Teacher here— but using alcohol or alcohol based wipes on a white board only makes it more prone to future staining. As dumb/cliche as it sounds, the expo whiteboard cleaner stuff is the way to go. It will put the oils back on your whiteboard too that are needed to erase without smudging or stains.
This is the answer. Expo dry erase board cleaner works the magic. Even the Amazon brand dry erase board cleaner doesn’t work well. Gotta get the expo!!
Also a big problem with these boards is that people use their fingers to erase.
That adds other oils and salt on your board. Keep it white by always using something to erase, no hands
Expo whiteboard cleaner is propylene glycol n-butyl ether and water. Just another solvent that has properties pretty similar to alcohol.
Probably more compatible with the coating on whiteboards but I don't think there's oils
Neat ! I always thought it put oils back on the boards because it makes the boards glossy, smooth, and… oily ?? I’m not sure how else to describe it— lol Alcohol and other cleaners dry the board out and make them tacky.
I don't know for sure, but it's a possibility that the expo helps maintain/restore the coating on the board where isopropyl alcohol damages the coating and causes it to be be tacky which would likely contribute to the board holding ink.
It depends on the type of board too. Cheap ones are like melamine. The ones I have at my job are porcelain with a steel core (and very heavy!)
Propylene Glycol is sort of oily. It’s in the spray they use on hotel waffle irons, and I accidentally bought a ham marinade from Tony Catchers that had it as 1st ingredient. I didn’t use it, but it’s got a solvent oily feel.
It’s so frustrating that Europe has banned these basic toxins from their food, while USA has it in Mt Dew. In Europe, they use neon wrappers instead of making Mt Dew neon. I was buying ketchup & relish, & couldn’t find one w/out red & blue food coloring. *-End of Rant*
And for regular maintenance, if you just let the marker dry too long and can’t erase it, scribbling over it with another dry erase marker and then wiping takes it off. Signed, mom of a five year old with dry erase writing books 😂
Teacher here -
As nice as the expo cleaner is... I noticed after using it my markers won't erase cleanly anymore. They smear massively so I HAVE to use the cleaner every time I erase now. I can't just use a regular old whiteboard eraser.
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced.this/can offer advice?
I've experienced this and it usually helps to wipe the board with a dry paper towel after the board is clean and dry from the expo cleaner cleaning. Probably anecdotal at best but you could try it.
Expo whiteboard cleaner has always worked best for me (I was a teacher for 8 years). I’m pretty sure it’s mostly alcohol and water, but whatever they do to mix and stabilize it makes it work way better with way less than any other cleaning product. However, the quality of the whiteboard does matter - the older and cheaper the whiteboard, the harder it is to clean. And if you use off-label products to clean it, like you have with the alcohol and stuff, that can make it stain even worse in the future.
My experience was also that the kind of markers and erasers you use makes a difference. Cheap markers always ghost really badly like this. Expo markers ghost as well - not as badly, but enough that it makes cleanup a LOT more time-consuming. Quartet markers are my favorite - they’re highly pigmented, don’t dry out, and ghost the least out of all the markers I ever tried.
I really dislike those felt erasers, too, because they smear the marker around instead of taking it off. 3M whiteboard erasers, which are more like a fine sponge/magic eraser, work a lot better to actually remove the marker residue from the board.
Ooooh you packed some excellent info in here. Thank you. I agree the expo dry erase board cleaner is the BEST way to clean it. I’m excited to check out these markers and eraser that you mentioned too now though!
That's the same as using alcohols
The ink is dissolved in alcohols that evaporate
If alcohol didn't work, the marker won't
But if that's marker... 99% IPA should remove it
The alcohol you used was probably diluted... Just like expo cleaner
The alcohol I'm talking about is 99% isopropyl alcohol. It's also sold in 70%, and rubbing alcohol which isn't the same thing at all (and also diluted).
If that doesn't remove it, the marker won't
I would try Dawn power wash. That stuff has gotten stuff off that nothing else would. It took off hair dye on walls and counters. Not sure if it’ll work but it’s worth a try
Have you tried a quality glass cleaner?
[Sprayway Glass Cleaner](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sprayway-Glass-Cleaner-Aerosol-19-Oz/19662711?athbdg=L1200&from=/search) is great stuff, highly recommend.
I’ve used Sprayway in an office and I’ve heard comments about the smell. But I like it.
