How to Get Sharpie off My Converse

Converse are stylish and comfortable shoes, which is why you want to keep them in perfect condition. If you get Sharpie marker ink on them either accidentally or on purpose, you may wish to get that ink out completely. By following a few helpful tips, you can remove the Sharpie marks without too much difficulty. Experts also recommend performing routine cleaning and applying weather protection to ensure your Converse stay in the best shape.

Start by putting on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands. The chemicals you'll use aren't hazardous but you need to use caution.

Your first step is to apply a small amount of nail polish remover to a paper towel and then apply the nail polish remover to the Sharpie stain. Apply enough to cover the entire stain but don't thoroughly saturate the shoe. Give it a couple of minutes to soak into the fabric. Then, use dry paper towels to gently rub and dab the Sharpie marks to remove as much as you can. Continue these steps, taking care not to rub the marks deeper into the material.

If the Sharpie marks prove to be too challenging to remove with nail polish remover, you can buff the remaining stain with fine-grit sandpaper to get the rest of it off. Only use this step when you've removed most of the stain using other methods. If you use too much sandpaper or if the grit is too coarse, you'll damage the sneakers.

There are a few other tactics to try to get Sharpie marks off your Converse sneakers. One is to use hair spray. Spray hair spray all over the Sharpie marks. Let them sit for several minutes but be careful not to let them dry completely. Once they've sat for a few minutes, scrub with paper towels, repeating as needed until the marker has lifted.

You can try rubbing alcohol instead of nail polish remover. However, if you're using this method, make sure to use a lint-free cloth and dampen it with rubbing alcohol. Rub the stain gently in a circular direction. Repeat this step using clean sections of the cloth as needed. When the stain is gone, wipe with cool water using a paper towel to remove any remaining alcohol.

Finally, you can use a water-displacing spray to remove Sharpie stains from Converse shoes. Spray the liquid onto the stain to saturate it. Then, rub it with a damp paper towel, repeating the steps as needed until the stain has lifted.

Regular cleaning can help keep your Converse looking new. You should never wash these shoes in the laundry machine or dryer no matter what the material.

Instead, for the canvas portion of the shoes, rub it with a clean, lint-free cloth that has been wet with warm water and mild soap, such as Dawn. Do the same with the leather sections of the shoes or use a commercial leather cleaner. Finally, if your Converse have suede portions, use a suede brush and gently clean them with it. Do not ever get the suede wet.

To dry your Converse sneakers, stuff them tightly with paper towels, newspaper or even socks so that they hold their shape. If your Converse are made with suede and leather, treat them with shoe spray before wearing them. That way, you don't have to worry about everyday weather occurrences and moisture while wearing them.