How to Remove Sharpie from Plastic School Folders

Hey Guys,

It’s good to be back after a crazy busy summer with my 3 kids.  I thought I was busy when they were little but as they have gotten older and into more activities, I can’t believe how short the summer is.  My kids want to do everything!!! ha. And silly me, I let them;)

I wanted to pop on here to show you a trick my daughter discovered while gathering all of her back to school supplies.

Back to School

How are you at back to school shopping?  I hope better than I.  Just between you and me, I don’t love buying all the same school supplies year after year.  

My kids on the other hand think it is the greatest thing getting brand new supplies.  This year I told them that some of the plastic folders that we bought last year could probably be re-used.  I mean c’mon it’s plastic!  Call me cheap, I know!  I just find it annoying.  With 3 kids there ought to be something to re-cycle.

How to Remove Sharpie from Plastic?

My daughter said,

Sharpie is all over that folder mom….it’s not coming off!”  It’s very old sharpie too!

Thinking I was being super smart I got out the nail polish remover!  When they were little I was able to remove sharpie from a painted wall with straight acetone.  For sure I thought it would work on a plastic folder.

NOPE!!

Wow  she was right, when she applied the nail polish remover it slightly lightened it but even with a lot of scrubbing it didn’t come off at all. DANG!  

She then randomly tried to use a white polymer eraser to see if she could erase it.

OH NO, THAT DIDN’T WORK EITHER!

The Discovery that Worked!

Suddenly for some reason she came up with the bright idea of combining the two by applying the nail polish remover and then erasing all in one motion.  I have no idea what made her think to do this, but for some odd reason it works!!!

The trick:

• Apply the nail polish remover generously and start erasing before it is dry!!  That is it!  

I can’t tell you why this works, it just does!  Since she discovered it, I had her do a video so you can see.  Be nice, it is our first video.

 

 

Isn’t that weird?  

I was so surprised this combo worked but I wanted to share for all those back to school parents who are just as annoyed as I at the growing school supply list year after year!

You also realize that this extends the application to other plastic objects and not only to school folders right?  Permanent marker on plastic toys is a big frustration for a lot of moms when their toddlers get a hold of those dreaded sharpies.  Oh I remember chasing after my kids!!!  AHHH!

So here you go…..a great household tip!  When you can’t get sharpie out of plastic, try the combo! (Don’t try this on molding or a wall because it will rub off paint)

CLEANED, re-used plastic folder

As for the folder, check out the AFTER!!!  Can you believe this is the same folder?

There may be a hint of sharpie if you look super close, but it is very faint.  My daughter was ok with re-using it.  WOW this really worked!  My kids get picky about what they take to school and it passed the test.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my daughter’s discovery!

Be sure to tell me any other tricks that you have tried to remove sharpie from plastic in the comments below!! I would love to hear what works and what doesn’t!!

Until next time!

 

K. Rupp

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