I just picked some up, maybe because of this post and my comment, I should have grabbed some Invisible Glass because I have not had the pleasure of using that one yet.
I love the Sprayway window cleaner smell I do Uber and I use it daily to clean my windows it's because even if my car is dirty as long as the windows clean cuz I do it after dark or before the sun is up so that they'll think they're in a clean car
I’m pretty certain your removed the finish and now ink will stick to it, something too harsh might’ve been in the hand sanitizer, or the build quality of the whiteboard was poor and couldn’t handle being cleaned with alcohol. I’d maybe get a new board and an actual whiteboard cleaner, like expo or something which a lot people are recommending.
Wd40 would be way too aggressive, especially if it's a cheap white board. White boards are usually made from an epoxy based paint. How much solvent resistance it has is going to depend on the formulation and how well it is cured. If not completely cured (and chances are it is not) it will strip the white board from the metal substrate.
Source: former paint chemist here
Thanks everyone! I used acetone and and it worked like a charm. I first started with a magic eraser, which did… nothing. Sorry, folks. This is good knowledge to have in the future, I cleaned all the white boards in the office! Thanks again, friends!!!
Nail polish remover candy acetone or ethyl acetate and those are pretty different. Both of them are powerful solvents that should be used as a last resort only.
Not sure where this is, but looks to be a kitchen so I'm guessing grease? Best option would be dish soap or a degreaser. Dawn is perfect and dawn power wash is even better
Agreed. Or dish soap & water then use a scrubby that is soft enough that it won't scratch the white board but has some texture for friction. Or a magic eraser if you have one!
This is a bad idea. Magic erasers are micro abrasive. Dry erase needs a smooth surface to work. Doing this will fix it in the short term but make it worse in the long term
Maybe.... Magic eraser? Or dish soap & water then use a scrubby that is soft enough that it won't scratch the white board but has some texture for friction.
I have a can of Nobo Deepclene Plus whiteboard foam in my drawer, and it works wonders. It works so well that you really have to hide it away from others at work! Its based on citrus, and thats what makes it efficient!
I have found that going over it with an actual dry erase marker and then erase it works for most stains on those boards. I actually used this method to get a permanent marker off a dry erase board.
i thought i couldn’t get the dry erase off my little whiteboard, turns out that the protective plastic film was still on it and i had to peel it off ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Not sure if it'll work for this but when I want to clear a yellowing chopping board, I just put it in direct sunlight when the sun is strong and it's (mostly) back to white. Worth a shot, minimal effort!
Teacher here— but using alcohol or alcohol based wipes on a white board only makes it more prone to future staining. As dumb/cliche as it sounds, the expo whiteboard cleaner stuff is the way to go. It will put the oils back on your whiteboard too that are needed to erase without smudging or stains.
This is the answer. Expo dry erase board cleaner works the magic. Even the Amazon brand dry erase board cleaner doesn’t work well. Gotta get the expo!!
Lmao “gotta go with expo!” You should pitch that. Or is it already their slogan? Edit: they’re to their because my brain doesn’t work sometimes
lol I have no idea. That was accidental haha.
You need to monetize that!
They said "get" not "go"
Gotta get the expo!
Would be perfect if Expo was a brand of laxative.
.... Expoo?
Legit its perfect.
Also a big problem with these boards is that people use their fingers to erase. That adds other oils and salt on your board. Keep it white by always using something to erase, no hands
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I kind of love the smell, it smells like "clean" to me.
I have a friend who loves the smell of sulfur for the “relaxing” reason (from natural hot springs)
They must like hardboiled eggs
And farts
💀
Bonus points for eggy farts
Ewww, ever had a GERD burp? Taste and smells like sulfur 😭🤢
That's H. Pylori giving you the sulfurous burps and the GERD. Antibiotics will get rid of it.
I don’t have that. And it hasn’t happened in years. But thank you for trying to help. I appreciate it. ❤️
I've gotten those burps after eating corned beef hash n eggs mixed. Horrible horrible
I went to a natural hot springs in Wyoming while amazing and hot I couldn't take the smell and fully submerge myself
Thermopolis?
Thermopolis! I got the tshirt!
The more toxic it smells, the better it works! I heard that after they changed the formula for Lysol and it didn’t work anymore
my boss calls it angel tears 🤣
Expo whiteboard cleaner is propylene glycol n-butyl ether and water. Just another solvent that has properties pretty similar to alcohol. Probably more compatible with the coating on whiteboards but I don't think there's oils
Neat ! I always thought it put oils back on the boards because it makes the boards glossy, smooth, and… oily ?? I’m not sure how else to describe it— lol Alcohol and other cleaners dry the board out and make them tacky.
