I can't shoot the little bastards so help me clean up

November 18, 2005 4:03 PM

What's the best way to remove permanent marker from semi-porous plastic?

Some idiot tagged our cable box yesterday; it's a yellow plastic material, and I have no idea what to use to get this shit off. My vaunted Magic Eraser only got the top coating off. I'm cool with using harsh chemicals, or if all else fails painting the damned thing black, but I'd rather not.

posted by Optimus Chyme to Home & Garden (15 answers total)

Response by poster: Oh also tagging private property should be punishable by death but that's for another time, I suppose.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 4:04 PM on November 18, 2005

Try hairspray.
posted by bonheur at 4:09 PM on November 18, 2005

I think rubbing alcohol works...but try it on an inconspious place on the plastic first.
posted by dking at 4:23 PM on November 18, 2005

Best answer: I have used denatured alcohol to remove permanent marker from whiteboards at work. More porous stuff could be a problem.

No matter what, remove it immediately. All indications are that the degenerates prefer to tag things that stay visible and nothing discourages them more than removing the markings immediately.
posted by phearlez at 4:26 PM on November 18, 2005

Any kick-ass solvent that can attack the paint chemically will probably do a similar number of the box, so whatever you do, do it cautiously. (Acetone, hexane, etc.)

I have had pretty good luck using products from Napier. They are supposedly environmentally friendly, which was good for me as I was working in an enclosed space with them. But I don't know what they will do to plastic -- i was stripping glue and paint from concrete...
posted by misterbrandt at 4:36 PM on November 18, 2005

Response by poster: It looks like the plastic is more porous than I thought. Rubbing alcohol didn't do a thing. Okay I will try acetone.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 4:57 PM on November 18, 2005

Acetone may well dissolve the plastic. I think nail polish remover has a warning to keep it away from any plastic you don't want damaged. Try it somewhere inconspicuous first!
posted by clarahamster at 5:11 PM on November 18, 2005

Best answer: If it's one of those small boxes, 1' high and 4"or 6" across, I would just get some spray paint and give it a nice dusty coat.

The reasoning behind this idea is that if you've been tagged once it'll happen again. So pick a nice color that is probably better than yellow anyway and have some fun with it.

If you're not digging that idea, then contact your cable co. They have been through this thousands of times and will surely either fix it for you or will provide something for you to use that is professional grade/anti-tagger stuff.
posted by snsranch at 6:08 PM on November 18, 2005

Good suggestions so far, especially on the 'if it stays up, more will follow'. Note that if you paint it solid black they'll probably just use white or silver markers/paint instead.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 6:54 PM on November 18, 2005

Response by poster: Yeah, I figured they would, but it's a lot easier to cover up white with black than vice versa. Now to call my congressman about these young ruffians.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 7:43 PM on November 18, 2005

From my experience, methyl alcohol works better than ethyl or isopropyl on most permanent markers.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:55 AM on November 19, 2005

What I've found from my ESL career: non-permanent marker ink can remove permanent marker ink (at least on white boards.)
posted by alidarbac at 1:43 AM on November 19, 2005

Try SoftScrub. This contains a very mild abrasive that works as a polish for plastic.
posted by Penguin at 6:50 AM on November 19, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks, guys. I'll post again once I find something that works or I get some info from the cable company. >:(
posted by Optimus Chyme at 7:53 AM on November 19, 2005

BTW, methyl alcohol magically dissolves most ballpoint ink, which is very difficult to remove otherwise. Works well on hard surfaces, like desk tops, but don't try it on fabric or you'll get a larger stain.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:13 PM on November 19, 2005