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.
Bleu Jay Lady
I also have two more ways to help in Sharpie revival:
1.) (This first trick is for a fading Sharpie, NOT a dead Sharpie.) You may want to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Take the cap off a standard Sharpie. using a pliers and only enough pressure to remove it, take off the color-coded part with the tip on it, (or the color-coded end off a fine-tip Sharpie). Gently tap the Sharpie on a PROTECTED hard surface until the filler comes out. Flip it around and put it back into the barrel. Replace the barrel/end, pushing FIRMLY until it clicks back into place. Use the brain God gave you, DON'T mash the tip of the marker on the table to make the barrel click back into place!! Place the marker tip-side-down for a few days, it should help!
2. DO NOT do this next with a retractable Sharpie!!! I have blue spots on my ceiling as proof positive! It's also probably best done outside anyway. ;-)
OK, take some strong tape or use a small, strong rubber band, and a piece of string a couple feet long. Tape or band the string securely onto the end opposite the tip of the Sharpie. Begin a slow spin in a circle, give it two or three FAST spins then stop. If you give anymore than that, the ink will flow into the cap, wasting all your ink.
if you do all three tricks at the same time, you should have a "good as new" Sharpie in very little time.
Bleu
Bleu Jay Lady
Ahhhhh HAA!!! I might know what the anal-orifice challenged people did that got their knickers in a twist! (or their panties in a wad, same thing) I'd be willing to bet a buck that they left the Sharpie tip IN THE ALCOHOL for the WHOLE 15 minutes!!!
If so, that's what happens when you don't. follow. directions.
Micky
THANK YOU THANK YOU THAAAAAAANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
I had borrowed a Sharpie or two (Neon, of course:)) from my friend for a school project and WHADDYA KNOW, they dry out on me. :P
This saved a lot of Sharpies from the trash, let me tell you.
But now I'm waiting on the Sharpies... three more mins... then I shall attempt usage again....
dun dun dunnnnn........... -three minutes pass-
YESSSSS GOOD AS NEW!!!!
Bleu Jay Lady
"Dun dun dunnnn" - LOVE it!!
Becky
There's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING wrong with refusing to buy another...insert name of product here...in this case a Sharpie. I just pulled four relatively expensive Roseart dual-tip metallic markers out of my drawer. For heaven sakes! All I wanted to do is mark some sewing machine needles so I wouldn't have to give my son another opportunity to heckle me for needing him to read the teeny tiny numbers on the shaft. Anyway, I needed a fine tipped marker.
I can admit I only use them about twice a year, but that's not the point. If you're like me, and have grandparents that survived the Depression, the mantra, "Waste not, want not" is permanently emblazoned in your DNA. My grandmother could make a ham bone last a year...no kidding. I've been known to go to great lengths to try to fix the silliest things, and have no shame in doing so.
THANK YOU for your very humorous tip, I feel much better about messing with these stupid markers for the past hour. :)
Karen
Noooo problem Becky, lol. I hope it works for you! ~ karen
pynk
Love love LOVE your solution to revive dry sharpies......And a few good chuckles and laughs along the way.....Just an FYI, bug spray also takes off permanent markers on non poress surfaces, found out by fluke......Lol......
Gabie
This didnt work at all it made my black sharpe purple and my red pink
Dez
What if it's a thick sharpie marker? One of the fine point ones? What happens when you do that?
Karen
Hi Dez. It'll still work. The only ones it wouldn't work on are the oil based Sharpie paint pens. Keep in mind if the Sharpie has dried out too much it won't work no matter what the tip. Most can be revived though. ~ karen!
Rhi
Thank you so much for this, you saved me from getting a detention.
craig
Karen- thanks for the info, your advice had a 50% success rate on my dried up things. I loved reading all the the comments left. I was hoping the sphincter challenged man would leave his address so we could all send him a "$3 bill" You have a great sense of humor but I would pass on the internal rats thing, go ahead give stand up comedy a try- you seem to be well equipped at writing it.
Julie
Being the overachiever that I am, I decided to enroll in a Geometry course over the summer. I had to learn pretty much a year's worth of geometry in, oh, 2 months. During that period of time, I took LOTS of notes... so I decided to get myself some new fancy sharpie pens ( yes pens... they don't bleed through like regular sharpies) to help the process. About halfway through, I uncapped my favorite pen and began to write... almost. There was just a weird, dried out scratch in the paper. I quickly went and googled how to get sharpies working, found your site, and tried to revive it ( the sharpie). after 30 seconds of dipping, I decided to give up because the ink wasn't coming out. I capped the pen and went in search of another. 10 minutes later, I decided to just see if it had worked, and VICTORY! good as new. Just letting you know it works with sharpie pens too. :)
Karen
Hey, great Julie! And thanks for taking the time to come back and let me know. ~ karen!
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Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon everyday.
It's always exciting to read content from other writers and practice something from other sites.
Glenn Fonda
Sharpie was dry, sharpie was dry
Alcohol came
Vast clouds upon the mountain
A ghost of a goose
Fell upon my face
I drew him with a fixed
Sharpie
Karen
That was touching. ~ karen
grammyk
I just finished a DELIGHTFUL time reading all the comments! Thank you all. I wanted to go get my Sharpies and start dunking 'em, but I couldn't tear myself away from the posts. What a wonderful gift to my day! (I like !!'s) Best to you all, I'm off to collect all the Sharpies.............. ^_^
Karen
Good luck with your revival! Or .. reviving is a better word I suppose, lol. ~ karen!
goat
w-wheres the piece of paper she faintly drew the first mark on? She didn't just THROW IT AWAY without using it.... did she? D:
Tati
I bought them a week ago and now my black is dried up
Tati
I tried with water... Then alcohol... None worked I'm sooo sad
Tati
Will this work for paper mate flairs???
Karen
I'm afraid I have no idea Tati. Sorry, lol! However, if the paper mate is already on its last legs, you might as well try it! And report back. :) ~ karen
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krista
It works!! I found that nail polish remover works better.. :)
Karen
Really? Huh! I haven't tried nail polish remover. ~ karen!