Even though I did not want to do it, I returned to my 4th grade classroom for some final clean up from the school year. My main objective today was to remove the semi-permanent Sharpie Paint Pen names on the corners of the desks. In the past, this has been a little bit of a chore because I use Sharpie Paint Markers, medium point, to write student names on each desk, and it does not wipe off easily.
That was the point when I started using the Sharpie Paint Markers– they did not wipe off easily. I was so frustrated with laminated paper name tags that were torn, bent, doodled on, and peeled apart by the third week in August. The Sharpie Paint Marker names hold no interest for the students. They can’t wipe them off. They can’t wrinkle or peel them apart. The names are smooth and flush with the desk surface, so students papers don’t rumple, bend, or tear them. They are practically perfect except when you need to remove or change the name.
I tried a few paint pen removal methods, and Goof Off really works the best. Unfortunately, you practically asphyxiate yourself by the end of the job because of the fumes. However, TheRoomDad came through on this one (accidentally) because when I sent him to Lowe’s for a new can of basic-original-classic Goof Off, he returned with a spray bottle of Goof Off Adhesive Remover Gel. The smell is not as deadly, and it worked as well as regular Goof Off to get the paint pen off the desks.
I have two groups of students who move through my room every day, so I color code my desk names. Blue is one class group; red is the second class group. The names are easy to read and stay bright and clear even when I wipe the desks down. When I do need to change names on the desks, I can wipe one name away or both names using the Goof Off. The paint pen names have been a great teacher organizational tool that reduce mess in my classroom.
How to Remove Sharpie Paint Pen:
- Spray Goof Off Adhesive Remover Gel on dried paint pen and wait a minute.
- Wipe in circles (scrubbing motion) with a dry paper towel.
- Wipe up the gel off the desk.
- Wipe the entire desk with a Clorox wipe or other cleaning solution (or even a wet paper towel).
- Repeat if necessary.
When You Don’t Have Goof Off:
- Scribble over the dried Sharpie paint pen with Expo marker.
- With a damp paper towel or Clorox-type wipe, rub the Expo and Sharpie paint pen away. This method takes longer.
- Repeat as necessary.
- Hand sanitizer
- Sun block (I have not tried this method personally, but teacher followers shared the tip with me)
- Nail polish remover (test that this does not remove the finish on your desks before using)
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (or similar)
Handy idea though it wouldn’t work for high school classes very well. What about nail polish remover?
Yes, nail polish remover takes it off, but I always worry I will take the finish off the desks too. I know Mr. Clean MagicErasers work too. With HS classes, you could number the desks. Students sit according to their roster number?? I’ve had numbers on my desks for grouping and things like that too!
Hmm, maybe. I use Magic Eraser to get off the pencil art and colorful vocabulary. Works surprisingly well considering it looks like a marshmallow.
That’s pretty cool! The Expo marker works great for Sharpie on plastic things. 🙂
I’ve never tried the Expos over plain old Sharpie marker– thanks for the tip!
Try hand sanitizer. Works like a charm.
Excellent! I always have that around the classroom.
That’s a good one. I’ll have to try it. My trick was sunscreen. It smells awesome in May when we clean our desks – it means summer is just around the corner, and sharpie marks disappear like magic.
I had no idea sunscreen would work! What ingredients are in it that erase Sharpie?
I have no idea why it works. But, after working at a summer camp and putting sunscreen on kids for 10 years, I can tell you sharpie got erased from all surfaces they touched.
Hand sanitizer definitely works! Then your students can take it off themselves at the end of the year when they are clearing and cleaning their desks. Just make sure they don’t know hand sanitizer works until the end of the year!
Hi there! I do this with regular sharpie. The magic eraser works well on this…
I have found that “Off” bug spray really works well. Leave it sit for a minute before wiping.
Thank you for the idea, this is very helpful for me.
I just tried the sunscreen . . . worked beautifully! Much better than the toxic fumes from graffiti remover.
So….I’ve done red and blue sharpie paint pen for years. I’ve always used hand sanitizer for removal and it’s worked like a charm! This year I tried black and much to my horror, the hand sanitizer didn’t work at all! Anyone know why?
I have no idea! I also have only used red and blue. Who knew the color would affect removal tactics?!?
I have found you have to be specific with your hand sanitizer. For some reason, the only one that worked this year was Germ X!
Interesting– good to know!
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