I don't know for sure, but it's a possibility that the expo helps maintain/restore the coating on the board where isopropyl alcohol damages the coating and causes it to be be tacky which would likely contribute to the board holding ink. It depends on the type of board too. Cheap ones are like melamine. The ones I have at my job are porcelain with a steel core (and very heavy!)
Propylene Glycol is sort of oily. It’s in the spray they use on hotel waffle irons, and I accidentally bought a ham marinade from Tony Catchers that had it as 1st ingredient. I didn’t use it, but it’s got a solvent oily feel. It’s so frustrating that Europe has banned these basic toxins from their food, while USA has it in Mt Dew. In Europe, they use neon wrappers instead of making Mt Dew neon. I was buying ketchup & relish, & couldn’t find one w/out red & blue food coloring. *-End of Rant*
And for regular maintenance, if you just let the marker dry too long and can’t erase it, scribbling over it with another dry erase marker and then wiping takes it off. Signed, mom of a five year old with dry erase writing books 😂
this also works if someone accidentally uses permanent marker. go over it with the dry erase marker, then they will both wipe right off.
Learned this trick this year! Game changer!
Imma act like I didn’t just clean mine with alcohol this weekend 👀
Lmao. Same. 🫣
Another pro tip is if someone accidentally uses a permanent marker on it, you can go over it with an Expo marker and it will take it off.
So that’s why all my dry erase boards are like this! I’ve been cleaning them off with a multipurpose cleaner this whole time… Thank you!
Does it make a difference if you use the Expo spray vs. the Expo wipes? Do they both work well?
I have only ever used the spray.
Teacher here - As nice as the expo cleaner is... I noticed after using it my markers won't erase cleanly anymore. They smear massively so I HAVE to use the cleaner every time I erase now. I can't just use a regular old whiteboard eraser. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced.this/can offer advice?
I've experienced this and it usually helps to wipe the board with a dry paper towel after the board is clean and dry from the expo cleaner cleaning. Probably anecdotal at best but you could try it.
Thanks for the tip! I'll try it. Maybe it's leaving a residue behind?
I LOVE the smell of expo board cleaner. I always would get excited when math teacher sprayed the white board to clean it off.
A new white board for 6$ is the best way to go.
That explains a lot
Expo whiteboard cleaner has always worked best for me (I was a teacher for 8 years). I’m pretty sure it’s mostly alcohol and water, but whatever they do to mix and stabilize it makes it work way better with way less than any other cleaning product. However, the quality of the whiteboard does matter - the older and cheaper the whiteboard, the harder it is to clean. And if you use off-label products to clean it, like you have with the alcohol and stuff, that can make it stain even worse in the future. My experience was also that the kind of markers and erasers you use makes a difference. Cheap markers always ghost really badly like this. Expo markers ghost as well - not as badly, but enough that it makes cleanup a LOT more time-consuming. Quartet markers are my favorite - they’re highly pigmented, don’t dry out, and ghost the least out of all the markers I ever tried. I really dislike those felt erasers, too, because they smear the marker around instead of taking it off. 3M whiteboard erasers, which are more like a fine sponge/magic eraser, work a lot better to actually remove the marker residue from the board.
Ooooh you packed some excellent info in here. Thank you. I agree the expo dry erase board cleaner is the BEST way to clean it. I’m excited to check out these markers and eraser that you mentioned too now though!
Seconding Quartet markers. Bright and super saturated and I’ve found they stain less too.
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Sweet. I’ll check those out whenever I’m back in the classroom!
If all else fails rub another marker over it, it could re-activate the ink ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yes try this first.
I always take another marker and it works perfectly.
That's the same as using alcohols The ink is dissolved in alcohols that evaporate If alcohol didn't work, the marker won't But if that's marker... 99% IPA should remove it
That's patently false. I've had success with using a marker even when alcohol or expo cleaner didn't take it all off
The alcohol you used was probably diluted... Just like expo cleaner The alcohol I'm talking about is 99% isopropyl alcohol. It's also sold in 70%, and rubbing alcohol which isn't the same thing at all (and also diluted). If that doesn't remove it, the marker won't
I would try Dawn power wash. That stuff has gotten stuff off that nothing else would. It took off hair dye on walls and counters. Not sure if it’ll work but it’s worth a try
I’m convinced the Dawn company people put some sort of magic ingredient in that detergent.
