Answers.Body: <p>I use pure Eucalyptus oil. It works wonderfully. Keep in mind that if you are using it on LEGO, it will also remove the original printing (but won't harm the plastic itself), so I wouldn't recommend it in that case. But other than that Eucalyptus oil can remove marker, paint, glue-residue, and all kinds of gunk much better and faster than products like Goo-Gone. I'm an artist and use it on a regular basis. Eucalyptus oil is available in small bottles at health-food stores, larger bottles at pharmacies (that's what I use), and also at some Asian stores (usually the cheapest).</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-13T13:17:05.037Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-08-13T13:17:05.037Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: TheBrickBlogger
Answers.Body: <p>I've used a dry erase marker, over the permanent, to remove it from a white board.  I don't know if that'd work on Lego or not.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-12T19:34:28.780Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-08-12T19:34:28.780Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nathan
Answers.Body: <p>Assuming it's regular alcohol based permanent markers, 70% Isopropyl alcohol will wipe it off easily. Coat a swab or wet a tissue, don't apply it directly to the brick - it slightly eats away at the material, but not to the degree where you'll shorten the lifespan of the plastic without repeated cleaning or prolonged exposure.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-03T13:06:17.033Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-06-03T13:06:17.033Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Chloride Cull
Answers.Body: <p>I know it's not the most cost-effective way, but I used to use gasoline on a rag to remove a lot of markings on plastics of all kinds.  It won't warp the plastic when used sparingly on a rag.  </p>
  
  <p>The only downside is that it may "smear" the marker, depending on the kind of marker that was used.  </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-13T01:45:32.340Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-08-13T01:45:32.340Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jesse Schweitzer
Answers.Body: <p>Rubbing alcohol has worked for me.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-13T21:32:50.820Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-08-13T21:32:50.820Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: DakotaPaul
Answers.Body: <p>Using nail polish remover works really well. You can soak the piece in a small tub of it or wet a cotton ball down with the solution and rub the piece. The part that was rubbed will be a little rough, but scrubbing it with water for 30 seconds or so will remove it. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-06-08T09:04:31.970Z
Answers.Text: I would not recommend this, as nail polish remover is usually acetone which DISSOLVES the ABS plastic Lego pieces are made of. Not quite like the Wicked Witch effect, but it still damages the piece badly.
Answers.UserDisplayName: htmlcoderexe
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-06-07T23:42:05.303Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-06-07T23:42:05.303Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user15408
Answers.Body: <p>Nail polish remover (or purer acetone if you happen to work in a lab) works really well. You can either soak the piece in it (I like to use a small tupperware container) if it is really covered, or wipe it away with a paper towel wetted with the solution. </p>
  
  <p>This works because the sharpie in is a non-polar molecule and thus will dissolve in solvents like acetone. Rubbing alcohol also works like this, but is markedly less effective. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-10-28T09:07:05.157Z
Answers.Text: You need to be careful with Acetone though, as it [will melt the ABS used to make the bricks](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/a/1286/56) if left for too long.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-20T19:02:23.470Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-08-20T19:02:23.470Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Slackliner
Answers.Body: <p>Dry erase marker works great but often just rubbing it out with a dry paper towel works also. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-13T11:22:13.323Z
Answers.Text: Without reading the existing answer from Grandpappy that also refers to Dry erase markers, I'm not sure what you mean?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-08-13T04:03:08.837Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-08-13T04:03:08.837Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user3909
Body: <p>I need to remove permanent marker from hard plastic. How can I do it?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-08-12T19:55:10.977Z
Comments.Text: What color is the marker and the piece of plastic?  What type of plastic?  Most Lego pieces are ABS plastic, but I think the clear pieces are something else.
Comments.UserDisplayName: dfrevert
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-06-08T10:48:33.233Z
Comments.Text: Unless the pieces are somewhat rare or expansive to replace, I suggest just getting new pieces as replacements. Chemicals that remove permanent markers will etch the LEGO pieces, and rubbing the marker away may leave scratches. It usually isn't worth the effort.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Sir Cornflakes
Tags: <cleaning>
Title: How can I remove permanent marker from a LEGO brick?
UserDisplayName: user3902
ThreadText: # How can I remove permanent marker from a LEGO brick?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-08-12)
  
  I need to remove permanent marker from hard plastic. How can I do it?
  
  **Tags:** cleaning
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: What color is the marker and the piece of plastic?  What type of plastic?  Most Lego pieces are ABS plastic, but I think the clear pieces are something else.  
  > **username_2**: Unless the pieces are somewhat rare or expansive to replace, I suggest just getting new pieces as replacements. Chemicals that remove permanent markers will etch the LEGO pieces, and rubbing the marker away may leave scratches. It usually isn't worth the effort.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 8 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2014-08-13. Score: 7
  
  I use pure Eucalyptus oil. It works wonderfully. Keep in mind that if you are using it on LEGO, it will also remove the original printing (but won't harm the plastic itself), so I wouldn't recommend it in that case. But other than that Eucalyptus oil can remove marker, paint, glue-residue, and all kinds of gunk much better and faster than products like Goo-Gone. I'm an artist and use it on a regular basis. Eucalyptus oil is available in small bottles at health-food stores, larger bottles at pharmacies (that's what I use), and also at some Asian stores (usually the cheapest).
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2014-08-12. Score: 3
  
  I've used a dry erase marker, over the permanent, to remove it from a white board. I don't know if that'd work on Lego or not.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2021-06-03. Score: 1
  
  Assuming it's regular alcohol based permanent markers, 70% Isopropyl alcohol will wipe it off easily. Coat a swab or wet a tissue, don't apply it directly to the brick - it slightly eats away at the material, but not to the degree where you'll shorten the lifespan of the plastic without repeated cleaning or prolonged exposure.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2014-08-13. Score: 1
  
  I know it's not the most cost-effective way, but I used to use gasoline on a rag to remove a lot of markings on plastics of all kinds. It won't warp the plastic when used sparingly on a rag.
  
  The only downside is that it may "smear" the marker, depending on the kind of marker that was used.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2014-08-13. Score: 1
  
  Rubbing alcohol has worked for me.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2020-06-07. Score: -3
  
  Using nail polish remover works really well. You can soak the piece in a small tub of it or wet a cotton ball down with the solution and rub the piece. The part that was rubbed will be a little rough, but scrubbing it with water for 30 seconds or so will remove it.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_9**: I would not recommend this, as nail polish remover is usually acetone which DISSOLVES the ABS plastic Lego pieces are made of. Not quite like the Wicked Witch effect, but it still damages the piece badly.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_10 on 2014-08-20. Score: -3
  
  Nail polish remover (or purer acetone if you happen to work in a lab) works really well. You can either soak the piece in it (I like to use a small tupperware container) if it is really covered, or wipe it away with a paper towel wetted with the solution.
  
  This works because the sharpie in is a non-polar molecule and thus will dissolve in solvents like acetone. Rubbing alcohol also works like this, but is markedly less effective.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_11**: You need to be careful with Acetone though, as it [will melt the ABS used to make the bricks](http://bricks.stackexchange.com/a/1286/56) if left for too long.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_12 on 2014-08-13. Score: -3
  
  Dry erase marker works great but often just rubbing it out with a dry paper towel works also.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_11**: Without reading the existing answer from Grandpappy that also refers to Dry erase markers, I'm not sure what you mean?  
  
  ---
  
  