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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Jackie Turbot says
Worked for me too! Thank you!!
Jessica says
Excellent!! I’m so glad. Thank you for letting us know!
carol says
Ooh I can’t wait to get some vinegar! I read that magic eraser worked but it only works if used to correct mistakes made immediately when writing. I use the liquid chalk marker that came with the chalkboard and you’d think there would be instructions for how to clean the boards, but not!
Jessica says
Totally agree! I hope the vinegar and magic eraser works for you too!
jill says
Thank you so much. Yes, alot of scrubbing, but so glad it all came off.
Jessica says
Oh good!! I’m so glad that it came off!
alison luckey says
Thank you so much for writing this! I bought a some back to school boards for my twins that I had hoped to use every year. I didn’t think I was going to be able to do- til I found this!!
Jessica says
Hi Alison! That’s great news!! I’m so glad that it was helpful. Thank you so much for letting us know.
Shawna says
I am typically not one to post or reply to advice/tips that I see online. I told myself that if this works, that I would have to share. Well guess what, it worked like a charm☺️! I had attempted just vinegar and water. I attempted just the Magic Eraser. Never would I have thought to combine the two! Magical! Thank You!!!
Jessica says
Woo hoo!!! I’m so glad that it worked for you. Thank you SO much for taking the time to share that it did! 🙂
S. Harris says
I absolutely LOVE my chalkboard and I was actually worried that maybe I purchased the wrong types of pens, because it would NOT come off after trying ALL of the things that you listed (Lysol wipes, soap & water, etc.). I just tried this and HAD TO STOP cleaning my chalkboard to post and say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! I’m so happy that I didn’t mess up my board – – it’s coming off WONDERFULLY!!!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING this solution!!
Jessica says
Yaaaaaay!!!!! This makes me so happy. I’m so glad that it helped you. Thank you for taking the time to share that it helped you! 🙂 XO
Kristy says
Magic eraser and rubbing alcohol worked great!
Jessica says
Oh good!!! Love that easy combination too! Thank you for letting us know!
vicki says
i had waterproof chalk pen to erase – but had run out of specialist eraser. vinegar didnt work on this but i had some methylated spirit – worked brilliantly and got the previous ghosting out too!
Jessica says
Hi Vicki! Oh good!! I’m so glad that you let us know what worked for you. It may just help someone else too! Thank you!
Cindi says
What is methylated spirits??
Marti says
I didn’t have regular vinegar only had apple cider vinegar. It worked like a charm. Thank you so much🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Jessica says
Yay!!! So glad the Apple Cider Vinegar worked too! Thank you for letting us know!
Haley Stuyvesant says
This worked wonders!! Thank you so much! Thought I lost these chalkboards forever!
Jessica says
Oh good!!! I’m so glad. Thank you for dropping a note to let me know!!
Dee Dee says
I have “acquired” — love that word, actually a store closed I have the 4′ high turquoise little display shelf thing with a chalkboard underneath announcing the daily specials. I’m going to sand it down, undercoat for rust and paint it Picasso blue and then plant ONLY herbs in this. So I need to erase the daily specials. I’ll be trying your tips and thank you.
I know I’m going to love your site, why? You work barefoot, good move.
Tonya says
OMG this worked so well! Thank you. We painted a small wall with red chalk paint and we love it. We seasoned it but used metallic chalk markers… huge mistake!
This technique fixed our wall!
Jessica says
Woo hoo!!! I love hearing that it worked on chalk paint too!! Thank you for letting us know! 🙂
Morgan says
Are you able to use regular white chalk markers on your chalkboard paint (not metallic)? If so, what brand? I was considering covering my chalkboard paint with a clear dry-erase paint to better utilize the markers on it. I am not liking the messiness of my huge chalkboard with traditional chalk.
Chris Marley says
Vinegar + Magic Eraser. This DIY recipe worked great on our chalkboard here at home.
Thank you Jessica for your research and post.
Jessica says
Fantastic!!! I’m so glad that it worked for you. Thank you for letting me know!
stacy says
I know this is an old blog post but just found it today and it saved the day! Thanks! Whooo! I was slightly dreading having to throw away a Halloween decoration I used a chalkboard marker on! You rock! Thanks!
Jessica says
Awww! It is an older post but the chalkboard cleaning trick still works and I never get tired of hearing about it! Woot! 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
Debbie says
Like so many before me, thank you!!! I have a decorative chalkboard that would not come clean. Your recommendation worked just like you described. Have a Happy Halloween🎃🎃🎃
Jessica says
Eeek! Yay!! So happy that this worked for you too! Thank you for letting me know. 🙂 Happy Halloween to you too!
Linsley says
I’m so thankful o ran across this! My little one loves it when I redo my kitchen sign. Last time I couldn’t get everything off no matter what I did. This time it looked even worse. Thankfully I found this. My board is not big and you said o may need some elbow grease so I was not really looking forward to cleaning it. This literally took me less than 30 seconds and I got off all the chalk marker from this time, last time and who knows how much from the times before. Thank you! So easy and helpful!
Jessica says
Eeeek! So excited that it worked for you too! This is fantastic! Thank you for letting me know! 🙂 XO
Valerie says
Thank you endlessly! Worked as you said it would and saved so much time, energy, and thinking power worrying over how to clean up these first day of school boards! thank you!
Jessica says
Oh I’m so happy it worked for you too! Thank you so much for taking the time to come here and let us know! XOXO
Debbie says
It worked so easily. Thank you so much. This saved me a lot of time and headache. This is awesome!
Jessica says
That’s fantastic Debbie! I’m so glad that it worked for you. Thank you for coming back to let us know too!
Kim says
Worked for me! Thank you!
Jessica says
Excellent!! You’re so welcome!
Tiffany says
It worked like a charm. Thanks!
Jessica says
Yay!!! So glad that it worked for you! Thank you for letting me know!