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"Can I Use Windex on a Dry Erase Board?" 3 Of the Most Common Questions About Cleaning Your Whiteboard
Wed Nov 8 2017By:Mike P
As certifiable experts in all things dry erase, it should come as no surprise that we often get questions regarding what can and cannot be used to clean your whiteboard. In an effort to answer this question once and for all, we’ve put together this blog post featuring some of the most requested questions regarding how to clean your whiteboard.
Can You Use Windex on a Dry Erase Board?
The simple answer is yes. Window and glass cleaning supplies are a perfectly acceptable solution for cleaning your whiteboard—provided that the cleaner you choose to use does not contain high levels of isopropanol alcohol. Any substance that includes a high potency of alcohol can eliminate the dry erase capabilities of your dry erase board after multiple cleaning attempts and should be avoided at all costs. While these sort of
If you’re still unsure about what can and cannot be used to clean your whiteboard, here’s a list of supplies you can use for cleaning your whiteboard:
How Do You Remove Permanent Marker From A Dry Erase Board?
Removing permanent marker from your whiteboard is as simple as using a dry erase marker to draw over the pre-existing permanent writing; after you’ve retraced over the permanent ink, erase your board as normal using a standard eraser. The reason this works has to do with the solvent found in dry erase markers. Both dry erase markers and permanent markers are manufactured using non-polar solvents, which means that the solvent’s electrons do not pair with any other ion. When two non-polar solvents essentially—for a lack of a better term—meet-up, this causes a dissolving reaction that negates the permanent nature of the marker.
Here’s a full list of the most reliable methods for removing permanent marker from your dry erase board:
How Can I Restore My Whiteboard If It No Longer Erases?
In the case that your whiteboard is no longer working as intended, there is little that can be done to save it. Typically, when a whiteboard has lost its dry erase capabilities, it is due to damage to the outermost layer of coating. This coating gives the whiteboard its non-porous quality, thereby preventing the ink from sinking into the board’s surface permanently. This type of damage to a dry erase board is most commonly associated with using abrasive materials when cleaning the board’s surface. To prevent damaging your whiteboard, we recommend avoiding anything other than soft towels, rags, and microfiber cloths to use on your board.
If you’d like to ensure your whiteboard remains in great shape, here is a list of some of the best preventative measures you can take to protect your dry erase board:
Can You Use Windex on a Dry Erase Board?
The simple answer is yes. Window and glass cleaning supplies are a perfectly acceptable solution for cleaning your whiteboard—provided that the cleaner you choose to use does not contain high levels of isopropanol alcohol. Any substance that includes a high potency of alcohol can eliminate the dry erase capabilities of your dry erase board after multiple cleaning attempts and should be avoided at all costs. While these sort of
If you’re still unsure about what can and cannot be used to clean your whiteboard, here’s a list of supplies you can use for cleaning your whiteboard:
- Any Whiteboard-Approved Cleaner or Conditioner
- Wd40
- Magic Eraser Products
- Baby Wipes
- Water (mixed with either vinegar or baking soda)
- Wet Coffee Grounds
- Toothpaste
How Do You Remove Permanent Marker From A Dry Erase Board?
Removing permanent marker from your whiteboard is as simple as using a dry erase marker to draw over the pre-existing permanent writing; after you’ve retraced over the permanent ink, erase your board as normal using a standard eraser. The reason this works has to do with the solvent found in dry erase markers. Both dry erase markers and permanent markers are manufactured using non-polar solvents, which means that the solvent’s electrons do not pair with any other ion. When two non-polar solvents essentially—for a lack of a better term—meet-up, this causes a dissolving reaction that negates the permanent nature of the marker.
Here’s a full list of the most reliable methods for removing permanent marker from your dry erase board:
- Use a dry erase marker to retrace permanent stains and erase as needed
- Apply WD40 to the marker stain, wipe away with cloth
- Scrub the stain away with a magic eraser sponge.
- Gently Erase permanent marker with the end of a pencil eraser (note: this may damage your board, and as a result, we’d recommend lightly erasing a small portion of your surface first to see if the eraser will damage your board. This should be a last-ditch effort!)
How Can I Restore My Whiteboard If It No Longer Erases?
In the case that your whiteboard is no longer working as intended, there is little that can be done to save it. Typically, when a whiteboard has lost its dry erase capabilities, it is due to damage to the outermost layer of coating. This coating gives the whiteboard its non-porous quality, thereby preventing the ink from sinking into the board’s surface permanently. This type of damage to a dry erase board is most commonly associated with using abrasive materials when cleaning the board’s surface. To prevent damaging your whiteboard, we recommend avoiding anything other than soft towels, rags, and microfiber cloths to use on your board.
If you’d like to ensure your whiteboard remains in great shape, here is a list of some of the best preventative measures you can take to protect your dry erase board:
- Do not clean your whiteboard with standard kitchen or bathroom cleaner, industrial cleaner, or solution containing isopropanol alcohol.
- Avoid wiping your board with coarse or granular cloth (paper towels, rough sponges, toilet paper etc.) as they can damage and remove the dry erase capabilities of your whiteboard
- Wipe your whiteboard with both an eraser and a lint-free wipe, as both provide minimal scratching to the surface and collect left behind marker residue
- Use a whiteboard cleaning solution that doubles as a whiteboard conditioner to prevent your whiteboard from sustaining ghost marks.