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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Vanessa says
HI, I am very glad I found this tip. It worked better than anything else I used. I thought I would have to repaint but there is only a very light shadow left so I can now get away with it. Thank you.
Jessica says
Oh good! I’m so happy that you found it, and it worked for you too! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Marcia says
I would love to know what kind of chalk markers everyone prefers?
Jessica says
Hi Marcia! That’s a great question! For me, my favorite is this brand: (affiliate link) —> http://amzn.to/2zkBump
It has a point tip on it, so sometimes (depending on the design I’m doing) I may prefer an angled tip. But the only angled tip chalk marker I’ve used, is from the Target Dollar Spot. Lol! I really do like those too! I’m sure there are other good ones out there, but those are my favorites! I hope that helps!
Jan says
Thanks so much for this tip! I thought my chalkboard was going to say Happy Halloween forever. The vinegar and Magic Eraser worked like a charm!
Jessica says
Yay!!! I’m so glad that it worked for you!! Thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Alliana says
Omg thank you sooooooooo much. I use my chalkboard to updated my baby’s month to month. I couldn’t get it to come off from last month I was so disappointment. This method worked wonderfully.
Jessica says
Excellent!! I’m so happy that it worked for you! Thank you for taking a minute to let me know!! 🙂 XO
Christine says
Thanks so much for this tip! I used my chalk markers on a chalkboard at work, and I was getting really nervous about it not coming off when I need it to. Pumpkin spiced lattes are for a limited time after all. 😉
Sure hope this works for me when it comes time to erase it!
Jessica says
Ah! I’m so glad that you found this blog post then! I hope it works for you too. LOL… you’re right! Pretty soon it will be peppermint lattes soon! 😉 Thank you for leaving a note!
maggie says
Oh thanks so much!!! This worked on my chalkboard!
Jessica says
Yay! I’m so glad it worked for you! Thank you for letting me know!
Jen says
I tried everything… I was desperate. A Chalkboard paint marker ruined my chalkboard and I needed this for my grandfather’s 93rd birthday. Your tip saved my board thank you so much for posting it !!! It looks better than new !!! Thank you!
Jessica says
Awww!!! This is excellent! I’m so happy that it worked for you! Thank you for sharing that it did!! XO
Leslie says
You’re a life saver! Thank you so much! I tried a few things and thought I’d have to throw out the board I used for my daughter’s first day of school. This worked great and didn’t require too much effort. Thank you again!! xozo
Jessica says
Oh good!!! I’m so happy that it worked for you! Thank you for letting me know too! 🙂 XO
Mary says
Success, thank you so much for your suggestion of vinegar and magic eraser. It worked!! I do have a little residual markings so I think I’ll try a little toothpaste too as one person replied.
Thank you for saving me added frustration and disappointment!!
Jessica says
Oh good! So happy to help! Hope the rest comes off for you!
Katie Williams says
Thank you for sharing this!!! Scrubbed for an hour or so using other products then tried this and it immediately worked. Whew! Thanks again!
Jessica says
Yippee! I’m so happy it worked for you! Thank you so much for letting us know. XO
Teresa says
You saved the first day of school! I always write on a chalkboard the first day of whatever grade it is and I forgot to erase it last year and it wouldn’t come off! I was panicking! Found this page via Google and this worked perfectly!! Thank you so much!
Jessica says
Eeeeeek! So happy to hear this. Thank you so much for also letting me know how you found it. I always so enjoy hearing how you stumble upon it! XOXO
Angela Murray says
Wow I am super duper excited!! Thank you Jessica for this awesome tip! I’ve actually had the cutest chalk board for over 2 years with writing on it from my Son’s wedding and thought for sure it couldn’t be saved now that I went to try and just “see what would happen” with your solution and…wallah….I can write on it all over again for my other Son’s wedding this weekend! So glad I stumbled upon your tip! Thank you so much!🎊💡🎉
Jessica says
Awww!!!! What perfect timing and such a neat thing!! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and let us know it worked!! Yay! Have so much fun this weekend at your sons wedding! XO
Ellen Chaston says
Jessica….
