how to get a sparkling-clean white board
One of my pet peeves is a dirty white board — you know, with marker “crumbs” and shadows of past notes to oneself. I’ve heard about all kinds of ways to get white boards squeaky clean, including scrubbing them with toothpaste. Toothpaste works OK, but it leaves streaks, and I just don’t like having that minty-fresh smell in my office.
Guess which cleaning product works best? You got it: Bar Keepers Friend. Shelterrific has sung the graces of this magical powder in the past, and it has come through yet again. Now, at the beginning of every month, I erase last month’s appointments and reminders from my white board and wipe it down with BKF. I then have a clean slate on which to plan the next month of my family’s life. How do you clean your white board? — Michelle V.K.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:50 am
I don’t know whether this will work for white boards, too, but at work, we have laminated floor plans and lists that we write on during the shift with those sticky black pencils…the name escapes me. Anyway, scrub away as hard as you can, but sometimes you still have a dirty looking, black cloudy mess on the lamination when you try to clean it. A yellow crayon works wonderfuly well. Scribble on the mess with the yellow crayon and then wipe it with a paper towel – brand new!
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
thank you for the tip. i have the same whiteboard calendar and the smudgey leftovers each month drive me crazy!
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I use Lysol Spray. Take a few paper towels, and spray a generous amount onto the towels. Wipe. Repeat.
Clean up the black flakes with a clean paper towel.
Bar Keepers Freind reminds me of Ajax which will leave tiny pits in your board.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
So far, BKF hasn’t created any pits on my board, but that’s good to know about Ajax.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:11 pm
rubbing alcohol. works like a charm and no residue.
February 4th, 2009 at 6:56 am
I agree with laila.. I always use rubbing alcohol. I keep some in a small spritz bottle and just spray it on there and wipe off with a tissue or paper towel. Afterward, it’s like a brand new white board again!
February 6th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Also, permanant marker wipes right off white boards with Lysol Disinfectant Spray.
Thanks for the tip about rubbing alcohol Laila. I’ll have to try that one.
February 9th, 2009 at 5:23 am
[...] 2. There are several ways to get a whiteboard clean. Laila says to try: “Rubbing alcohol. Works like a charm and no residue.” See more whiteboard cleaning ideas here. [...]
February 25th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
The easiest thing I’ve ever found to clean a dry erase board is, ready for this: dry erase markers. That’s right, just use a black dry erase over old marks and then wipe clear. I know it sounds… backwards, but it really, REALLY works, and you don’t need to buy anything.
February 27th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I once used a commercial limescale remover spray to get permanent marker off a whiteboard. Worked great.