How to remove chalk marker off of a chalkboard: After trying SO many different things, this is what finally worked! (It only takes two things!)
I’ve been doing some testing over the last few months trying to find out how to clean my chalkboard. As you know, I love to decorate my chalkboard for each holiday or season that is approaching.
How to Remove Chalk Marker
With this, has come a “pain in the rear,” process, of trying to figure out how to remove chalk marker from a chalkboard.
I don’t get it. I have 2 or 3 other chalkboards, and the chalk marker simply wipes off, with a wet rag.
But with the chalkboard in my entry, from Restoration Hardware??? Forget it. I thought I was going to have to send it back, and get a plan B in place for my entry wall, because I was struggling with getting the “ghost,” shadow of a chalk marker off of the board.
That was until I FINALLY came up with a technique that works for me, and NOW so many others!
Check out the comments at the bottom of this post for success stories! Yay!
You don’t want to miss how to make your own DIY Chalkboard frame too!
How to Clean Your Chalkboard
I am, in by NO means, saying that this will work for you. I am not responsible for anything that happens to your chalkboard.
Actually, I recommend reading the instructions on how to clean your chalkboard that came with it, before you even touch it with a chalk pen or marker. Some say you have to “treat,” them before applying anything.
I, however… did not read my instructions, and I feel that’s where I messed up. If I had treated it, I may not have the problem of the markers leaving a ghost shadow.
How to Remove Chalk Marker from a Chalkboard
After trying soap and water, Clorox wipes, all-purpose cleaner, vinegar, a magic eraser…and let the list go on… I couldn’t find anything that would work.
Finally, I was so fed up, that I just started experimenting.
I decided I didn’t care if it messed up my chalkboard, I was going to try anything to get that chalk dust shadow off of my board, no matter what it did to it.
Which led me to this:
Magic Eraser + Vinegar
That folks, is a magic eraser, AND some vinegar. I combined the two for some serious chalk marker removin’ solution.
Yes… this is me scrubbing away below. Now… this is important. I DO have to put a little muscle behind the scrubbing. It doesn’t just pleasantly wipe off.
So your arms may get a workout, but honestly, I think that’s just a bonus. No need to do my arm workout that day.
(Who am I kidding? I don’t work out)
So I just use the magic eraser and rub up and down, and in a circle, in a small area first. When that chalk spot is gone, I move on to the next area!
Another Helpful Tip for Cleaning Your Chalkboard:
Keep a dry rag or towel, nearby, so you can wipe off the “wetness,” after every few scrubs, so you can lower the risk of just letting chalk-smear dry.
(Also, I tend to have some “black,” come off on my magic eraser when I do this. I’m wondering if that’s a normal thing, or if that was part of that, “I should have pre-treated this thing first,” deal.)
My little guy is so helpful below. I’m sure you other moms can appreciate not being able to do anything alone. 🙂
Did this Clean Your Chalkboard?
So there you have it! I really hope this helps ease your frustration with trying to get chalk marker off of your chalkboard. Talk about making a DIY gal go CRAZY!
Join all of the others and let me know below… did this work for you? I’d love to know! Make sure to check out more of my favorite cleaning tips and tricks!
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Kate A. says
Thank you very much for this helpful solution! Paint had been on my chalkboard for six and a half months and your method easily removed the paint.
Jessica says
Yaaay!!! I’m so happy it worked for you! Thank you for sharing your success! XO
Mj says
I am so happy that I came across this! I just got married a couple of weeks ago and have a few chalkboards that I was sure would be unusable after the wedding. I’ll have to try this and report back. Thanks so much!
Jessica says
Oh good!!! Yes! Please let me know if it works! I’d love to hear! 🙂 XO
Gen says
I am expecting in Dec. and moving our 2yr old from the nursery into her big girl room! I am finalizing her room’s lil reading nook with an adorable chalkboard and noticed the horrible ghosting happening behind my “masterpiece” drawing. I internally FREAKED out and was convinced I had ruined a brand new chalkboard but thanks to your ingenuity u saved me so much time and money!thank you so much!!! I AM A FAN!
Jessica says
Yipee!!! I’m so happy that this worked for you! Congratulations on your new bundle of joy in December! XOXO
Shannon says
Thank you for posting this! My teenage daughter had tried everything to get the chalk pen off of her board and nothing worked. This didn’t get it completely off, but worked better than anything that we had previously tried. Thanks again!
Jessica says
Oh good!!!! I’m so glad to hear that it work a little bit at least. Thank you for sharing!
Ruby says
Used a chalk marker on a door I painted with chalk paint and it wouldn’t budge! Eventually just thought I would have to re paint it but came across this article and your suggestion worked for me!! Thank-you so much!
Jessica says
YAY!!! I Love love love hearing that! Thank you so much for sharing!
Lindsey says
I just purchased a chalkboard for my twins first day of Kindergarten. I had some vinyl put on it so that we could write in chalk the year and a few other fun things. I bought some liquid chalk and tried it for fun, it didn’t come off. I spent a lot of money on these. I tried everything and as a last resort googled how to remove it. You came up and saved the day. I tried it and it worked. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I am now your biggest fan.
Jessica says
OMG that makes me so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing! I’m super happy that Google sent you to this post! Yay!
Jenn Johnson says
Why oh why!!!!!!! Why didn’t I find you sooner?!?! After trying and trying, water, soap, cleaner, nothing and I mean nothing would work. I put some vinegar on a magic eraser and voila! GONE! Thank you thank you!
Jessica says
Eeeek! Yay!!!! I’m so happy! Thank you for sharing your success!
