Permanent marks (especially from Sharpies) are easily removed by just tracing the marks with a dry-erase marker. The solvent in the dry-erase actually works well to remove permanent marker. That said, don't use Sharpies as a general rule. :)
The problem with this method is that no big box sells a solvent based dry erase marker. All are Low Odor markers. They are not good for removing permanent marker ink because they contain no solvents or solvents that are so weak that they don't impact the permanent marker ink
THANK YOU! Our dry erase board at work was getting so freaking black you couldn't read it. I used an emergency alcohol wipe and even the small amount I could do with it there is a huge difference.
Hi! I installed a huge sheet of white acrylic on my wall to use as a whiteboard. But when I clean the board, it's not getting clean very well, and everywhere has markers' stain :(. I would appreciate it if you had any suggestions for improving the board's surface.
The problem is that only specialized acrylic is dry eraseable. Unless you purchased a dry erase sheet, it will be difficult to erase and you will experience ghosting. I recommend that after you erase, you clean it with isopropyl alcohol. I don't know how long that will work or how well it will work to begin with because I don't know what you really have. You could buy a 4'x 8' roll of dry erase membrane and install it over your board. I would cost about $225 plus shipping. Try the alcohol and see how that works
FUN FACT: HEET in the red bottle is 99% IPA*, & it's cheap! It's available at every auto parts store, convenience store, & Walmart I've ever been in. (HEET is gas line antifreeze, so may be more difficult to find in the South.) *Isopropyl Alcohol
If it is damaged, there's no point in cleaning it because the ink won't wipe off the next time you use it. Whiteboards only work because they are completely smooth. Once someone scrubs it with a sponge and puts tiny scratches on it, it's no longer suitable as a dry-erase board. The ink will go into the little crevices and cause "ghosting" or won't erase completely.
@@thomasalias8492 You can never get the surface 100% smooth again, but you can significantly improve performance with a lipid treatment (similar to correcting scratches/skips on compact disks) by thoroughly cleaning off as much remaining ink/wax residue (the stuff in pens) as possible using a solvent like isopropyl, and then resurfacing with a thin layer of Wd40 using a soft microfiber cloth (taking care to rub it in well). The petroleum tends to stick inside the micro-scratches on the surface and improves erasing capability a good deal, but never 100%. If you use whiteboards often it helps to do cleaning/oil treatments like this every so often to keep it nice.
Doug, I tried cleaning with rubbing alcohol and feel very happy with the results. I am using a white sock to clean the board as my eraser acts like it is just "pushing" the dry ink around. Doug, how does the frictional heat play a role in maintaining a good white board. Will the heat adversely effect the board? Thank again for the advise, I guess the WD-40 and Wax videos on CZcams should be used for entertainment value. ;)
the problem probably is that you didn't let the ink dry. today's ink has no solvent in it and therefore takes awhile to dry. No Odor means no solvent and therefore slow drying. Try letting the ink sit for 20 minutes to be really dry and the sock should work fine
would anybody please tell how to get rid of reflection and shadow from white board in making video. in doug's video there is no shadow and reflection. thanks
Not really. There are products that come in a roll that can be applied over the ruined surface, but they cost more than just buying a new board. There is a CZcams video of restoring a whiteboard with a good car wax - czcams.com/video/44d5p0mtUZs/video.html . First clean with isopropyl alcohol or even GoofOff to get it clean. Worth a try, but I can't vouch for it.
Most erasers can simply be put in your washing machine. Also using microfiber cloths makes cleaning even easier. When the ink in the eraser smears the whiteboard during use, it's time to clean it.
Doug, great video. My 2 month old dry erase board just does not work well. The dry erase ink is very difficult to remove. I saw somewhere that I can treat the board with either WD40 or Car Wax. Is this a good solution. Thanks.
Philip Polaski I've never heard of coating a dry erase board with either WD40 or car wax. The issue with a dry erase surface is whether the molecular structure is tight enough or not. If you coat with anything, the issue is whether the coating is tight enough. I would think that a really good car wax would be a tight structure, but I just don't know. I would try cleaning with alcohol first.
