How To Remove Sharpie From Furniture

This past Sunday a certain 2-year-old decided to do this to my teak nightstand...

I believe it started with a simple coloring project on these pictures because if you notice some of the lines match up. 

Where were his parents? Good question. I was at work and Nate was in the shower. On Sunday's before church Nate basically locks Brixton in our room with some toys while he showers with the door open just in case. He said when he got out he asked Brixton if everything was OK and there was a pause before B said Yea (I don't spell that.. not yes but the short version, anyway). Then he asked what he was doing and there was a long pause -- he knew he was in trouble.

Nate lectured him to the point that B went and sat down and said, "I go to time out now." Then a minute later he requested to be spanked (I think that sounds bad. We really try not to spank him).

Then when they got to church they ran in to me. I thought it was weird that they were there so late. I went and said hi to B and immediately he rubbed my face and said, "I sowwy momma." And then Nate broke the news.

Thanks to lots of facebook and twitter advice I decided to try two methods in hopes of removing the Sharpie.

First -- Mr. Clean Mr. Clean --  

And then -- Goo Gone

And yes, I let the little artist attempt to clean it himself -- although that didn't last long with my need to take a picture at every step. He's using a magic eraser.

This is me trying the Goo Gone. It seemed to lighten a mark, but was definitely going to take some serious scrubbing.

But the magic eraser was much easier -- check it out -- here's a mark before.

And here is the same mark just a few seconds later.  Success!!!!

The final picture-- and so far it seems the finish on the wood was not damaged. A lot of people had said to be careful about that. I am so glad it worked. I really don't know what I would have done if it hadn't.



And here's a good before and after.

I did try the Magic Eraser on the pictures too. I did take most of the marker off, but it also took some of the color out of the picture. That's OK though because I have extra pictures.

My fear when I first heard was that I would find Sharpie marks on my WHITE comforter. Fortunately, there were none. He did draw on his hands and face a little but Nate was able to wash those marks off pretty easily. I saw the Sharpie a day or two earlier and remember thinking I should throw that away, I don't think it works. Boy was I wrong.

And just because -- one of my new favorites of my two guys. I still love them both. (Don't worry that razor can't harm him)