Toddler with Sharpie vs. household items. Spoiler: armed toddlers always win.
On Saturday morning we had some guys over to do some work on our driveway. Mr. Plain and I were talking to them in the front yard while the boys were hanging out watching TV. I peeked in a few times, saw no fighting and no crying and went back outside.
Later I was inside and did a double take looking at Chip. He seemed to have something on his face…

Uh oh.
I looked him over a little more closely.

Then I thought, oh crap. What else did he get? The walls? The rug? Nope:

Yes, could have been SO much worse! It could have been, for example my laptop — "Mommy's Magnadoodle" — my palms get sweaty just thinking about that possibility.
So, anyone know how to remove permanent marker from one of these? I thought not… Toddlers!

Oh yikes…I now am feeling dizzy and queasy, and wanting to hide my alluring magnadoodle-laptop from my two hooligans. Why is it I never see what needs baby-proofing until *after* the disaster?
try one of those MR.Clean sponges, they seem to work on everything else. Let us know if it comes up.
You might try nail polish remover. I don't know how well it works on plastic, but I have a friend who swears by it for removing permanent ink from glass. (She actually writes all over her windows with Sharpie.)
Oh, do I have pictures just like those.
I think I'd just toss the Magna Doodle if they seem bothered by the scribbles, and let the Sharpie wear off the boy on its own.
Nate LOVES sharpies and his dad brings they home and just lays them wherever all the time. Rubbing alchohol will take it off the plastic and your kid's skin.
I see Ivy beat me to the punch. Rubbing alcohol should restore the Magnadoodle to its former glory.
THAT would be why all Sharpies were banned from my house when the older two were little and why the lil guy can only get ahold of washable markers now.
I almost broke out in a cold sweat for you at the thought of what could have happened to your laptop!
I was going to suggest a degreaser product, but I think the rubbing alcohol is the better bet.
But man, that's funny. FUNNY! Loving the nose shot. FUNNY!
You guys ROCK!
Rubbing alcohol removed a lot of it, and Mr. Clean magic eraser got almost all of the rest of it.
Wow — thanks everyone!
(Oh, and none of this I used on Chip, just on the Magnadoodle.)
I had a similar experience with my toddler, a sharpie, and white walls. The magic eraser did just what it said it would do. What a life saver. Glad you got it cleaned up.
Here is my story…
http://thedomesticdiva.org/p-nut/2006/08/16/graffiti-artist/
Oh, you really did get off lucky! "Mommy's Magnadoodle!" LOL!
A little late to the party. I was going to suggest the Mr. Clean sponge too. Glad it worked.
Can you imagine if they tried to take those of the market? I'd be like Elaine on Seinfeld.
Hi there! I stumbled onto your blog from MyBlogLog and in reading this post I was reminded of a post of my own from a couple years ago. Go read and see if you like it
http://iris1966.blogspot.com/2005/06/you-know-you-are-living-with-toddler.html
oh, I've had that happen. Thankfully, it's usually crayons at this point, which are easily removed with water and baking soda. EEK.
I personally always love the colored nostrils and ear canals….
I'm just waiting for the inevitable day that this happens to me. Good to know that rubbing alcohol and magic eraser works!
When my in-laws were in this summer… my oldest son (just about to turn 2 at the time) decided to draw a beard like daddy all over his face with a Sharpie… yes, a nice red and green one!
- Audrey
http://www.pinksandblues.com
I am thankful each and every day that toddlers are washable. Not that I wash my toddler every day, but…
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