Sorry to give you bad news. There is nothing that you can do except buy and new whiteboard. Those scratches will hold ink that can't be removed and the whole board will turn gray
Windex doesn't label their product with it's contents. I don't know what it might contain that would be a problem, but my guess is that if Windex is working for you on your board, it probably is OK. If, however, you have an inexpensive whiteboard with a minimal dry erase surface coating, a chemical in the Windex might erode it over time. I just don't know. Alcohol wipes cost much less than Windex OR baby wipes
I have a question. I just took a used whiteboard which was kept unused for years.its full of the marks left by the marker.today I bought a new pen and tried writing on it,and when I tried to erase it,its not working...is it the problem with the board? also,i don't know wat to do to make usable again...plz help!!!!
Probably the board is worn out and/or is a poor quality surface such as melamine. In any case, see if you can clean it with alcohol. If that cleans a spot on the board, try writing in the spot. Be sure to let the ink dry and see if it erases. If not, will it clean with isopropyl alcohol? If it only works with the cleaner that's what you'll have to use. If alcohol doesn't clean it in the first place, toss it.
I have been able to resurface 2 boards at school for 4 years beautifully by wiping clean with baby wipes, then car wax or WD40 , then polish off again once a year. I do have one that I think disinfectant wipes were used on it. I'll try alcohol tomorrow.
I've cleaned my board with gumption (an abrasive cleaner - someone advised it) and it has always worked well. I just cleaned it last week and now I can't erase anything. Is there any way to fix this?
+Geraldine Mckenzie Most likely not unless it is a porcelain board. If it is not porcelain, you probably removed or scratched the dry erase surface enough with repeated cleaning. I would, however, make sure that the residue from the cleaner is not absorbing the ink and is the reason that it is no longer erasable. Clean the board with alcohol first. Use enough to wet the surface and wipe off whatever will come with a clean dry cloth. Try writing on it and see if it erases. You can also try "Goof Off" as a last resort, but that may ruin the surface further. The chance that your board is only good for the trash pickup is better than 50%. NEVER clean and dry erase board (including porcelain) with abrasives of any kind.
+Geraldine Mckenzie for resurfacing purposes I have just tried wax candle on mine - just rub it over the surface, warm up by parts with a hairdryer, when it is melted clean it with a cloth and thats it!
@@murerase is there a way to resurface a dry erase 12 x 12 lapboard? I used an abrasive (Mr clean magic eraser) to get the old stained marker and sharpie off and took the white dry erase surface off instead.
@@gface1108 Sorry, no way to resurface a whiteboard that has had the dry erase surface removed. There are dry erase films that could be used, but it would be more expensive that just buying a new 12 x 12.
@@murerase Fair enough :( I was afraid you were going to say that. Now, I just need to find a quality vendor. I just want to say thank you very much for not only the video but for taking the time to reply to my question, too!
Wash them like clothes making sure they are rinsed thoroughly. Dry erase fabric wipes can be washed many times. The erasers eventually fall apart. Make sure you rinse thoroughly to get the detergent out
I think that baby wipes have isopropyl alcohol in them, but there are obviously several brands of baby wipes. I am sure that they won't hurt our whiteboards unless they contain surfactants that leave a soap film on the board. If that is the case, the film will hold the ink and cause the board to be very hard to erase. I would stick with isopropyl alcohol without additives. I don't know if Windex will clean ink from whiteboards or if it has other ingredients that could be a problem. I doubt that it does, but I have never tested it.
Digital Education Information Specialist I can't be sure about all types of surfaces, but a high quality surface such as ours or porcelain is not a problem
Get a Glass Board, they come in all different colours too. I've got a large black glass board in my home office on the wall. It Looks really smart. They cost more but it's the same old story, you get what you pay for. Glass boards don't ghost, they don't bend when you apply pressure due to the strong sheet of aluminium behind the glass and they look great in any home/office environment. These type of boards in the video are cheap and they look kinda tacky and will never last as long as a glass board.
Hydroxides are functional groups of alcohols so it's pretty much the same except in salts. But there are no hydroxide salts in disinfectants. Furthermore most of alcohols are disifectants as well. Did you mean hydrogen peroxide?
