larger stain, use a paper towel dipped in nail polish remover to blot up the ink. Continue until the spot is gone.
  • Blot the area with a clean wet cloth to remove any residual nail polish remover.
  • Use a towel to absorb as much of the water as you can and then wait until it is dry before vacuuming.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with Hairspray and Rubbing Alcohol

  • Put on your mask and gloves. Rubbing alcohol can irritate your skin and lungs.
  • Use a Q-tip or cotton ball dipped in alcohol for a small stain. Blot the marked fibers carefully.
  • If the spot is too large for a Q-tip or cotton ball, just pour the alcohol onto the spot and blot it with a clean cloth or paper towel.
  • Spray the spot with hairspray and blot it with a paper towel to remove the last of the marker.
  • Dry the spot with a towel or paper towels and let it dry completely before vacuuming.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with Vinegar and Baking Soda

  • For a small mark, dip a cotton ball or Q-tip in vinegar and lightly rub the fibers to remove the marker.
  • For a larger stain, pour enough vinegar to completely cover the spot.
  • Pour baking soda onto the spot and spread it with a toothbrush or soft bristle brush.
  • Leave the spot for one hour to dry and then vacuum up the baking soda.
  • If the stain is still there, repeat steps 1-4.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with WD-40

  • Put on gloves to protect your hands from the WD-40.
  • Spray the spot with WD-40 and allow it to soak in for two minutes.
  • Blot the spot with a wet paper towel until it is clean.
  • If the stain is still there, spray on more WD-40 and let it sit for five minutes before cleaning it away with a wet paper towel.
  • Allow the spot to dry completely before vacuuming.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with Oxyclean

  • Wearing your gloves, mix one teaspoon of Oxyclean with one cup of warm water in a spray bottle.
  • Spray the area with the Oxyclean and allow it to soak in for two minutes.
  • Blot the spot with a wet sponge to remove the spot as well as the Oxyclean.
  • Repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed.
  • Once the stain is gone and the spot is dry, vacuum the carpet.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with Dry-Cleaning Solvent

  • Put on protective clothing, eye protection, gloves, and a mask. The dry-cleaning solvent can be harsh on your skin and lungs.
  • Apply the solvent with a cotton ball or Q-tip if the area is small.
  • For a larger stain, use a cloth dipped in solvent to blot the area until the marker is gone. You may need to rewet the cloth a few times, depending on how large the stain is.
  • Rinse the area with a wet sponge and dry with a towel before vacuuming.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Out of Carpet with a Commercial Spot Remover

  • Most spot removers are fine to leave on for several minutes until the spot is gone but you have to make sure it is safe to use on your carpet. You can do this by applying some of the product on the carpet in a hidden spot like the back of your closet before using.
  • Wearing your gloves and a mask, apply the commercial spot remover as directed on the container.
  • You can repeat step two as needed to get the whole stain out.
  • Allow the carpet to dry completely before vacuuming.

Do You Need Carpet Cleaning Services?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.


Related Questions

Why not just use a carpet cleaner?

You can rent a steam cleaner from the store or use your own if you have one. Just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions as to what cleaner to use in the machine. Make sure you have removed all traces of the other cleaners from the carpet before using the carpet cleaner. Some types of cleaners do not mix well together.


Can I just cut out the spot with scissors?

If the spot is refusing to come out and it is a small area on just a few fibers, you may be able to pull out the individual fibers with your hands or a pair of needle-nose pliers. If they will not come out, you can use sharp scissors to cut them out. If you have a large spot, you should cut out the spot and patch it. Just follow these easy steps.

  • Place a cup or a bowl over the spot (depending on how large it is) and apply pressure for a few seconds. This should leave an indention in the carpet that you can follow.
  • Using a sharp utility knife or razor, cut around the indention carefully. Do not cut too hard because you do not want to cut the padding underneath.
  • Use the piece you cut as a guide to cut a patch from a spot in your carpet that is hidden, like in a closet.
  • Apply carpet adhesive or carpet tape to the padding inside the hole where you want to place the patch.
  • Carefully, press the patch into the spot and apply pressure for 30 seconds.
  • Place something heavy on the spot for three to five hours to make sure the patch adheres completely.
Patricia Oelze
Patricia Oelze

I am a DIYer who loves writing about anything home-related. When I am not writing, you can find me studying for my PhD in Psychology, photographing nature, and swimming at the lake with my grandkids.

More by Patricia Oelze

Next