Getting felt-tip marks off plastic?

[Joel_BC]

I recently acquired numerous plastic cases at a yard sale, and some were marked with largish hand lettering using indelible felt-tip markers. I wonder if anyone knows what the best means to get the markings off would be? Or at least to lighten up the marks, get them to fade a bunch.

I've thought maybe isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol might work. (Don't have any right now, but could get some... but that's why I haven't tried it.) Or maybe Varsol mineral spirits, such as used in automobile parts cleaning? Or???

 

[moolie]

A few years back we obtained 4 Cambro coffee dispensers for my Girl Guide unit (we use them to keep hot water hot so we don't constantly have to boil wash water while we are out camping, each Patrol has one) that came from a Second Cup coffee shop and were marked with the store name and location in Sharpie. I used a white vinyl eraser to get the writing off, worked a charm

 

[~gd]

I recently acquired numerous plastic cases at a yard sale, and some were marked with largish hand lettering using indelible felt-tip markers. I wonder if anyone knows what the best means to get the markings off would be? Or at least to lighten up the marks, get them to fade a bunch.

I've thought maybe isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol might work. (Don't have any right now, but could get some... but that's why I haven't tried it.) Or maybe Varsol mineral spirits, such as used in automobile parts cleaning? Or???

WD-40 will get a lot including Marks-A-Lot For my money Sharpies are the hardest marks to remove. I worked in a lab and they were alcohol proof, Had to use Acetone {nail polish remover) to get that out but be carefull as it will dissolve some plastics! you could do as I do cover the marks with tape and put my marks on the tape. Good luck trial and error is the best way unless someone knows better.

 

[Joel_BC]

WD-40 will get a lot including Marks-A-Lot For my money Sharpies are the hardest marks to remove. I worked in a lab and they were alcohol proof, Had to use Acetone {nail polish remover) to get that out but be carefull as it will dissolve some plastics! you could do as I do cover the marks with tape and put my marks on the tape. Good luck trial and error is the best way unless someone knows better.

I wonder, with the Sharpie marks, if you could just swipe on a thin layer of acetone with a cloth - nothing too heavy and not really rubbing it it? I know acetone evaporates pretty quickly. Do you think that would work without too much plastic-dissolving effect?

 

[~gd]

WD-40 will get a lot including Marks-A-Lot For my money Sharpies are the hardest marks to remove. I worked in a lab and they were alcohol proof, Had to use Acetone {nail polish remover) to get that out but be carefull as it will dissolve some plastics! you could do as I do cover the marks with tape and put my marks on the tape. Good luck trial and error is the best way unless someone knows better.

I wonder, with the Sharpie marks, if you could just swipe on a thin layer of acetone with a cloth - nothing too heavy and not really rubbing it it? I know acetone evaporates pretty quickly. Do you think that would work without too much plastic-dissolving effect?

Got a source of Acetone? The pure lab grade won't work on Some but not all plastics, Nail polish remover is weaker, pure lab grade is hard to find since it was one of the liquids in the liguiiid airplane bombs and Homeland Securiiity is watching sales,

 

[Cindlady2]

I haven't looked in a while but, hardware stores did/will carry in buy the paint removers.

 

[Beekissed]

White toothpaste...five minute soak, scrub in circular motion with stiff bristle brush.

Nail polish remover for any left over stains.

Sandpaper if all else fails?

 

[~gd]

I haven't looked in a while but, hardware stores did/will carry in buy the paint removers.

YOUR typo of "buy" instead of 'by' had me confused for a while, but you are right, Acetone is a very usefull solvent, and you can still buy it in many stores but some stores want the name and address of the buyer, Sorta like you can still buy Cold medications that work but they can't have them on the shelf where anyone can walk off with them. now usually only available in drug stores and they will collect your name and address. Why? because they can easily be converted into street drugs (Speed?) Infant formula is treated the same because it used to be the material of choice to cut cocain. But then the "War on Drugs" has been around longer than the "War on Terror"~gd

 

[Joel_BC]

Thanks for the wealth of suggestions.

Bee, good to see you here, posting again.

 

[Beekissed]

Good to see you all, Joel! Miss you guys!