How to Clean a Whiteboard (Even Ghosting and Permanent Marker)

A clean whiteboard makes meetings, classrooms and home planning easier. But over time, most boards get grey "ghost" marks, old writing that won't wipe off, and the occasional permanent marker accident. Here's how to fix all of them.

Every day: wipe it properly

• Wipe the board with a dry eraser or a dry microfibre cloth after you use it.
• Don't leave writing on for days or weeks if you can help it. The longer ink stays on, the harder it is to remove.
• Clean the eraser now and then. A dirty eraser just moves ink around. Many erasers have felt layers you can peel off, or you can wash a microfibre cloth.

Every week: give it a proper clean

1. Wipe off the writing with a dry cloth first.
2. Spray a whiteboard cleaner onto a cloth, or use a microfibre cloth dampened with warm water and a tiny drop of washing-up liquid.
3. Wipe the whole board, top to bottom.
4. Dry it with a clean, dry cloth. Leftover soap makes markers skip.

How to remove ghosting (grey shadows)

Ghosting is when faint marks stay on the board after wiping. Try these in order:

1. Write over it. Go over the old marks with a dry-wipe marker, then wipe straight away. The fresh ink dissolves the old ink, and both wipe off together.
2. Isopropyl alcohol. Put a little on a cloth and wipe the marks, then wipe with a damp cloth and dry.
3. A whiteboard cleaning spray made for the job.

If a board still ghosts after all three, the surface may be worn. Cheap melamine boards wear out faster than enamel or glass boards.

How to get permanent marker off a whiteboard

It happens to everyone. Don't panic, and don't scrub:

1. Draw over the permanent marker with a dry-wipe marker.
2. Wait a few seconds, then wipe. Repeat if needed.
3. If there's still a mark, wipe it with a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol, then with a damp cloth, and dry.

What NOT to use on a whiteboard

• Scourers or abrasive creams. They scratch the surface, so ink sticks even more.
• General household sprays. Many leave a film that makes markers skip and ghosting worse. (Glass whiteboards are the exception: normal glass cleaner is fine.)
• Baby wipes or wet wipes with lotion. They leave a greasy layer.

Always check the maker's advice, especially for glass or enamel boards.

Keep your whiteboard cleaner

• Use proper dry-wipe markers only, and keep a few spares nearby so nobody grabs a permanent one.
• Put the caps back on so markers don't dry out. Dry markers leave faint, stubborn lines.
• Clean the marker tray. Dust there gets on cloths and smears the board.

A clean office, done for you

Whiteboards are just one part of a clean meeting room. See our office cleaning checklist for what to clean daily, weekly and monthly. TidyGo office cleaning covers desks, shared equipment, kitchens, toilets and floors, from £18 an hour per cleaner, and you can set it up as a regular plan.