+Rainer Zufall To tell you the truth, I'm not sure whether it is the hydroxides or some other element. I tested 5 different disinfectants that are used in hospitals. They all contain hydroxides of one type or another. They all leave a scum or residue of some kind. It is the residue where the ink stays and "grays out" the board. The rubbing alcohol removes the residue and the ink with it. I have no experience with H2O2.
They will both clean the board. They will both leave a residue of other chemicals that may absorb the dry erase ink. A thorough rinsing with plain water immediately after using those products will make sure that doesn't happen.
What if an idiot wrote on the board with a permanent marker and left it for days and it was a presentation meaning a lot of writing, what is the best thing to clean the whole whiteboard? Tracing the marks with a dry-erase marker did work.
Well, it depends on what quality the dry erase surface is. If it is porcelain or glass, you can use mineral spirits and wipe down the entire board. Be sure to then wash the board with soap and water and rinse with plain water. You should try that in a small (6"x 6") corner area. See if the surface continues to be dry eraseable. If the board is a melamine or coated dry erase, start much less aggressively. Use alcohol first. The permanent marker will come off with a little more work, but DO NOT use abrasives to do any scrubbing. Let me know how you do.
Cleaning with isopropyl alcohol RUINED my large dry erase board! :( Came here through a Google search on how to fix a ruined dry erase board... only to hear advice saying to use alcohol -- which is what ruined it in the first place... ~sigh~
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with alcohol. All high quality coatings are easily and well cleaned with alcohol. The dry erase surface on your board is either very thin melamine or a coating that is some proprietary coating that i'm unfamiliar with.
Why isopropyl Alcohol is Dangerous For Your Dry Erase Board
If you do a bit of research on the best ways to clean a whiteboard, chances are the first recommendation you’ll find contains alcohol at the top of the list. There’s a common misconception out there that it’s okay to clean your whiteboard with rubbing alcohol; we’re here to tell you that is not entirely true. We’ll be the first to admit that isopropyl alcohol works as a tremendous cleaning agent, but when it comes to maintaining the quality of your dry erase board, it’s the worst solution imaginable. To understand why this is the case, we first have to take a look at how dry erase boards work. Dry erase markers are made with an oily silicone polymer, which is commonly referred to as a release agent, that prevents ink from sinking into the surface of the board. With colored-pigments giving the ink color, and the solvent dissolving both the pigments and the polymer, the three ingredients are combined and stored in a polyester reservoir that helps contain the ink inside the marker’s casing. When the ink makes contact with the dry erase surface, the solvent evaporates leaving behind the pigment and the polymer. At this point, the pigment and the polymer are essentially two separate layers, with the pigment sitting on top of the polymer. When it comes time to erase ink, the pigment comes off while the polymer is left behind. Now dry erase boards, in particular, are defined as non-porous, meaning ink cannot directly penetrate the surface itself. The exact component that makes whiteboards non-porous is an oily lubricant that makes up the outermost layer of the board. When the ink makes contact with the surface, the polymer instantly binds to the outermost layer, which allows only the colored-pigments to be erased. If the board’s lubricated surface begins to deteriorate, both the ink’s polymer and pigments will begin to soak into the board. This lack of lubrication is primary culprit for why older whiteboards occasionally leave behind ghost markings after they’ve been erased. So what does all this have to do with alcohol? To put it simply, alcohol destroys the lubricating layer of your dry erase board. Yes, your whiteboard will look spotless, but after continued use, your whiteboard will eventually lose the ability to wipe clean. Take a look at the picture below: First, you'll find an image of a whiteboard we received a few months back from a customer that cited their whiteboard was no longer erasing. After a bit of research, we found that the whiteboard was being used in a healthcare facility that regularly used alcohol to sterilize and clean everything. Below this board is a whiteboard that has been cleaned with a whiteboard cleaning solution. Is there really anything else left to say?
What is left to say is that we cannot get customers to buy or use the non-alcohol cleaner that we offer at a very competitive price. What they use in hospitals is a disinfectant that has alcohol for sure. It also has surfacants and other materials that leave a film on the board. The film is what starts the graying process as it absorbs and holds the ink and doesn't allow complete erasing. After the board is completely gray and a big mess, a cleaning with alcohol is necessary and one cleaning has a very small effect (we tested this extensively). The alternative is to get something that is really a problem (abrasives of all kinds both physical and chemical) and use that on the board. Isopropyl alcohol is the best material we know of that cleans such a board. Any specific recommendations that you may have would be greatly appreciated Doug Creed
He talks like anyone would in normal human conversation. You're probably used to the chopped up, skipping videos made today where they cut out the tiniest pauses and shorten any slowly spoken words.
