Rubbing alcohol is the fastest way to get permanent marker off plastic folders.

Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) dissolves the ink instantly, and it won’t damage the plastic. Just dab some on a cotton ball or paper towel and wipe — it’ll come off like it was never there.

No rubbing alcohol? Hand sanitizer works too since it’s mostly alcohol. The other classic trick is to scribble over the marker with a dry erase marker, let it sit for a second, then wipe. The solvent in the dry erase ink re-wets the permanent ink so it lifts off clean.

One warning: skip nail polish remover (acetone). It’ll strip the marker, sure, but it can also melt or cloud certain plastics. You don’t want to fix the stain by ruining the folder.

Permanent marker was never really permanent on plastic — you just need the right solvent.