Removing Permanent Marker

This year I wanted to make sure I wasn't wasting things we already have at home. Back to school supplies can easily rack up a nice bill every year, but if you get a little creative, you can use up some of the good stuff you have laying around from years prior.

I found some of the plastic folders my kiddos brought home last year. I decided to try and remove the permanent marker that the previous teacher used on the folders. In order for the folders to be used again, I figured they had to look like they were practically new again... so here it goes.

This is what the folders looked like when I started:

• Take some hand sanitizer and place directly on the plastic folder or on a rag... I tried both and both methods worked just fine.

• Use some good 'ol fashioned elbow grease to get the marker moving. I scrubbed for about a minute or so. You can see that the letters are already coming off. 

• After a few minutes of scrubbing, you can see that more of the marker is coming off nicely. Eventually I was able to get my folders looking brand spankin' new! I know, folders don't cost much, but I would rather make good use of things we already own than to have them end up in a dumpster somewhere. Happy scrubbing!

~Norm