How to Make Magic Ink Marker Work Again

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How many times has your drawing or writing been interrupted by the dry out, annoying scratch of a "dead" marker? If you can't seem to get a reasonable lifespan out of your markers, have no fear — it'southward ordinarily possible to bring dead markers back to life (temporarily, at to the lowest degree) with ane of several like shooting fish in a barrel tricks. Whether you're using h2o-based coloring markers, dry-erase markers, or even heavy-duty permanent markers, the solution to dry tips is oftentimes as easy as simply soaking the markers for a few minutes.

1. i

   Pour well-nigh ane cup of warm h2o into a basin. If you accept one or more dried-out water-based markers, endeavour this elementary trick to breathe some life back into them. Start by filling a pocket-sized basin with warm or hot water. In the next footstep, this water volition soak into the markers' stale-out tips, which will unremarkably allow the ink to brainstorm flowing freely one time more.

   • Annotation that information technology'southward not essential to use warm or hot water — cold water will also work. However, since ink diffuses more apace in college-temperature h2o, this normally works faster.

2. ii

   Put the marking(s) tip-down in the h2o. Accept the caps off of your dry markers and dip them in the h2o and so that the tips are completely submerged. Permit the markers soak undisturbed for about 5 minutes. You lot may notice some ink draining out of the marker tips and into the water — this is normal.

   • As noted to a higher place, this method is only brash for water-based markers. If you're not sure whether your markers are water-based or not, bank check the packaging (if information technology's available). Every bit a very general rule, water-based markers are used for drawing and coloring and are marketed to children, though there are exceptions (such as loftier-quality markers marketed to grown-up artists).^[1]

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3. 3

   Let the markers dry on a rag. Remove your markers from the water. Dab the tips with a rag to remove excess water, so lay the markers on the rag to dry out. You want the markers to dry to the betoken that the ink in their tips is no longer diluted with water, but not so dry that they won't write.

   • The fourth dimension this takes tin vary and often takes up to 24 hours.^[ii] Your best bet is to check on the markers by scribbling on a sheet of paper every few hours to examination their writing ability.
   • Note that this process will probably become a little ink onto your towel or rag. Even though this ink is water-based, it can cause stains that are hard to remove, so you'll probably want to utilize an erstwhile, worn-out rag that you don't listen staining.

4. four

   Supersede the caps when washed. Once your markers are writing properly once more, exist sure to supercede their caps. Leaving a marker's cap off is a sure-fire way to find yourself with another dried-out marker. On the other hand, capping your markers betwixt uses helps agree the wet in the tip, ensuring the marking writes for as long as possible.

   • If you lot've lost your marking'due south cap, don't worry — you tin utilize a modest square of plastic wrap and a rubber band as a temporary solution. It's likewise possible to make a more durable slip-on cap past wrapping a piece of tape around the mark tip (gummy side out), and so wrapping another piece of tape on elevation of the first (viscid side in).

5. v

   Alternatively, utilise a few drops of vinegar. Another abode remedy for dried out h2o-based markers involves using vinegar. With this method, you'll desire to put your markers tip-down in a dry bowl and dampen each marker's tip with one or two drops of clear white vinegar. Let the markers to soak for several minutes before drying every bit above. Don't submerge the marker tips as you would when using water — you merely want a few drops for each.

   • To transfer just a drib or two to each marker tip, try filling the vinegar bottle'southward cap, and then using a small stick (like a barbecue skewer) or an eye dropper to add together vinegar to each mark drib-by-drop.

6. 6

   Consider injecting water into the mark. One concluding way to become your markers back in shape requires a long, sharp, skinny needle (similar a hypodermic syringe). For this method, make full your syringe with h2o, then insert the needle directly through the tip into the body of the marker. Push button a small amount of water into the marker very slowly, allowing air to drain out through the tip equally you add together h2o. In one case you lot've added no more a milliliter (mL/cc) or so, permit the marker rest on an old rag briefly to dry before using (as directed in a higher place).

