Do you have a whiteboard at home or at your office? Perhaps you have seen one back in your college days or at your kid’s classroom? If yes, then you would have definitely come across one with leftover inks or stains - in short, one that is not thoroughly cleaned or perfectly white.
We understand that there could have been times when marker inks are left on the board longer than it should, without it being cleaned properly. Even worse, accidental use of a permanent marker on a whiteboard. All these obviously cannot be removed by using a normal whiteboard eraser.
With all that excessive usage of your whiteboard, caring for its surface is utmost important in order to keep it looking clean and brand new. Now, if you are planning to simply replace your whiteboard because of its stained surface, we suggest you consider our easy steps below to restore your whiteboard.
1. Basic Rule: Adhere to the Maintenance Instructions
Every product comes with a basic or extensive instruction. Most of the time we toss them out and do not bother reading through them. Maintenance instructions contain most of the important details needed for any product. Likewise, a whiteboard care and maintenance can also be found in its booklet. Hence, it would be a great start to go through it and follow its basic instructions like wiping it thoroughly after every use and using the right marker.
2. Tools: Erasers and Cleaning Solutions
Whiteboard duster is the simplest and best way to maintain a clean whiteboard. That said, these erasers need to be replaced frequently as it accumulates the whiteboard marker ink onto it after every use. Hence, to ensure your whiteboard surface is sparkly white always, consider purchasing a whiteboard cleaner as well. At Lion File, we have whiteboard cleaner sprays which are easy-to-use and convenient and the best part, it can also remove permanent marker ink on the whiteboard. All you need to do is spray the solution onto the whiteboard and wipe clean with cloth or tissue.
3. Marks: Residual Ink
If you are only using an eraser to clean the whiteboard, overtime there will be residual ink on the board. There will be a difference in the coating on the board between frequently used areas and unused areas. What occurs is “ghosting” or the lines of previous writing and drawing even after erasing. How to remove the ghosting on the board? Simply wipe the board in circular motions with a microfiber cloth dipped in a concoction of isopropyl alcohol (commonly used in soaps and lotions as an antiseptic; can be found on e-commerce sites like Shopee and Lazada) and water. That should do the trick, try it!
4. Easy Remedy: Homemade Whiteboard Cleaner
Although the mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water is one of the easiest ways to clean a whiteboard, we might have trouble getting our hands on the isopropyl alcohol. Instead, here is a list of household items that can be used as an alternative to clean a whiteboard. Be sure to be in a ventilated area if you are going to use strong-smelling chemicals.
- Alcohol Sanitizer
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Nail polish Remover (Non-Acetone)
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Vinegar
- WD-40 Spray (can be found in hardware stores)
Use the instructions below with any of the solution above:
- Pour 10ml of the liquid onto a sponge or microfiber cloth.
- Gently wipe the surface of the whiteboard.
- Once dried, use only water to wipe the whiteboard again.
- Ensure the board is dried completely before using a marker on it.
5. Pro-Tip: Permanent Marker Removal
This is a situation many of us can relate to - a brief moment of panic when you realize you had accidentally used a permanent marker instead of a whiteboard marker. Well, put your worries aside because we have an easy fix for you.
Using a dry erase marker, trace over the dried permanent marker ink and then erase it using a normal duster. It comes off due to the solvent in the whiteboard marker. Another method is to use any solvents that contain 2-butoxyethanol that will be able to erase the permanent marker writings. These tips work like a charm to restore your whiteboard.
The whiteboard maintenance tips above will ensure your whiteboard is looking fresh and clean for a longer period. If you ever wondered what type of whiteboards to purchase, check out our article on How to Choose the Right Whiteboard.