How to Make Sharpie Wet Again

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How many times has your drawing or writing been interrupted by the dry out, abrasive scratch of a "dead" mark? If you tin can't seem to get a reasonable lifespan out of your markers, accept no fright — it's usually possible to bring expressionless markers back to life (temporarily, at least) with 1 of several easy tricks. Whether you're using water-based coloring markers, dry-erase markers, or even heavy-duty permanent markers, the solution to dry tips is ofttimes as easy as simply soaking the markers for a few minutes.

1. one

   Pour about one cup of warm water into a bowl. If you have 1 or more dried-out water-based markers, try this elementary play a joke on to breathe some life back into them. Start by filling a small bowl with warm or hot water. In the next footstep, this water will soak into the markers' stale-out tips, which will usually permit the ink to brainstorm flowing freely in one case more.

   • Note that it's non essential to use warm or hot h2o — common cold water will also work. However, since ink diffuses more than quickly in higher-temperature water, this usually works faster.

2. two

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

   • As noted in a higher place, this method is only advised for water-based markers. If you're not certain whether your markers are water-based or not, check the packaging (if it's available). Equally a very general rule, water-based markers are used for drawing and coloring and are marketed to children, though there are exceptions (such as high-quality markers marketed to grown-upwardly artists).^[ane]

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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, then lay the markers on the rag to dry. Yous want the markers to dry to the point that the ink in their tips is no longer diluted with water, just non and then dry that they won't write.

   • The time this takes can vary and often takes upwardly to 24 hours.^[ii] Your all-time bet is to check on the markers past scribbling on a sail of paper every few hours to test their writing ability.
   • Note that this process will probably get a niggling ink onto your towel or rag. Even though this ink is water-based, it can crusade stains that are hard to remove, then you'll probably want to utilize an erstwhile, worn-out rag that yous don't heed staining.

4. 4

   Replace the caps when done. In one case your markers are writing properly once again, be sure to supersede their caps. Leaving a marker's cap off is a sure-fire way to find yourself with some other dried-out mark. On the other hand, capping your markers between uses helps concur the moisture in the tip, ensuring the marker writes for as long as possible.

   • If you've lost your marker'due south cap, don't worry — yous can employ a small square of plastic wrap and a rubber band every bit a temporary solution. Information technology's also possible to make a more durable slip-on cap by wrapping a slice of record around the marker tip (sticky side out), then wrapping another piece of tape on summit of the first (viscid side in).

5. 5

   Alternatively, utilize a few drops of vinegar. Another home remedy for dried out water-based markers involves using vinegar. With this method, yous'll want to put your markers tip-down in a dry basin and dampen each marker'due south tip with one or two drops of clear white vinegar. Let the markers to soak for several minutes before drying as higher up. Don't submerge the marker tips as you would when using water — you just want a few drops for each.

   • To transfer just a drop or two to each mark tip, attempt filling the vinegar canteen'due south cap, then using a modest stick (like a charcoal-broil skewer) or an center dropper to add together vinegar to each marker drib-by-drop.

6. 6

   Consider injecting water into the marker. One final mode to go your markers back in shape requires a long, abrupt, skinny needle (like a hypodermic syringe). For this method, fill up your syringe with water, then insert the needle directly through the tip into the body of the marker. Button a pocket-size amount of water into the marker very slowly, assuasive air to drain out through the tip as you add together water. Once you've added no more than than a milliliter (mL/cc) or so, let the marker residual on an old rag briefly to dry out before using (every bit directed in a higher place).

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1. ane

   Secure the marker to the terminate of a long string. Dry erase markers don't employ the aforementioned blazon of water-based ink every bit ordinary "coloring" markers, so reviving them past moistening their tips normally won't piece of work. Instead, endeavor making the most of the ink that's trapped inside the mark itself. To start, tie a long cord around the body of the dried-out mark. Secure it to the string with sturdy tape.^[three]

   • In the next step, you'll utilize the power of centrifugal force to force ink into the dried-out tip of the marking. Centrifugal force is basically the thought that objects being swung in a circumvolve feel a force that pushes them "outward" — that is, away from the center of the circle. In this case, the outward-pushing force will move whatsoever remaining ink from the trunk of the marker into the tip.

2. 2

   Swing the mark around your caput like a lasso. First, check to make certain the cap is on securely and completely encompasses the tip. Alarm: check advisedly to see if the cap has openings, if it does, ink may wing out and splatter the room. Carefully have the length of string in your hand and swing the marker in a circular arc over your head (similar a lasso). The tip of the marker should be facing out, not in. Centrifugal force will begin to push the ink in the marker toward the tip. Exercise this for about 30 seconds earlier testing your marker. Some ink may spill out when you open the cap. Be certain to open the marker abroad from carpeting or other fabric.

   • Brand certain you have plenty of room around you free from obstructions before y'all start swinging the marker. Though you're very unlikely to cause serious injury past swinging a marker around, you lot can still break your marking or injure someone if you accidentally swing the mark into his or her eye, so err on the side of safety.

