Because you probably have one in your junk drawer right now and because it's fun to see if things like this work. How to fix a dried out Sharpie ...
I shared this tip over a decade ago but have let it languish in obscurity since then. Mainly because my Sharpie was fixed and I didn't need to do it again.
However.
I made a great big batch of applesauce the other day and preserved it in my canner. That is what I did, because I do things like that.
Then, I went to to my newly organized kitchen drawer to grab some labels and a Sharpie for my jars. That's when I saw my Sharpie marker in the drawer sitting quietly beside the Sharpie cap. So I cried. A real gutteral one with feeling. This is what I did, because I do things like that.
I tested the Sharpie, the Sharpie had indeed dried out proving the tears were worth it.
I had an official calamity. Jars that needed labelling and nothing other than countless pencils, pens, and other working Sharpies to label them with.
So I fixed it. Because I do things like that.
Sharpie Saving Supplies
- A dried up Sharpie
- Rubbing alcohol
- paper
- Test the Sharpie again just to make sure. Nope. Doesn't work.
2. Grab a bottle of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol. 99% is better, but if you only have 70% on hand, use it.
3. Pour some alcohol into the cap of the bottle.
4. Set the Sharpie tip down in the alcohol until you see a bit of ink swirling out from the tip.
5. Put the cap back on and leave the Sharpie to sit for 15 minutes.
6. After 15 minutes, try again. If it's fixable this way, it will be fixed.
That is what I did, because I do things like that. All the time.
This trick will not revive allllll markers. Sometimes, some things are just too far gone to be revived with a little bit of alcohol.
TOP TIP
The same trick will work on regular markers using plain water instead of rubbing alcohol.
MORE ADVANCED METHOD (if the first doesn't work)
If you're really adventurous and quite fond of your Sharpie (or just won't ever give up on anything) you can take the Sharpie apart and drip the rubbing alcohol into the market from the top down. This will saturate everything that might have dried in the marker, not just at the tip.
- To disassemble a Sharpie, grab both ends with vice grips or plyers and pull apart.
- Squeeze about half an eye droppers worth of alcohol into the the top and let it work its way down.
- Keep the marker upright for 10 minutes or so.
- Try the marker.
- If it still isn't working, repeat steps 1-3.
- If it still isn't working buy a new Sharpie.
You might also be interested in my How to Remove Sharpie from Walls post if things get out of control during your fixing a Sharpie routine.
The applesauce is made (I churched it up a bit time with toasted sugar, maple syrup and a bit of caramelizing), labelled and in the cupboard.
My Sharpie is currently resting comfortably in its drawer wearing its protective nightcap.
Amy
Genius! Pure Genius!
My son can't seem to remember to put the cap back on the Sharpies. I am forever having to replace our supply. I am definitely going to give this a try.
Lita
I can't believe that you only own one sharpie.
Karen
Lita - Ah ha. Only one *Fine Tip Sharpie*. :) ~ karen
Lita
*Phew*
I was beginning to think I didn't know you at all ;)
Jessi
Dang! You're a genius! Now I gotta go gather all my dried up Sharpies and give it a try!! Amazing!
Jen A
"Sometimes, some things are just too far gone to be revived with a little bit of alcohol"
Ain't that the truth!
Karen
Jen - Oh ... you bet it's true! ;) ~ karen
Heather
WoW too cool!!! I have a few Sharpie pens that I need to try this with, thanks for the tip!
TLC_Designs @ Passport2Design
You know what I love more than using a sharpie? Using a REVIVED sharpie. I'm going to throw a sharpie-revival party for myself tomorrow.
Kudos for so many great tips :)
*Tania @ Passport2Design.com
Karen
Tania - Thanks! I hope the Sharpie party works out for you! Remember, there are a few Sharpies that are too far gone to be revived. ~ karen
Christina
Genius! And I agree, the white nails are lovely. I wish I could wear nail polish but one of my jobs requires me to occasionally handle food products and therefore no chippy nail polish for me. :( And I have nice nails too! *pouts*
Karen
Christina - I'm jealous of your nice nails. I do NOT have nice nails. ~ karen
Melanie
When we were in elementary school we used to suck the markers until they would start working again. There was usually at least one kid with a blue mouth! When I saw the title- I was hoping this was your technique.
Karen
Melanie ~ HAHAHAH! I remember that kid! :) ~ karen
Dana
i sat here for almost 3 minutes trying to figure out what kind of statue you're testing your sharpies on. until i realized it's just an out of the ordinary notepad. because you do things like that.