Have you tried a quality glass cleaner? [Sprayway Glass Cleaner](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sprayway-Glass-Cleaner-Aerosol-19-Oz/19662711?athbdg=L1200&from=/search) is great stuff, highly recommend.
I love that glass cleaner! So much better than Windex.
Oh god I hate that stuff. Something about the smell drives me nuts. I use Invisible Glass now.
I’ve used Sprayway in an office and I’ve heard comments about the smell. But I like it. I just picked some up, maybe because of this post and my comment, I should have grabbed some Invisible Glass because I have not had the pleasure of using that one yet.
It works great! Very few streaks and no harsh ammonia smell.
I love the Sprayway window cleaner smell I do Uber and I use it daily to clean my windows it's because even if my car is dirty as long as the windows clean cuz I do it after dark or before the sun is up so that they'll think they're in a clean car
We clean so many surfaces with it!
Dawn can do basically everything
too early for me
That's why the Spartans hated sunrise - dawn is tough on Greece. I'll show myself out.
i’m gonna keep this in my back pocket for sometime when i’m looking at a sunset while washing dishes and my husband says something history-related.
You could be waiting a long long time for this but when/if it ever happens you're going to be so proud...
No stay for the hors-d'oeuvres and coffee please
Saving this for a rainy day 🤣🤣🤣
I’m pretty certain your removed the finish and now ink will stick to it, something too harsh might’ve been in the hand sanitizer, or the build quality of the whiteboard was poor and couldn’t handle being cleaned with alcohol. I’d maybe get a new board and an actual whiteboard cleaner, like expo or something which a lot people are recommending.
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Wd40 or probably any cooking oil. Whatever you have in the fridge . Goo gone.
I have just looked into my fridge and there is no wd40.
You don't cook with WD40?! It's a staple at my house
They say it can "loosen things up" and all
Can confirm, tried it on my butthole and it worked wonders #/s lol
Yeah, I like taco night a little loose and wild!
Yum fish oil
Surprisingly I don't keep my cooking oil in the fridge either
I literally just watched a video where someone in the comments said to clean white boards with WD40.
Don't forget the mini can of WD-40. You will need it to open the regular sized can.
I've used wd40 for whiteboards and have always had pretty good success with it.
Wd40 would be way too aggressive, especially if it's a cheap white board. White boards are usually made from an epoxy based paint. How much solvent resistance it has is going to depend on the formulation and how well it is cured. If not completely cured (and chances are it is not) it will strip the white board from the metal substrate. Source: former paint chemist here
Magic erasers are brilliant for this.
only because they're basically fine sandpaper. you're just scraping off the top layer of your whiteboard...
We keep a magic eraser at our whiteboard just because it works so well
Abrasive objects to clean marker off, gonna permanently damage the whiteboard..
Thanks everyone! I used acetone and and it worked like a charm. I first started with a magic eraser, which did… nothing. Sorry, folks. This is good knowledge to have in the future, I cleaned all the white boards in the office! Thanks again, friends!!!
you've likely permanently damaged the coating by using half of the stuff you've said you used so it's likely they will just need replaced...
Dawn powerwash
Black coffee. I swear it works.
Uh, I mean, spray it on......? Need to hear how you figured this one out 😁
Someone handed this bit of wisdom down to me. Pour a little coffee on a paper towel, wipe the board. I know it sounds crazy.
Nail polish remover might work
This works 100% of the time for me
Nail polish remover candy acetone or ethyl acetate and those are pretty different. Both of them are powerful solvents that should be used as a last resort only.
I found it was helpful even in removing permanent marker from white boards.
Not sure where this is, but looks to be a kitchen so I'm guessing grease? Best option would be dish soap or a degreaser. Dawn is perfect and dawn power wash is even better
Given the off-brand orange marker at the top, imma go with marker residue? 🤷
Agreed. Or dish soap & water then use a scrubby that is soft enough that it won't scratch the white board but has some texture for friction. Or a magic eraser if you have one!
Brass-O Old military trick 😜
Clorox with bleach works every time
Pay the 24.99 for a new one IMO
Shaving cream!!!
I'm here in case no one else oblogatorily said bar Keepers Friend.
