The Isopropyl Alcohol Method (Best Overall)

  1. 1

    Apply isopropyl alcohol (70%+) to a cloth

    Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol, available from pharmacies) is the most effective whiteboard cleaner. Pour a small amount onto a microfibre cloth or paper towel — do not spray directly on the board.

  2. 2

    Wipe in circular motions

    Wipe the board firmly in circular motions. Ghosting and residue lift quickly. Follow with a dry cloth to remove any streaks.

The “Draw Over Old Marks” Trick

  1. 3

    Scribble over old dried marks with a fresh whiteboard marker

    Take a working dry-erase marker and draw directly over the old stubborn marks. The solvent in fresh marker ink re-dissolves the dried ink in the old marks.

  2. 4

    Erase immediately while still wet

    Erase immediately — do not let the fresh marker dry. The combined wet ink erases along with the old dried marks. Repeat if needed for very dark marks.

Other Effective Cleaners

  • Whiteboard spray cleaner: Formulated specifically for whiteboards. Effective but not noticeably better than isopropyl alcohol at a fraction of the cost.
  • Hand sanitiser: High isopropyl content makes it a reasonable substitute for rubbing alcohol.
  • WD-40: Sprayed on and wiped off removes very stubborn old marks. Follow with isopropyl alcohol to remove WD-40 residue before writing again.
Do not useStandard spray cleaners (Windex, surface sprays): leave residue that creates a film over time, making the board less responsive. Abrasive cloths or scourers: scratch the whiteboard surface permanently. Magic erasers: too abrasive for most whiteboard surfaces.
Prevent ghostingGhosting (faint residue that persists after erasing) happens when whiteboard markers dry out on the surface or low-quality markers are used. Season the board periodically: wipe with isopropyl alcohol monthly. Use good quality markers (Expo, Pentel). Erase marks within 24 hours — the longer they stay, the harder they are to remove.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — the draw-over trick works particularly well for permanent marker on a whiteboard. Draw over the permanent marker marks with a dry-erase marker and erase immediately. The solvent in the dry-erase ink partially dissolves the permanent ink. For large areas, WD-40 or isopropyl alcohol is very effective at removing permanent marker from whiteboards.
If the surface is visibly scratched or worn (often from abrasive cleaners or being used for too long), restoration is difficult. Whiteboard resurfacing kits (a paint-on coating) can extend the life of a worn board. Whiteboard paint or whiteboard wall film is an inexpensive way to create a new writing surface on any wall if the board is beyond salvaging.