Karen
Dana - Yup. Just a notepad. I love my swirly notepad. You can bend it to whatever shape you want! ~ karen
Giuli
Where did you buy that notepad?? :)
Tiana
When I was a kid I would pull the backs off my crayola markers and put in a few drops of water to get them going again. This is mostly because my parents were super cheap and I knew it would be ages before they would buy me a new set.
They never even knew, lucky bastards!
Karen
Tiana - I think beyond 10 or 15 years ago, every parent was that cheap. I remember going out for dinner (like once or twice my entire childhood) and not being allowed to order a beverage! Water only. ~ karen
Ginger
This is great! I must be a Sharpie, because, I too, can be "revived" with alcohol.
cred
Hilarious, Ginger! pretty sure you're not the only Sharpie in the drawer.
Kim Doyle
bwahahahaha Ginger! You made me LOLOLOLOLOLO ;)
Eva
Hey, you just saved my business a ton of money! We use Sharpies all time to label thousands of things, and the minions are "always" leaving the caps off! They each get their own bottle of rubbing alcohol now (cause we treat them that well!) :)
Karen
Eva - You're a good boss. :) ~ karen
Beth
Karen - I'm thinking you ought to try stand-up comedy as your new line of work! I'd pay good money to come laugh at (with) you!!
Karen
Beth - I've had that suggested to me before. Thanks for the compliment. But I'd rather let an angry rat live in my uterus. Nooooooooo thanks. :) ~ karen
Kristin Hines
I no longer have a Uterus (hysterectomy in a sing songy voice) but after housing a child rent free, for 9 long months and monthly "pathological visitors for 52 years your description reminded me how women ALWAYS get the "very short and dried up end of the Sharpe/stick!!!!!!
Kristin Hines
Because that's just what she does. Can you say "stalker"? RUN 🏃 🏃 VERY QUICKLY TO THE EXIT OF THE BUILDING 🚪
marilyn
wow good thing alcohol doesnt dry up that bottle has a price sticker on it! how long has that been around! lol good trick with the sharpie.
Debbie Doodles
You are a hoot! Thanks for the tips! On my Sharpies I mean. So excited about being able to bring my Sharpies back to life.
Inspirational Sketchbook
I'm glad you write this blog. 'Cause that's what you do. I've got kids. I've got dried out Sharpies. I've got rubbing alcohol. Guess what I'm gonna do?
Helen
forget the cool sharpie trick - I am DIGGING your nails Karen!
Helen
And thinking about it now, your nails are almost looking like the perfect blank canvas to draw alittle something on. Maybe, with a fine tip Sharpie...
Karen
Helen - Thanks! Yup. I'm into white now. This particular shade is white, made by Joe Fresh. $4. I also bought a bottle of $4 matte topcoat today. So now my shiny white nails, are matte white nails. I never thought I'd ever wear white nailpolish with my ugly manhands, but I love it! Makes me feel fresh and clean. Like I'm in a panty liner commercial. ~ karen
Todd
"Makes me feel fresh and clean. Like I’m in a panty liner commercial" Great, I just spit coffee on my LCD. Got any tips for getting that clean?
Karen
Sorry 'bout that Todd. But seriously ... those commercials are ridiculous. ~ karen :)
bob z
i bought ultra fine sharpies to put a logo on my balls,,,golf balls that is,,,,but now with all this nail talk, i'm not sure how i'll use them
Sarah B
Whooooa. I really want to find a dried up Sharpie now so I can try this!!
Leann
Yeah me too!!!
Brianna
Omg. You should! I tried this with my favorite (and dried) black Sharpie. It works great. Now it smells like rubbing achohol. Better than Sharpie smell. :D
Laura
You are brilliant. Those suckers are expensive, too. I have the sharpies with the retractable tips. That helps but sometimes they still get left open and dry right up.
Becky C
I thought it was ingenious...they dry up so much faster, in my home :(
V
I'm not gonna lie, I think this is pretty genius! Now I know what to do with all the pens I've swiped from work...
Leann
SOMETIMES you can heat them reakky fast with a lighter and they'll write again...
Leann
Opps I meant really
Wilson
fucked up my sharpie bro
Karen
Really? Fucked up your already broken Sharpie? ~ karen (dude)
Wilson
lol yes it did but i ended up buy 2 more for $1.99 at Marsh i was happy lol
tammy noack
rather than letting the alcohol evaporate from the open cap why not just put some rubbing alcohol in the sharpie's cap and leave it inverted 'til next time you need it ?, that way it's not a race between the sharpie and the atmosphere to absorb the alcohol
Mark
I tried your solution, and it didn't work, so I tried some whiteboard "Expo" cleaner, and soaked the tip in that for about 10 seconds. then made circular loops on paper for another 30 seconds,, and WOWOW! it started working! I tried it on a couple others and great! now I don't have to toss any of them away!!! wahoo!