This man knows his dry erase boards. Lost knowledge. Respect.
Permanent marks (especially from Sharpies) are easily removed by just tracing the marks with a dry-erase marker. The solvent in the dry-erase actually works well to remove permanent marker. That said, don't use Sharpies as a general rule. :)
+Samuel Falvo II Like dissolves like. ^_^
The problem with this method is that no big box sells a solvent based dry erase marker. All are Low Odor markers. They are not good for removing permanent marker ink because they contain no solvents or solvents that are so weak that they don't impact the permanent marker ink
Goon gone is a good product to take it off.
Just bought a new board thank you Doug, for the great tips! Appriciated.
THANK YOU! Our dry erase board at work was getting so freaking black you couldn't read it. I used an emergency alcohol wipe and even the small amount I could do with it there is a huge difference.
Very helpful video. Thank you for making it short and too the point 👍
Thanks for the low down! :) Never knew I've been ruining my board with soapy wipes.
Is there a way to restore the surface if scratched?
Thank you.....a very informative video that probably saved me some future grief.
Thank you! Glad I watched this before using a Lysol wipe.
Please help me. My three year old wrote on our dry erase board with a regular water marker. I'm afraid to touch it.
What about hydrogen peroxide? Should I NOT use this?
Hi! I installed a huge sheet of white acrylic on my wall to use as a whiteboard. But when I clean the board, it's not getting clean very well, and everywhere has markers' stain :(. I would appreciate it if you had any suggestions for improving the board's surface.
The problem is that only specialized acrylic is dry eraseable. Unless you purchased a dry erase sheet, it will be difficult to erase and you will experience ghosting. I recommend that after you erase, you clean it with isopropyl alcohol. I don't know how long that will work or how well it will work to begin with because I don't know what you really have. You could buy a 4'x 8' roll of dry erase membrane and install it over your board. I would cost about $225 plus shipping. Try the alcohol and see how that works
FUN FACT: HEET in the red bottle is 99% IPA*, & it's cheap! It's available at every auto parts store, convenience store, & Walmart I've ever been in. (HEET is gas line antifreeze, so may be more difficult to find in the South.) *Isopropyl Alcohol
Also how do you clean it after is is damaged?
If it is damaged, there's no point in cleaning it because the ink won't wipe off the next time you use it. Whiteboards only work because they are completely smooth. Once someone scrubs it with a sponge and puts tiny scratches on it, it's no longer suitable as a dry-erase board. The ink will go into the little crevices and cause "ghosting" or won't erase completely.
@@thomasalias8492 You can never get the surface 100% smooth again, but you can significantly improve performance with a lipid treatment (similar to correcting scratches/skips on compact disks) by thoroughly cleaning off as much remaining ink/wax residue (the stuff in pens) as possible using a solvent like isopropyl, and then resurfacing with a thin layer of Wd40 using a soft microfiber cloth (taking care to rub it in well). The petroleum tends to stick inside the micro-scratches on the surface and improves erasing capability a good deal, but never 100%. If you use whiteboards often it helps to do cleaning/oil treatments like this every so often to keep it nice.
Thank you. But I am teaching with a messed up board. They won’t get me a new one. I am going to clean with alcohol now. Any other ideas. 😊
Doug, I tried cleaning with rubbing alcohol and feel very happy with the results. I am using a white sock to clean the board as my eraser acts like it is just "pushing" the dry ink around. Doug, how does the frictional heat play a role in maintaining a good white board. Will the heat adversely effect the board? Thank again for the advise, I guess the WD-40 and Wax videos on CZcams should be used for entertainment value. ;)
the problem probably is that you didn't let the ink dry. today's ink has no solvent in it and therefore takes awhile to dry. No Odor means no solvent and therefore slow drying. Try letting the ink sit for 20 minutes to be really dry and the sock should work fine
if my board is damaged, can I buy those cheap ebay adhesive wall films and glue it on top ? has anyone done this before ? will it work ?
