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Find out the BEST Way How to Clean a Whiteboard or Dry Erase Board. You don't need any special cleaners either. It's SO simple!
How to Clean a WhiteBoard
As I was working on putting together some notes recently, I realized that I really needed to learn how to clean my dry erase board!
There are a lot of different suggestions out there on how to clean a dry erase board, and there's quite a few commercial cleaning solutions available too. The best part about most of these items to clean a white board – you likely already have all the items available in your home pantry!
5 Different Ways How to Clean A Dry Erase Board:
1.Warm Soapy Water
Simply take some warm soapy water (you could use hand soap or dish soap), dip in a rag, and scrub your board clean.
2. Vinegar
You'll want to use about 1 teaspoon of vinegar to every 1 cup of water to make this solution. You can then either put the solution into a bowl or a spray bottle and scrub with a paper towel.
3. Peroxide
Peroxide doesn't need to be diluted to use to clean your whiteboard. Simply place a small amount on a rag and then wipe the board where it needs extra cleaning.
4. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing Alcohol also doesn't need to be diluted to clean a dry erase board. It's best used to place in a spray bottle, spray the whiteboard directly, and then wipe clean. (Rubbing alcohol can also be used on stubborn stains from dry erase ink!)
5. Dry Erase Cleaner
These commercial cleaners are nice because they already come in the exact solution you need and already in their own cleaning bottle. However, the cost of these is MUCH higher than making your own whiteboard cleaner.
After looking through these suggestions, I tried out plain rubbing alcohol and a dry rag – and it worked perfectly!
Can you use Lysol Wipes or Clorox Wipes to clean a Dry Erase Board?
You should also know that there are a few solutions that you should NOT use on a whiteboard or dry erase board.
Window cleaners (even our homemade window cleaner!), and Clorox, Lysol, or other disinfecting wipes could strip the finish on the board. You should also avoid any wax based cleaners as this can cause a buildup.
Also, if you happen to use a permanent marker instead of a dry erase marker on your board, don't panic! You can simply trace over the markings made by the permanent marker with the dry erase marker and then erase as usual.
Are a Dry Erase and a Whiteboard the same thing?
Back in my day, these boards were just called “dry erase”, but I've noticed more recently them being called a whiteboard. So – what's the difference?
There are only a few differences – mainly in the type of materials they are made of. They essentially function the same, are cleaned the same, and you can use the same markers on both of them. Just semantics, really!
Do you know of any other suggestions on how to clean a whiteboard? I'd love to hear them!
Thx SO much! I was going to get a new one;
but your tip saved the day! It’s July 8 of 2023, so your tips are still being used!
I just scribble over the stubborn spots with another dry erase marker . It will usually take all the stains right off. I just cleaned the one in my office at my new job that way last week.
I clean mine in my classroom daily with baby wipes. Every summer I spray it with Turtle Wax, wipe it with a soft cloth, and then let it dry. I did this with individual boards as well as the big boards in my room.
Baby wipes.
Any tips on how to write on a black board that does not work? The chalk doesn’t write on the board. It just seems to glide over the board and doesn’t adhere to the surface. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Repaint it with chalkboard paint. Here is a link but any hardware store probably carries it http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Specialty-30-oz-Flat-Black-Chalkboard-Paint-206540/100141287
What a great idea!
It could be the chalk. I got cheap chalk at Hobby Lobby and it had a weird, waxy coating to it that made it so it wouldn’t write. I got crayola chalk and it was fine!
Thanks for the tip RT! 🙂
Citrus Air Freshener Spray, great at taking off sticky residue as well.
SPRAY NINE is the best. Just spray and wipe. No elbow grease. Even years old pen marks on the frame came off. And it disinfects. At all hardware stores.
Nail polish remover works really well!!
A used (or new) dryer sheet does the trick for me
I use Lysol wipes. The spray bothers my asthma, and I’m sure others too, but makes sense that it works since the wipes work so good.
At work we used the Lysol antibacterial spray (aerosol) just a quick spray and wipe down with paper towels took off everything. Permanent marker included. The wax idea for after its clean is something I will definitely try!! Thank you for all your tips.
non-acetone nail polish remover
I had a stained dry erase board which I tried to clean with every type of cleaner but it wouldn't come clean. I even used hand sanitizer. The only thing that cleans it is toothpaste and elbow grease. It WORKS!
Toothpaste Marlene? Hmmmm – I would never have thought of that! Thanks for sharing, I’ll have to try it out 🙂
I know this sounds crazy, but it will restore your board like the day you bought it. Use cool, black coffee. Wipe it on with a paper towel, wipe off with a clean one. White and shiny board, no smelly chemicals. I work in surgery where we use boards for everything, this keeps them looking like new. I heard this tip years ago and pass it on to everyone.
I’ve never heard of that Meg but will have to try it – thanks so much for sharing!
Yesterday I had to clean our dry erase board and the rubbing alcohol wasn’t cutting it. (It was stuff that had been written on for about a year). And I used Lemon essential oil. Just one to two drops on a paper towel and wiped and the marker came right off!
Hand sanitizer will also get off permanent marker, ink stains or even car grease (if you have to change a tire or put oil in your car)!
Windex and/or Mr Clean Magic Eraser.
Easiest way to clean them is plain water and paper towel. It scrubs right off. Also, use wet paper towel to blot the eraser part of the marker in order to clean it off and keep it working like new.
I had a teacher who cleaned them with hairspray and a damp rag. I guess it makes sense as hairspray also takes ink stains out of fabric!
Anti bacteria wipes work very good the ones u see in hospitals n nursing homes anyway them real deal wipes
If you have permanent marker on there, my 10 year old taught me to copy over marker with a dry erase marker then clean it off, comes right off:)
I use bleach to clean my daughters dry erase board, it cleans off permanent marker and everything she seems to get on it.
Dollar tree bottle of antibacterial soap free hand sanitizer removes it with no scrubbing
I use hand sanitizer but it works great probably because of the alcohol in it
Once you get it nice and clean, wax it with a bit of turtle wax (for cars). It will make it much easier to clean in the future. I have been a high school teacher for 15 years and use white boards a lot. This is the best tip I have ever received.
Being a daycare director with a dry erase board in every room had it challenges for cleaning. We have found that the combination of the alcohol and a magic erase bar does wonders.
I usenthe isopropyl alcohol and clean, dry rag. Works wonders! Microfiber cloth helps save the board finish.
Great tips – thanks so much for sharing!
Wd-40 works great periodically. It’s a little messy so I don’t do it often but it cleans it like new, and makes it easier to erase with just the eraser afterwards. I also like to go over mine with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser from time to time.
I tried magic eraser and it took the finish off my board.
I use Lysol (aerosol spray) and it works pretty well!
NEVER use magic erasers on a high gloss surface!!!
They’re micro-abrasive (like sandpaper) and scratch the crap out of it. Each time you use a magic eraser, it’ll get progressively more difficult to clean the board.