Rubbing alcohol gets permanent marker off plastic

The fastest way to remove permanent marker from a plastic folder is to dab it with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, let it sit for a few seconds, and wipe it off.

The trick is that permanent marker isn’t actually permanent on non-porous surfaces like plastic. The ink just sits on top, and alcohol dissolves it. Grab a cotton ball or paper towel, soak it in isopropyl alcohol (or squeeze some hand sanitizer on it), press it on the stain for a few seconds, then wipe. You may need to repeat once or twice.

No alcohol around? A dry-erase marker works too. Scribble over the permanent marker with it, then wipe both off. The solvent in the dry-erase ink breaks down the permanent ink. If anything’s still there, a magic eraser (melamine sponge) will finish the job—just test it on a corner first, since it can dull shiny plastic.

Don’t bother with nail polish remover unless the plastic is tough; it can cloud or melt some plastics. Alcohol is your safe first move.

One smudge on an otherwise good folder isn’t worth tossing it.