I have a chalkboard that I used Little Billy Goat paint sealer on to prevent my chalk from “shadowing”… well that didn’t help. I wonder if the vinegar and magic eraser will remove the sealer. I guess if it removes the “shadowing” it doesn’t really matter, now does it..LOL…..
I’m gonna try this….!
Jessica says
Oh no! I’m curious to hear how it goes for you!! If you remember to come back, please let me know! 🙂
Kim says
IT WORKED!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! It removed hints of a Thanksgiving turkey, snowflakes, valentine’s day hearts, Easter eggs, and more…as you can see I’ve had a hard time erasing this board for a while 🙂
Jessica says
Haha!!! Yay! I’m so happy to hear that it worked for you too!! Thank you for dropping a note to let us know!
Ashley says
Thanks so much! This saved our chalkboard. We had to go the vinegar and magic eraser route but it finally came off!!
Jessica says
Yay! So happy that it worked for you!! Thanks so much for letting me know!
Yory F says
OMG thank you thank you thank you. We had tried everything for weeks. Magic eraser and apple cider vinegar for the win. = )
Jessica says
Yay!!!! I’m so happy that it worked for you too! 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
Bridget S says
I just read your ideas about vinegar & the magic eraser, and btw…. I LOVE your chalkboard idea for the front hallway!! I might have to copy if that’s okay! I’m struggling to get the chalk marker off these mini decorative boards from my daughter’s Madeline birthday party, and can’t seem to find our magic eraser. Vinegar alone isn’t working even with the usual go-to of baking soda and TTO. So…. I just said, “what the heck, I’ll try the can of Lysol.” And to my amazement the marker literally disappeared!! So maybe give your elbow and shoulder a rest next time and reach for the can of Lysol! I hope it cleans up just as easily for you as it just did for me! Thanks again for your cute blog
Jessica says
Oh that’s SOOO exciting and good to know! Thank you so much for sharing!
And of course I don’t mind… Copy away!!! 🙂
You’re so sweet to say such nice things. Thank you so much!
Susan Tenuta says
I purchased a cheap little board from Target that was a Happy Birthday board with colored balloons to fill in for age, likes, dislikes etc… I tried the vinegar and magic eraser, but there was still residue. I tried toothpaste …just a dab on the magic eraser and voila! Clean as a whistle and no removal of the painted balloons or black chalkboard. Thanks for posting, I don’t know why I tried the toothpaste except when my 3 year old granddaughter opened paint and it stained her little hands, I didn’t want to her skin, so I tried toothpaste and after she rubbed her hands together a couple of times…it was all off.
Jessica says
This is so awesome to know about the toothpaste! I’m going to keep that in mind for when my boys have paint on their hands too! 🙂 Thank you!
Sheila says
I borrowed, yes, borrowed a chalkboard from a NEW friend!! I was panicking because I couldn’t get the chalk marker off. My husband said, ” did you google it?” Your blog was the first thing that popped up and thankfully it worked in seconds!! Thanks for this hack, and saving me the embarrassment of fessing up to my new friend!!
Jessica says
Aww!!! Yay I’m so excited that this worked for you! Thank you so much for letting me know. I always love hearing success stories. 🙂
Cathy says
Worked perfectly! Soap and water wouldn’t remove chalk marker. Distilled white vinegar and the magic sponge and hardly any scrubbing removed it perfectly. I dried the board with a towel and tested out regular chalk afterwards. Chalk applied and removed with ease. This was a great money saving tip worthy of a Pin! Here’s the before and after pics: https://goo.gl/photos/JK6U8PBQWpxLtzPV6
Jessica says
Yay!! I love hearing when this works!! Thank you so much for coming by and sharing that it did! XO
Erin says
Was this with a chalk marker on chalkboard paint?