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1. ane

   Secure the marking to the end of a long string. Dry erase markers don't use the aforementioned type of water-based ink every bit ordinary "coloring" markers, so reviving them by moistening their tips commonly won't work. Instead, effort making the most of the ink that's trapped inside the marker itself. To beginning, necktie a long string effectually the body of the stale-out marker. Secure it to the string with sturdy tape.^[iii]

   • In the adjacent pace, you'll use the power of centrifugal force to strength ink into the dried-out tip of the marker. Centrifugal forcefulness is basically the thought that objects being swung in a circle experience a strength that pushes them "outward" — that is, away from the center of the circle. In this example, the outward-pushing force will move any remaining ink from the torso of the marking into the tip.

2. 2

   Swing the mark around your head like a lasso. Outset, cheque to make sure the cap is on securely and completely encompasses the tip. WARNING: check carefully to run across if the cap has openings, if it does, ink may fly out and splatter the room. Carefully accept the length of cord in your mitt and swing the marker in a round arc over your head (like a lasso). The tip of the marker should be facing out, non in. Centrifugal force will brainstorm to push the ink in the marking toward the tip. Practise this for near 30 seconds before testing your marking. Some ink may spill out when you open the cap. Be certain to open the marker abroad from carpet or other fabric.

   • Make sure you have plenty of room around you free from obstructions before you start swinging the marker. Though you're very unlikely to cause serious injury by swinging a mark effectually, you tin still break your marker or injure someone if you accidentally swing the marker into his or her eye, so err on the side of safety.

3. three

   Alternatively, plough the tip around with pliers. If you tin can't go your marking to write later using the lasso method above, grab a pair of pliers and try this method. Grip the soft material tip of the dry-erase mark with your pliers and pull direct outward. For many markers, the tip should come out without as well much effort.^[four] In one case it's out, if there's a similar soft textile end on the other side of the tip, try flipping the tip around and replacing it. The marking should be able to write immediately. As ink soaks through the previously dry out end of the tip, you can remove the tip again and flip it back around if y'all wish.

   • You may want to wear gloves and protect your work area with an old rag while attempting this method. Though unlikely, it's possible to spill ink out of the marker in one case you remove the tip, so having some protection confronting difficult-to-remove stains is a wise idea.

4. four

   Every bit a last resort, try buying refill ink. While effective, the methods above will only piece of work if ink remains inside the marker. For dry-erase markers that are completely dry — that is, both the tip and the inside of the marker are dried out — you may need to buy replacement ink.

   • Refill dry-erase ink can usually exist purchased from function supply stores or specialty online retailers. Usually, dry-erase is quite inexpensive —sometimes equally low for $1.00 for a small canister of ink.

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1. 1

   Soak the dry marking tips in rubbing alcohol. For most permanent markers (like Sharpies, etc.) with dried out tips, you can go the mark writing once more with a trick that's similar to the water-soaking method for h2o-based markers in a higher place. For this method, commencement by filling a minor container with rubbing alcohol — for instance, yous may want to use the cap of the bottle of rubbing alcohol.^[five]

   • You don't need very much rubbing alcohol — just enough to submerge the tip of your marking (or markerdue south). Filling an entire bowl with rubbing alcohol (every bit yous'd do with water for water-based markers) may be wasteful.

2. 2

   Allow the markers dry with their caps on. After soaking your markers for a few minutes in rubbing alcohol, you should notice a pocket-sized amount of ink swirling around in the liquid. Remove the markers from the alcohol and replace their caps. Place them tip-side up in a drinking glass or mug and permit them rest for nigh 24-48 hours. After this resting catamenia, if ink remains in the markers, they should write well once again.

   • Rubbing alcohol evaporates very rapidly compared to water, so you won't want to let the markers rest with their caps off as you lot would after soaking water-based markers.^[vi] If you do, they'll chop-chop dry out once more.

3. 3

   Consider using the leftover alcohol equally ink. If the alcohol you soaked your marker tips in captivated some of the ink from your permanent markers, you lot may want to try using it as a form of ink or dye in you ain art projects. Alcohol-based inks are quite effective at dying materials like metallic that other inks tin be ineffective on. For instance, to brand custom-colored staples, just soak the staples in leftover booze that you used to moisten colored permanent markers' tips.