3. 3

   Alternatively, plough the tip around with pliers. If yous can't become your marker to write later on using the lasso method above, grab a pair of pliers and try this method. Grip the soft fabric tip of the dry-erase marker with your pliers and pull straight outward. For many markers, the tip should come out without too much try.^[4] Once information technology'southward out, if there'south a like soft fabric cease on the other side of the tip, try flipping the tip around and replacing it. The marker should exist able to write immediately. As ink soaks through the previously dry cease of the tip, you can remove the tip once again and flip information technology back around if y'all wish.

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

4. 4

   As a last resort, try buying refill ink. While effective, the methods to a higher place will just 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 — y'all may need to buy replacement ink.

   • Refill dry out-erase ink can usually be purchased from role supply stores or specialty online retailers. Commonly, dry-erase is quite cheap —sometimes as low for $1.00 for a small-scale canister of ink.

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1. i

   Soak the dry marking tips in rubbing alcohol. For most permanent markers (like Sharpies, etc.) with dried out tips, yous can get the marker writing once again with a trick that'due south similar to the water-soaking method for water-based markers above. For this method, start past filling a small-scale container with rubbing alcohol — for instance, you lot may want to use the cap of the bottle of rubbing alcohol.^[five]

   • Yous don't need very much rubbing alcohol — just enough to submerge the tip of your marker (or markersouthward). Filling an unabridged basin with rubbing booze (as you'd do with water for water-based markers) may be wasteful.

2. ii

   Allow the markers dry out with their caps on. After soaking your markers for a few minutes in rubbing booze, you should notice a small amount of ink swirling around in the liquid. Remove the markers from the alcohol and replace their caps. Identify them tip-side upwardly in a drinking glass or mug and allow them rest for about 24-48 hours. Subsequently this resting menses, if ink remains in the markers, they should write well once once again.

   • Rubbing alcohol evaporates very quickly compared to h2o, so you won't want to let the markers residue with their caps off every bit you would after soaking water-based markers.^[6] If y'all do, they'll quickly dry out again.

3. 3

   Consider using the leftover alcohol as ink. If the alcohol yous soaked your marker tips in absorbed some of the ink from your permanent markers, y'all may want to try using it as a grade of ink or dye in yous own art projects. Booze-based inks are quite effective at dying materials similar metal that other inks can exist ineffective on. For instance, to make custom-colored staples, but soak the staples in leftover booze that you used to moisten colored permanent markers' tips.

4. 4

   Alternatively, inject alcohol or acetone into the marker. Similar with water-based markers, you can sometimes get new life out of a dried-out permanent marker by injecting moisture directly into information technology. However, in this case, you lot won't want to apply water, but instead your marker'due south ink solvent. Usually, this is isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) or acetone (the agile ingredient in nail polish remover), then but inject a milliliter or so of i of these chemicals into the body of the marking as yous would with water above.

   • Endeavor checking your markers' packaging for a list 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?

  

  Yes. It works fine with Crayola markers. Just exercise the h2o based markers footstep.

• Question

  How exercise I revive Chromatix markers?

  

  Padma Balaji

  Community Answer

  The booze method would probably work best, considering Chromatix pens are alcohol-based.

• Question

  How do I revive a paint marker?

  

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

• Question

  How long should I leave it in the alcohol?

  

  You should go out the marker in the alcohol, undisturbed, for v minutes.

• Question

  Where can I notice refills of marker ink?

  

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

• Question

  Does this work on highlighters?

  

  Yeah, I used this method on one of my highlighters and information technology worked fine.

• Question

  Can you employ whatever alcohol, or does it have to be rubbing alcohol or denatured?

  

  Some markers work with acetone. Blast polish remover will practise the trick; follow the same steps, merely replace the rubbing alcohol.

• Question

  I take water based markers that ran out so I did the start trick I saw, hot water, the next day when I looked to run into 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 practice something incorrect?

  

  Some markers may non work with the water technique. To revive them, try using rubbing alcohol. You lot may have left them in the water too long. If you still have the water, depending on how pigmented it is, you could try to inject it back into the marker.

• Question

  What tin I use instead of rubbing alcohol?

  

  Y'all could likewise employ denatured alcohol, which tin can be constitute at hardware stores. Information technology is usually located nigh the paints.

• Question

  I bought an 80-pack of Copic markers, and some of them were stale out. How can I ready them?

  

  Check the packaging to effigy out which method should be used. If the packaging says permanent on it, then use the permanent mark method. If the packaging says washable, then use the washable marker method.

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Video

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

• 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 choice if you would like them to last a while. Also, endeavour to buy markers that won't dry out out if you lot leave the lids off. This way, if you forget, you lot won't have to buy more.

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

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

• Try using gloves when you revive the markers. The ink may accidentally become on your pare and can be difficult to get off.

• If you decide to attempt the injection method, be sure that the needle is very thin. Otherwise, ink may baste from the needle'south hole.

Thank you for submitting a tip for review!

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

• Don't use markers on a rough surface. Doing then might damage the tip.

• This proffer may not work for all brands of markers. If it doesn't piece of work for your make, perchance you should switch over to one that is more reliable.

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Things You'll Need

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

About This Article

Article Summary X

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

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