Well, the cheap ones don't last long, but good ones like Dry Tac and Opti Rite are very good products
Nice, helpful video. Thank you!
What about denatured alcohol?
would anybody please tell how to get rid of reflection and shadow from white board in making video. in doug's video there is no shadow and reflection. thanks
We turned of the electric lights and kept the board off the natural light. Then lightened the video digitally
Once the board is ruined; scratched, someone used a scratch pad, harsh chemicals, is there a way to refurbish the board?
Not really. There are products that come in a roll that can be applied over the ruined surface, but they cost more than just buying a new board. There is a CZcams video of restoring a whiteboard with a good car wax - czcams.com/video/44d5p0mtUZs/video.html . First clean with isopropyl alcohol or even GoofOff to get it clean. Worth a try, but I can't vouch for it.
Thank you for the explanation, Sir. Worked good for me.
Glad it helped.
What do you clean the dry marker eraser with? and how often?
Most erasers can simply be put in your washing machine. Also using microfiber cloths makes cleaning even easier. When the ink in the eraser smears the whiteboard during use, it's time to clean it.
Doug, great video. My 2 month old dry erase board just does not work well. The dry erase ink is very difficult to remove. I saw somewhere that I can treat the board with either WD40 or Car Wax. Is this a good solution. Thanks.
Philip Polaski I've never heard of coating a dry erase board with either WD40 or car wax. The issue with a dry erase surface is whether the molecular structure is tight enough or not. If you coat with anything, the issue is whether the coating is tight enough. I would think that a really good car wax would be a tight structure, but I just don't know. I would try cleaning with alcohol first.
I have another problem i actually played with kinetic sand on my white board and its now very rough I don't know what to do
Sorry to give you bad news. There is nothing that you can do except buy and new whiteboard. Those scratches will hold ink that can't be removed and the whole board will turn gray
@@murerase your right 😣
Great info !
Thank you.
So should I NOT use Windex to clean a whiteboard?
Windex doesn't label their product with it's contents. I don't know what it might contain that would be a problem, but my guess is that if Windex is working for you on your board, it probably is OK. If, however, you have an inexpensive whiteboard with a minimal dry erase surface coating, a chemical in the Windex might erode it over time. I just don't know. Alcohol wipes cost much less than Windex OR baby wipes
I have a question.
I just took a used whiteboard which was kept unused for years.its full of the marks left by the marker.today I bought a new pen and tried writing on it,and when I tried to erase it,its not working...is it the problem with the board? also,i don't know wat to do to make usable again...plz help!!!!
Probably the board is worn out and/or is a poor quality surface such as melamine. In any case, see if you can clean it with alcohol. If that cleans a spot on the board, try writing in the spot. Be sure to let the ink dry and see if it erases. If not, will it clean with isopropyl alcohol? If it only works with the cleaner that's what you'll have to use. If alcohol doesn't clean it in the first place, toss it.
I have been able to resurface 2 boards at school for 4 years beautifully by wiping clean with baby wipes, then car wax or WD40 , then polish off again once a year. I do have one that I think disinfectant wipes were used on it. I'll try alcohol tomorrow.
I never heard of car wax. I'll try it also. Is the board magnetic or non-magnetic?
Magnetic.
How do you clean the dry erase eraser?
Mild soap and water work fine for me, the same for micro fibre cloth.
Wonderful video! Thank you!
Thanks, Andrew
I've cleaned my board with gumption (an abrasive cleaner - someone advised it) and it has always worked well. I just cleaned it last week and now I can't erase anything. Is there any way to fix this?
+Geraldine Mckenzie
Most likely not unless it is a porcelain board. If it is not porcelain, you probably removed or scratched the dry erase surface enough with repeated cleaning. I would, however, make sure that the residue from the cleaner is not absorbing the ink and is the reason that it is no longer erasable. Clean the board with alcohol first. Use enough to wet the surface and wipe off whatever will come with a clean dry cloth. Try writing on it and see if it erases. You can also try "Goof Off" as a last resort, but that may ruin the surface further. The chance that your board is only good for the trash pickup is better than 50%. NEVER clean and dry erase board (including porcelain) with abrasives of any kind.