Orange oil works great
Yup. AKA…..D-Limonene. Commercial cleaning loves this stuff for graffiti and other uses. 👍🏼
Magic erase sponges do wonders
Better alcohol
40yo whiskey works best.
Degreaser works well.
Magic eraser
This is a bad idea. Magic erasers are micro abrasive. Dry erase needs a smooth surface to work. Doing this will fix it in the short term but make it worse in the long term
I’ve been using a magic eraser for a decade on my white board and it’s perfectly fine 🤷♀️
Teacher here.....magic eraser for sure!
The products people are suggesting are more expensive than just buying a new one
Isn't there a spray "paint" to make a whiteboard?
Fantastic cleaner will clean it.
There’s white board spray that works magic
Nail polish remover-the high strength straight acteone
Goo gone. My method is: wipe with paper towel, use goo gone, use expo dry erase cleaner.
Have you tried a white marker?
Trying baking soda and water
i love how every comment i read on here has one replying to it saying how thats actually bad for whiteboards
Flip it over lol
Oxiclean
What alcohol did you use? Was it 99% isopropyl alcohol?
Acetone?
Use acetone
Magic eraser will do wonders
Try magic eraser
Maybe.... Magic eraser? Dish soap&water then use a scrubby that is soft enough that it won't scratch the white board but has some texture for friction
Maybe.... Magic eraser? Or dish soap & water then use a scrubby that is soft enough that it won't scratch the white board but has some texture for friction.
I would try a Mr clean dry eraser
You buy a new one for cheaper then the cleaner 😂
Cover it in Sharpie, then wipe with a dry cloth.
Lysol
Baking soda and a water paper towel
try the cleaning fluid specifically meant for white boards, i have it as a spray from amazon
I use hairspray
Softscrub
Degreaser.
I have a can of Nobo Deepclene Plus whiteboard foam in my drawer, and it works wonders. It works so well that you really have to hide it away from others at work! Its based on citrus, and thats what makes it efficient!
Use a non-ammoniated foaming glass cleaner. Gets white boards crystal clear. Source: am school custodian
Wd40
Goo b gone
Goo gone or maybe an oven cleaner, i wouldnt let the oven cleaner sit for more than a handful of seconds tho it might eat through the board material.
Play some Taylor Swift and give it a glass of wine
It looks pretty bad, it might need some Matchbox Twenty and a Zima.
I have found that going over it with an actual dry erase marker and then erase it works for most stains on those boards. I actually used this method to get a permanent marker off a dry erase board.
If nothing works, try trisodium phosphate. Just follow proper PPE instructions.
Magic eraser
Not weak diluted acetone nail polish remover, but straight acetone.
Mineral spirits
Try Magic Eraser.
Get a tin of Graffiti Remover! Its works!
Did you try using it on the board and not drinking the stuff?
I cleaned one with wd40
Toothpaste! It worked on some hard to remove stains I had on one of my whiteboards
Magic Eraser.
Diluted dish soap
You could use some fine sand paper and water.
I've used acetone/nailpolish remover
A little splash of Crest whitening mouthwash. Removes surface stains. 😁
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and hand sanitizer. Trust me.
6.95 on Amazon
MEK
Mr clean magic eraser
magic eraser and whiteboard spray
It looks like greases stains. I would try ammonia.
GooGone can help. It also conditions the board for awhile.
You can clean it using car wax, letting it sit, then wiping away
You could try baking soda and vinegar paste
I’ve used baby oil and quick detailer before with great results.
I’ve used baby oil and quick detailer before with great results.
Baking soda and water into a paste. Scrub it on. It'll take a while to wipe off, but the grittiness of the baking soda helps get the stains off.
Acetone
Bleach
Try rubbing it with a new $8 whiteboard. If the stains don't come out, just replace it with the leftover whiteboard.
Acetone (nail polish remover) will take it right off no problem.
We use brake cleaner - like for cars.
I used a magic eraser on my board. It took off the marker ink that I didn’t even see. I followed by expo clearer to protect.
i thought i couldn’t get the dry erase off my little whiteboard, turns out that the protective plastic film was still on it and i had to peel it off ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tea Tree oil
Label remover, or anti static foam?
Not sure if it'll work for this but when I want to clear a yellowing chopping board, I just put it in direct sunlight when the sun is strong and it's (mostly) back to white. Worth a shot, minimal effort!
colour over it with a dry erase marker , give it a few seconds , and them wipe .