How to Clean Dry Erase Boards

Co-authored by Cleanzen Cleaning Services

Last Updated: March 26, 2023

If you’ve ever used a dry erase board, you’ve probably run into problems with trying to get it completely clean. When writing or drawings are left on a whiteboard, they can leave troublesome stains that are all too difficult to wipe off. Fortunately, there are a number of effective ways you can use cleaning solutions or even everyday items from around your house to clean your dry erase board.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning a Board With Dry Erase Board Cleaner

1
Remove as many markings as possible with an eraser or cloth. Use a microfiber cleaning cloth or felt eraser to clean as much of the board as you can before applying the cleaner. Press down firmly and wipe in a circular motion as you erase.
- Make sure you use a clean cloth or eraser; trying to erase markings with a dirty cloth or eraser will just end up making your board even dirtier!
- You can clean the felt eraser or cloth by running it under cold water until it’s visibly cleaner and then allowing it to air dry.
2
Spray the dry erase board cleaner onto the board. Apply enough of the cleaner so that there is a thin layer of the solution over the area you intend to clean. You only need to spray the cleaner onto the markings you hope to clean, although if you want to clean the entire board, you should spray the cleaner everywhere.
- Be sure to use a non-toxic dry erase board cleaner on your whiteboard, especially if it’s located in a classroom or other environment where young children are exposed to it.
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3
Wipe off the whiteboard cleaner. Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe away the dry erase board cleaner after you’ve sprayed it onto the board. Wipe the board in a circular motion, pressing down firmly, until the marks have been removed.
4
Consider using paint remover on troublesome stains. If the stains are not sufficiently removed by whiteboard cleaner, you may want to use a paint or adhesive remover instead. Apply the remover to a soft cloth and blot it over the stained area until it’s completely covered. Then, wipe away the remover with a clean cloth, wiping again firmly in a circular motion.
- Make sure you read the warnings and precautions on the label of the paint remover or adhesive remover before using it on your dry erase board, especially if children are frequently exposed to the board.
5
Rinse the board with water to remove the cleaner and dry it. Once your board is sufficiently clean, rinse the board with cold water to remove any excess or leftover whiteboard cleaner. Then, dry with a soft cleaning cloth or dry erase cleaning cloth.
- If your board is too large to be rinsed with water, you can alternatively dip a clean cloth in water and use that to “rinse” away the excess cleaner.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Alternative Cleaning Solutions

1
Clean the board with rubbing alcohol if you don’t have any commercial cleaner. Rubbing alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol, is a very effective cleaning solution when applied to dry erase boards.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Cleanzen Cleaning Services
Residential Cleaning Specialists
Expert Interview. 4 February 2022.} Soak a small piece of cloth in rubbing alcohol and use it to wipe the board clean. Rinse the cloth in warm water and wipe the board again to remove more troublesome marks.^{[2]
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- For best results, use a solution with at least a 90% isopropyl concentration. 99% is the ideal concentration for use as a dry erase board cleaner.
- Solutions with 70% concentrations will also work, although they will be less effective than solutions with higher concentrations.
2
Use window cleaner if you already have it on hand. Windex is actually equally effective as most dry erase board cleaners at removing marks and stains. Spray some Windex on a dry cloth and wipe the board in large circular motions to easily clean your board without having to go out to buy a separate whiteboard cleaner.^{[3]
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- Avoid wiping the board in straight lines, as this will only push marker residue to the different edges of the dry erase board and make it harder for you to clean it in the long run.
- Make sure you remove all Windex residue from the board after you’ve cleaned it. Rinse the board in cold water or use a clean wet cloth to wipe away the excess Windex. Any leftover Windex will make it difficult for you to write on the board in the future.
3
Put hand sanitizer on a paper towel and use it as a convenient cleaner. Use the paper towel to spread the hand sanitizer onto the markings you want to remove from the dry erase board.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Cleanzen Cleaning Services
Residential Cleaning Specialists
Expert Interview. 4 February 2022.} Allow the sanitizer to stay on the markings for 30 seconds, then use more paper towels to remove it.
- You can also use a soft dry cloth to remove the hand sanitizer.
- There’s no 1 brand of hand sanitizer that works best on dry erase boards; any cheap brand will do!
4
Use baby wipes to clean your board if you have small children. If you happen to have excess baby wipes in your house, you can also put them to use to clean your dirty whiteboard! Simply scrub the whiteboard with the baby wipe until the markings are gone and the board is clean.^{[5]
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- Note that you may have to vigorously scrub the board with the baby wipe in order to remove more difficult marks and stains.
5
Scrub your board with a toothbrush and toothpaste for troublesome stains. Run an old, clean toothbrush under water, apply the toothpaste, and scrub the whiteboard with the toothbrush until it’s clean. Once the board is clean, wipe the board with a paper towel or absorbent cloth to remove the excess liquid.
- For best results, use ordinary white toothpaste to clean your board.
- You can also use this method to remove permanent marker from your dry erase board and to clean other non-porous surfaces.
6
Mix baking soda with water and use the mix to cheaply clean your board. Mix water into a small container of baking soda until it forms into a thick paste. Then, use a paper towel to dab a small amount of the paste onto your whiteboard and vigorously scrub the board until it’s clean. Finally, wipe the board with a wet paper towel.
- You can use a paper towel or cloth to dry the board after you’ve cleaned it, although it’s also fine for you to let it air dry.
- There’s no set amount of baking soda you should mix with the water; simply continually mix small amounts of baking soda into a bowl or glass of water until it forms into a thick paste.
7
Use nail polish remover and cotton to gently clean your board. Apply a generous amount of nail polish remover to a cotton or linen cloth. Then, gently rub your dry erase board with the cloth until it’s clean. Use a separate damp cloth to wipe the nail polish remover off the board and dry it with a paper towel.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Cleanzen Cleaning Services
Residential Cleaning Specialists
Expert Interview. 4 February 2022.}
- If you only want to clean a small part of your dry erase board, you might want to consider simply using a cotton ball instead of a cloth.
8
Clean your board with dry cleaner fluid if it can handle abrasive compounds. Dry cleaner fluid and carpet stain remover use cleaning chemicals that can also be used to clean your whiteboard. Spray the fluid onto your board as you would with whiteboard cleaner, then wipe it away with a sponge.^{[7]
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- Make sure that your board isn’t made of a substance, such as porcelain, that will be harmed by abrasive compounds in the cleaner fluid.