+Geraldine Mckenzie for resurfacing purposes I have just tried wax candle on mine - just rub it over the surface, warm up by parts with a hairdryer, when it is melted clean it with a cloth and thats it!
@@murerase is there a way to resurface a dry erase 12 x 12 lapboard? I used an abrasive (Mr clean magic eraser) to get the old stained marker and sharpie off and took the white dry erase surface off instead.
@@gface1108 Sorry, no way to resurface a whiteboard that has had the dry erase surface removed. There are dry erase films that could be used, but it would be more expensive that just buying a new 12 x 12.
@@murerase Fair enough :( I was afraid you were going to say that. Now, I just need to find a quality vendor. I just want to say thank you very much for not only the video but for taking the time to reply to my question, too!
What do you clean your dry-erase board eraser with?
Wash them like clothes making sure they are rinsed thoroughly. Dry erase fabric wipes can be washed many times. The erasers eventually fall apart. Make sure you rinse thoroughly to get the detergent out
Are baby wipes isopropyl alcohol safe?
I think that baby wipes have isopropyl alcohol in them, but there are obviously several brands of baby wipes. I am sure that they won't hurt our whiteboards unless they contain surfactants that leave a soap film on the board. If that is the case, the film will hold the ink and cause the board to be very hard to erase. I would stick with isopropyl alcohol without additives.
I don't know if Windex will clean ink from whiteboards or if it has other ingredients that could be a problem. I doubt that it does, but I have never tested it.
Doug, does water harm the board?
water won't harm the dry erase surface
great! thank you
can i use wet erase marker?
Digital Education Information Specialist I can't be sure about all types of surfaces, but a high quality surface such as ours or porcelain is not a problem
thanks for the info sir!
Get a Glass Board, they come in all different colours too. I've got a large black glass board in my home office on the wall. It Looks really smart. They cost more but it's the same old story, you get what you pay for. Glass boards don't ghost, they don't bend when you apply pressure due to the strong sheet of aluminium behind the glass and they look great in any home/office environment. These type of boards in the video are cheap and they look kinda tacky and will never last as long as a glass board.
much thanks to you!
I personally think you're a badass Doug thank you so much for the information
Is there a way to fix a board after you have used the brillo pad?
Once the coating is scratched the ink will stay in the scratches and cause shadowing. There is nothing that can be done to fix it.
Hydroxides are functional groups of alcohols so it's pretty much the same except in salts. But there are no hydroxide salts in disinfectants. Furthermore most of alcohols are disifectants as well. Did you mean hydrogen peroxide?
+Rainer Zufall To tell you the truth, I'm not sure whether it is the hydroxides or some other element. I tested 5 different disinfectants that are used in hospitals. They all contain hydroxides of one type or another. They all leave a scum or residue of some kind. It is the residue where the ink stays and "grays out" the board. The rubbing alcohol removes the residue and the ink with it. I have no experience with H2O2.
How about Windex? 409?
They will both clean the board. They will both leave a residue of other chemicals that may absorb the dry erase ink. A thorough rinsing with plain water immediately after using those products will make sure that doesn't happen.
Are tissues okay?
Tissues are soft enough. Paper towels will, however, scratch some boards. Not ours, but we recommend a dry eraser or a microfiber cloth as the best.
very helpful.
What if an idiot wrote on the board with a permanent marker and left it for days and it was a presentation meaning a lot of writing, what is the best thing to clean the whole whiteboard? Tracing the marks with a dry-erase marker did work.
Well, it depends on what quality the dry erase surface is. If it is porcelain or glass, you can use mineral spirits and wipe down the entire board. Be sure to then wash the board with soap and water and rinse with plain water. You should try that in a small (6"x 6") corner area. See if the surface continues to be dry eraseable. If the board is a melamine or coated dry erase, start much less aggressively. Use alcohol first. The permanent marker will come off with a little more work, but DO NOT use abrasives to do any scrubbing. Let me know how you do.
I've used Lysol spray for that type of thing.
Alcohol is also the best solution but I would try the 90% or more.
Thaks a lot!