Millie says
Thanks for the suggestion, but the chalk marker still was very hard to get off of my chalkboard. So, I added baking soda to the vinegar and it wiped right off!! No arm workout for me….atleast doing this task…
Jessica says
Oh good Millie! So glad that you found a way to get it off with out an arm workout!!
Jean Nunes says
Whoa!!! This worked!!! Great tip…thank you so much. Now I am free to decorate it for my daughter’s bridal shower next week. Many thanks!!!!
Jessica says
Yay! I’m so glad!!! Thank you so much for sharing that it did! I love success stories. 🙂
Suzanne says
Thank you it work for me too! Thank you for posting this as I was worried it wouldn’t clean a board I am making for my nieces shower this Sunday. So thank you again!
Jessica says
yaaaaay!!! So exciting! I love, love hearing this! Thank you!
Beth says
Oh My Gosh THANK YOU so Much!!! I was so upset that I couldn’t clean my super cute and expensive chalk board. You my friend are Amazing! Thank you for posting about this. ????????????????
Jessica says
YAAAAY! I’m so happy to hear this! I’m telling you… when it worked for me, I about died with excitement. So happy to share the goodness with others! 🙂 Have a great day!
Michele says
I spent a small fortune on chalkboards that light up like a marquis for my daughters wedding. I had to use the chalk pens to write with. I’m praying these wipe off with your solution – Wedding is May 28 so keep your fingers crossed. 🙂
Jessica says
Oh I hope it works for you too!!!! Good luck, and keep me posted! I love to celebrate chalkboard victories! 🙂 XO
Bobi says
Worked like a charm! Thank you!!
Jessica says
Yaaay! I’m so glad!! Thank you for letting me know!
Marg says
You are a magician Jessica. My outdoor, in the elements, decorative chalkboard is ghost-free . Thank you.
Jessica says
Haha!!! I’ve never been called a magician, but I’ll take it! So glad it worked for you!!! 🙂
Sabrina Clemens says
Seriously I love you. I love you. I love you. I worked really hard on my daughter’s first day of school chalkboard. It came out awesome. I painted the main phrases but wanted the fill in’s to be with chalk marker and erasable… well it wasn’t and I was so disappointed and the company didn’t ever contact me back. I figured it was a loss but refused to toss the board. Well today I fell into your blog on fb and now I am a believer of you!!! I am so happy that it worked!!! it worked!!!! Thank you so much. #143
Jessica says
Awwwww!!! I’m SOOO happy to hear this. Tickled that it worked for you, and so excited that you’re so excited! 🙂 Thanks for sharing the comment!!
Crissy says
Your idea of getting the colored chalk markers off my decorative chalk board WORKED!! Thank you so much!!!
Jessica says
Yaaay! I’m so happy that it worked for you!! Thank you for letting me know! I love celebrating with you. 🙂
Laura says
Thanks for the help! Does this work on chalkboard paint and chalkboard contact paper too?
Jessica says
You bet! You know, I’m not sure. That magic eraser is pretty powerful though, so I’d try a small spot before trying it on a new surface! Sorry I can’t help more with that. I’ve never given in a try!
Angela says
I’m a teacher and my new school I am moving too still has chalkboards. I cannot use chalk. It’s disgusting LOL. I didn’t realize chalk markers weren’t supposed to be used on chalkboards. Any tips for me? I just don’t see myself having the time everyday to use vinegar and a magic eraser. 🙁
Jessica says
Oh my gosh, I feel the same way about chalk! It gives me the heebie jeebies! Lol! Well some chalkboards work well with chalk markers, but the one I have at home sure doesn’t let it wipe off easily. Have you tried the chalk holders? Little metal sleeves that go around the chalk? That would help a bit, but I sure don’t know of anything else that may work at the moment. 🙁 I’m so sorry!
J says
I’m pretty sure you can use dry erase markers on chalkboards.
Jessica says
Oh wow! Ok thank you!
Jeannie says
I have a little café and when this ghosting happened to me I was truly upset to put “repaint chalkboards” back on my list of things to do. Can’t wait to try this little trick!
Jessica says
Oh good!!!! I hope you find it helpful!!! Good luck! Thank you for dropping a note! XO
Mary says
I am so thankful that I came across this article! I just used this method on 6 little chalk boards that I had written things on for a birthday party with chalk markers. I was so upset that they weren’t wiping off. So, I just put them aside until I could repaint them. It’s been about 6 months now and I ran across this article. I gave it a try and it worked beautifully! They are just like new. Thanks so much for doing the research for us. You rock!!
Jessica says
Oh yaaaay!!!! I’m so glad that this helped you! You’ve made my day, by telling me this! Here’s to chalkboard success! 🙂 XOXO
Nikki says
I love the chalkboard! My toddlers are little helpers as well 🙂
Jessica says
Haha! I couldn’t tell you the last time I tried to do something alone! 🙂
kelley says
I’m totally going to try this before I repaint! Thanks!
Jessica says
Oh good!! Let me know how it works!!! I hope it works for you!
kelley says
OMGoodness! It worked like a charm! Thanks a million! I’ll be posting my before and afters along with a reblog of this post! Great info. oxo
Jessica says
Yaaaaay! I’m so glad that it worked for you!!! Yippee!!! Thanks for letting me know!
Melody says
Sounds hopeful. Queztion: if I leave something on my classroom board all year, will it come off in June???
Melody
Deborah Marcucci says
This totally worked and I tried everything. Thank you so much❤️
Jessica says
Yaaaay!!! So glad that it worked for you!!