4. four

   Alternatively, inject booze or acetone into the marker. Like with water-based markers, yous can sometimes go new life out of a stale-out permanent marker past injecting wet directly into it. However, in this case, yous won't desire to utilise water, but instead your marker's ink solvent. Usually, this is isopropyl alcohol (rubbing booze) or acetone (the active ingredient in blast polish remover), and then simply inject a milliliter or so of one of these chemicals into the body of the mark as you would with water above.

   • Try checking your markers' packaging for a listing of ingredients if you're not sure what sort of liquid solvent your ink uses.

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Add New Question

• Question

  Does this work with Crayola markers?

  

  Yep. It works fine with Crayola markers. Merely do the h2o based markers step.

• Question

  How practice I revive Chromatix markers?

  

  Padma Balaji

  Community Respond

  The booze method would probably work all-time, because Chromatix pens are alcohol-based.

• Question

  How do I revive a pigment marker?

  

  I would recommend dipping and leaving it tip-down in a bowl of rubbing alcohol. (You can also employ a bowl of lukewarm to hot water mixed with some vinegar.)

• Question

  How long should I leave it in the alcohol?

  

  You lot should leave the mark in the booze, undisturbed, for five minutes.

• Question

  Where can I detect refills of marker ink?

  

  Refill dry-erase ink can usually be purchased from role supply stores or specialty online retailers.

• Question

  Does this piece of work on highlighters?

  

  Aye, I used this method on one of my highlighters and it worked fine.

• Question

  Can y'all use any alcohol, or does it take to be rubbing booze or denatured?

  

  Some markers piece of work with acetone. Nail smooth remover volition practice the trick; follow the same steps, but replace the rubbing alcohol.

• Question

  I have water based markers that ran out and then I did the commencement trick I saw, hot h2o, the side by side day when I looked to meet if they were working I saw that they where completely dead. The tips where white and had no more color. I left them on the counter over night - did I do something wrong?

  

  Some markers may not work with the water technique. To revive them, try using rubbing booze. You may take left them in the water too long. If you still have the water, depending on how pigmented information technology is, you could try to inject it back into the marker.

• Question

  What can I utilise instead of rubbing alcohol?

  

  Y'all could likewise employ denatured alcohol, which can be plant at hardware stores. It is unremarkably located almost the paints.

• Question

  I bought an lxxx-pack of Copic markers, and some of them were dried out. How can I fix them?

  

  Check the packaging to figure out which method should be used. If the packaging says permanent on it, then utilise the permanent marker method. If the packaging says washable, and then use the washable marking method.

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• Avoid leaving the lids off of markers. This is what dries them out the nigh.

• Try buying markers that have a good reputation, even if they are expensive. The markers that are on auction in your local general store may not be the best pick if you lot would like them to last a while. Too, try to buy markers that won't dry out if yous leave the lids off. This way, if you forget, you won't accept to buy more.

• For all kinds of markers, put a dab of water on the tip, and write. The ink might offset to menstruation once again.

• Don't buy several markers at once. Experiment with different brands and see which one works the best.

• Attempt using gloves when you lot revive the markers. The ink may accidentally get on your pare and can be hard to get off.

• If you decide to endeavour the injection method, be sure that the needle is very sparse. Otherwise, ink may drip from the needle'south hole.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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• When using the centrifugal method for dry erase markers, first check to make sure the cap is on securely and completely encompasses the tip: if the cap has openings, ink may wing out and splatter the room.

• Don't use markers on a crude surface. Doing so might damage the tip.

• This suggestion may non piece of work for all brands of markers. If information technology doesn't work for your brand, peradventure you should switch over to one that is more reliable.

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Things You'll Demand

• Markers
• Marker caps
• Hot water
• Towel
• Bowl (for the water)
• String
• Tape
• Pliers
• Rubbing alcohol/acetone

About This Article

Commodity Summary X

To revive dried out water-based markers, soak the tips of the markers in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes and then let them dry on a towel for 24 hours. If you're trying to revive dry-erase markers, pull the tips out with pliers, turn the tips around, and so put them dorsum in the markers. To revive permanent markers, soak the tips in rubbing alcohol for several minutes so put the caps back on the markers. Let the markers dry for 24-48 hours with the caps on. To learn how to inject your markers with ink or water to revive them, keep reading the article!

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