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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Eva says
Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this. It saved me in a pinch. I had tried everything as well to no avail before searching online. I was so relieved when your solution worked like a charm.
Jessica says
Yay!!!! That’s super exciting! I’m so happy that it worked for you!! Thank you for taking the time to drop a note to let us know too! XO
Andre says
We just painted a wall with rustoleum chalkboard paint. Does this removal process take off the paint? how long till the wall is completely ruined?
Jessica says
Hi Andre! I’m actually not sure how this would work on chalkboard paint. I’ve never tried it. I’m sorry!
Rebecca says
Hi Jessica, we just got a brand new board and markers. Do you recommend “priming” a chalkboard before using if we intend to only use markers? Thanks!
Jessica says
Hi Rebecca!
Well, each board is so different. So I’m afraid to say yes or no… when I’m not really sure. I’ve always said if the chalkboard comes with instructions to prime it, then it’s probably a good idea too. I googled the brand of chalkboard that I have (after the fact) and read that I should have. So I would try searching the brand that you have, and see if anyone else has mentioned how priming is good/not necessary, etc! I wish I could help more, but with so many out there… it’s so hard to know for sure! XO
Cherie says
I’m working on a board that’s fairly large and the person before me used the colored chalk markers (which are always a pain to get off) and I was dreading the thought of having to tape off the sides and spray paint it (and having to do so again in the future because even with the “chalk board spray paint” I’ve used previously, the chalk marker does not come off) and came across this post while searching for solutions. I didn’t have any vinegar handy so tried the magic eraser with glass cleaner and it worked SO PERFECTLY! Definitely saved me lots of time. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Jessica says
Yaaaay!!! Another success story! Heck, it may just be that the magic erasers do the trick without vinegar! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!!
Aysset Peralta says
Make up remover wipes works just great!
Jessica says
Oh you’re kidding!!? That’s so good to know! Thank you for sharing!
Gloria McDonnell says
Thank goodness I came across your article! Could not get the chalk marker off my board. With your advise and some elbow grease it was gone. Thank you so much!!! Very helpful!
Jessica says
Yippee!!! I’m so happy that it worked for you too!!! Thank you for dropping a note letting us know it works too! XO
Beth Hendrikse says
MIRACULOUS!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!
Kary Leach says
Absolutely! We hope you find it helpful!
Michele says
I ruined 5 chalkboards for a baby shower, and your tip saved me! It definitely requires a lot of elbow grease!! I read my chalk marker instructions and it said only to be used on nonpourous surfaces and didn’t include chalkboards as an example. So read your marker carefully! I have other chalk markers that specifically include chalk boards and those worked great and wiped right off with a paper towel. Thank you for posting this solution!
Kary Leach says
Thanks for sharing that tip! So glad this worked for you!
Christie says
This fix made my day! I had avoided the chalkboard I attached to my end cabinet for months because I was so very sad that the chalk markers wouldn’t come out. I was just about to order a new chalk board when I googled solutions and found you! Thank goodness for you!!! I ran to the stores and got a Magic Eraser and bam, it was gone! Now I’m excited to use my chalkboard again!! Thank you for sharing!
Jessica says
Yay!!! This makes me so happy! Thank you for sharing!
Mindy says
Just tried this and it worked great! Thanks!
Jessica says
Excellent! I’m so happy it worked for you! Thank you for letting me know! XO
Patty says
What chalk markers did you use for the chalkboard? Thanks in advance.
Jessica says
Hi Patty!! I’ve used a variety of chalk markers. Anything from snagging some at a craft supply store, to the dollar spot at Target! I just make sure it’s a chalk marker, instead of a white paint pen! (They can look very similar some times!) I hope that helps! XO
Patty says
Yes. Thank you so much.
Kimberly says
This worked AH-MAZINGLY! I was in the same spot you were in. I tried Windex, water, scrubbing, coconut oil- all to no avail. I was going to head to the store to buy some chalkboard paint to paint right over the writing, then I stumbled across your solution and figured I’d give it a try. I had everything already. As soon as I wiped once, it disappeared! I wasn’t convinced yet, though. I figured the writing would reappear as soon as the air hit it. So I scrubbed (just a little) the whole board clean. I’ll tell you, I must have audibly gasped when I wiped over it with the cloth to dry it and there was no writing left. Thank you so much for this solution! I just got this board last week at an awesome (but expensive) store. I’m using it for weekly menus and my family was afraid we were going to be stuck having the same dinners every week! LOL! I’m so glad it saved my chalkboard!
Jessica says
Yaaay! I’m so glad that it worked for you! It’s so disappointing when you spend so much money on something, and then you can’t use it to it’s fullest potential! So so happy it worked for you!! Thank you for letting us know! XO
PetRaP says
Trick worked on my vinyl (contact paper) chalk board. I had tried the both separately, but it did not help. Your combination did! And I “pre”seasoned the board and it is fine now. Thank you!
Jessica says
Yaaay!!! I’m so excited it worked for you! Thank you for letting me know!
Ashley says
Tried you’re method and it worked, but now chalk won’t work on the board 🙁
Jessica says
Oh no! Is it real chalk, or a chalk marker? I’ve read something about “seasoning,” a board. I wonder if that would help? But I’m not quite sure what that is. Thanks for letting us know. Hopefully there will be something that will work on it!
Kari says
This totally worked! Just used it on my mini chalkboard that I used a chalkboard pen on for my daughter’s first day of school! Thanks a million! Now its ready to go for some fall chalkboard fun.
Jessica says
Yaaaay!!!! So glad that it worked for you!!! Thank you for letting me know. XO
Keri says
Worked like a charm! I didn’t have any vinegar on hand somehow and just tried the magic eraser and water and it worked!
Jessica says
Yippee!!!! Success! Thanks for sharing! XO
Roxann says
My teenage daughter has THREE painted chalkboard walls and I thought the chalk markers were such a fun idea…NOT! The Magic Eraser alone did nothing. Adding the vinegar and some baking soda as mentioned above did the trick! Thank you!!!
Jessica says
Yippee!!! I’m so happy it worked! You’re so welcome, and thanks for letting me know. XO
Tina Brown says
Woo Hoo!! Thank you so much for sharing this most helpful advice!! I appreciate you doing all the hard work of figuring out what really worked!! I was in a panic, I borrowed a friend’s chalkboard for another friend’s wedding shower and had used a combo of chalk and chalk pen. I was afraid the chalk pen wouldn’t come off because I had even noticed some of the chalk ghosting left from the last time I had used it for a baby shower. Not to mention I was simply going to erase only part of the design and use for my neice’s birthday party tommorrow! Thanks to your advice, you saved the day!! I had started to clean it when nothing was budging, thought let me google this! Thank goodness I had a magic eraser and vinegar on hand! As you see we get our money’s worth out of the chalkboard and now the party’s on for tommorrow and will be able to use the chalkboard for the upcoming wedding as well! Thanks a million for coming to the rescue!
Jessica says
Yay! I love hearing that! Thank you so much for letting me know!!! XO
Carol says
I am in the middle of repainting my sidewalk chalkboard for my business. Can’t wait to try this cleaning method to keep it looking pretty and new this time around! Thanks!!!
Jessica says
Yes!!! Give it a try! I hope it works for you!
Nicole says
I just tried this and it worked perfectly. Thanks so much!
Jessica says
Oh good!! I’m so happy that it worked for you!!!