1:47. King Crimson ablility
This board has chalk board if you turn back
Cleaning with isopropyl alcohol RUINED my large dry erase board! :( Came here through a Google search on how to fix a ruined dry erase board... only to hear advice saying to use alcohol -- which is what ruined it in the first place... ~sigh~
I'm sorry that you had a bad experience with alcohol. All high quality coatings are easily and well cleaned with alcohol. The dry erase surface on your board is either very thin melamine or a coating that is some proprietary coating that i'm unfamiliar with.
absolutely true. It's not as efficient when the whole board needs cleaning, however.
Andrea’s kas😂
Andrea’s kzaa😂
So turns out I can't renew a whiteboard I got from someone, and need to buy new one. Or should I watch another video… hmmmmm
Why isopropyl Alcohol is Dangerous For Your Dry Erase Board
If you do a bit of research on the best ways to clean a whiteboard, chances are the first recommendation you’ll find contains alcohol at the top of the list. There’s a common misconception out there that it’s okay to clean your whiteboard with rubbing alcohol; we’re here to tell you that is not entirely true. We’ll be the first to admit that isopropyl alcohol works as a tremendous cleaning agent, but when it comes to maintaining the quality of your dry erase board, it’s the worst solution imaginable.
To understand why this is the case, we first have to take a look at how dry erase boards work. Dry erase markers are made with an oily silicone polymer, which is commonly referred to as a release agent, that prevents ink from sinking into the surface of the board. With colored-pigments giving the ink color, and the solvent dissolving both the pigments and the polymer, the three ingredients are combined and stored in a polyester reservoir that helps contain the ink inside the marker’s casing. When the ink makes contact with the dry erase surface, the solvent evaporates leaving behind the pigment and the polymer. At this point, the pigment and the polymer are essentially two separate layers, with the pigment sitting on top of the polymer. When it comes time to erase ink, the pigment comes off while the polymer is left behind.
Now dry erase boards, in particular, are defined as non-porous, meaning ink cannot directly penetrate the surface itself. The exact component that makes whiteboards non-porous is an oily lubricant that makes up the outermost layer of the board. When the ink makes contact with the surface, the polymer instantly binds to the outermost layer, which allows only the colored-pigments to be erased. If the board’s lubricated surface begins to deteriorate, both the ink’s polymer and pigments will begin to soak into the board. This lack of lubrication is primary culprit for why older whiteboards occasionally leave behind ghost markings after they’ve been erased.
So what does all this have to do with alcohol? To put it simply, alcohol destroys the lubricating layer of your dry erase board. Yes, your whiteboard will look spotless, but after continued use, your whiteboard will eventually lose the ability to wipe clean. Take a look at the picture below: First, you'll find an image of a whiteboard we received a few months back from a customer that cited their whiteboard was no longer erasing. After a bit of research, we found that the whiteboard was being used in a healthcare facility that regularly used alcohol to sterilize and clean everything. Below this board is a whiteboard that has been cleaned with a whiteboard cleaning solution. Is there really anything else left to say?
What is left to say is that we cannot get customers to buy or use the non-alcohol cleaner that we offer at a very competitive price. What they use in hospitals is a disinfectant that has alcohol for sure. It also has surfacants and other materials that leave a film on the board. The film is what starts the graying process as it absorbs and holds the ink and doesn't allow complete erasing. After the board is completely gray and a big mess, a cleaning with alcohol is necessary and one cleaning has a very small effect (we tested this extensively). The alternative is to get something that is really a problem (abrasives of all kinds both physical and chemical) and use that on the board. Isopropyl alcohol is the best material we know of that cleans such a board. Any specific recommendations that you may have would be greatly appreciated
Doug Creed
2023
i see'
Andrea’s kzaa😊
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kxa😂
😂 Andrea’s kxaa
Andrea’s kaza
Andrea’s kzaas
Andrea’s kxaa
Andrea’s kza as
He's so slow and painful to listen to. Playback at 1.5x to 2x speed, then you'll stay sane listening to him.
human The video is less than 5min, maybe you should be getting a longer attention span
He talks like anyone would in normal human conversation. You're probably used to the chopped up, skipping videos made today where they cut out the tiniest pauses and shorten any slowly spoken words.
....Says someone whose native alphabet takes 20 minutes to write.
Andrea’s kzaa😂
Andrea’s kzaa😊
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kzaa😊
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kzaa
Andrea’s kzaa