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How to Clean a Whiteboard Eraser?

how to clean a whiteboard eraser

These days, schools and offices have shifted from using chalkboards to whiteboards, and for good reason. Whiteboards are cleaner to use compared to dusty chalkboards, but that is not to say that it does not create dirt. You will still need to know how to clean a whiteboard eraser because it does get dirty after some time.

If you do not clean your whiteboard eraser, you will notice that it will not be working as it used to. After a while longer, the dirty whiteboard eraser will not be able to do its job anymore.

Do now worry though, you can still somehow restore your dingy old whiteboard eraser to its former glory. The ways to clean a whiteboard eraser are relatively easy, and you probably have all the tools in your home already.

Step-by-Step Guide

Using Dish Soap

use dish soap to clean

What to prepare:

  • 1 tablespoon of dish soap
  • A shallow disposable plastic container – one that is bigger than the
  • whiteboard eraser
  • A quart of hot (not boiling) water

Detailed steps:

Step 1 – Mix the soap into the water

Pour the hot water into the disposable plastic container and then pour the dish soap. Mix the water and soap thoroughly until the dish soap is completely dissolved.

You can use any container actually but take note that you will be filling it later with inky water. So, it is best to use a container that you would not mind getting stained with ink.

Step 2 – Allow the eraser to soak

Place the whiteboard eraser inside the container with the soapy water. If the eraser floats in the water, place something heavy on top to weigh it down. I typically use a heavy rock to keep the erasing side of the eraser under the water. Allow the dirty eraser to soak for around 20 to 30 minutes depending on how dirty it is.

Step 3 – Rinse the eraser

After waiting for 20 minutes, take out the eraser and rinse it under cold running water. The dish soap should have loosened the dried dry-erase ink enough that you can remove it using just water.

Place the eraser under the tap and rinse it under cold running water. You can give it a bit of a scrub using a soft plastic brush. You can stop rinsing if the water starts to run clean.

Step 4 – Allow the eraser to dry

Let the whiteboard eraser dry completely before using it. You can use a blow dryer if you need to use it immediately but I find that it is better to just leave the eraser to dry under the sun for an entire afternoon. This will thoroughly dry the eraser and also has the added benefit of killing any bacteria that may be on the surface.

Using Plain Water

use plain water to clean

If you have a lot of whiteboard erasers to clean, you can just use plain water to get them back in operating condition.

What to prepare:

  • A garden hose
  • A clothes spin dryer (optional)

Detailed steps:

Step 1 – Use a garden hose on the eraser

Go outside and find a place where you would not mind getting stained by the dry-erase ink. If you have a lawn, find a corner that is out of sight.

Place your dry eraser facing upward on the surface and point your garden hose at it. The water pressure coming from your garden hose should be strong enough to remove almost all of the dry-erase ink inside the eraser.

Step 2 – Shake off the water

Once the water coming out of the eraser starts to run clean, turn off the water and shake as much of the water out. If you have a spin dryer, you can place the eraser inside it and allow it to spin for around 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 3 – Let the eraser dry completely

Even if you used a spin dryer, the eraser would still not be completely dry. You should still allow the eraser to dry completely under the sun. However, because most of the water has been wrung out, it would probably only need to bathe under the sun for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Using Toothpaste

use toothpaste to clean

Yes, you can clean your whiteboard eraser using plain toothpaste and it is quite effective.

What to prepare:

  • Regular toothpaste, preferably white toothpaste as it contains baking soda
  • An old wash rag, preferably something that you would not mind getting stained

Detailed steps:

Step 1 – Apply and scrub in the toothpaste

Place a line of toothpaste across the whiteboard eraser. You do not need to cover the entire length of the eraser. Use your better judgment to figure out how much toothpaste you need to use.

Grab your old wash rag, soak it in water, and wring out around 75% of the moisture. Use the damp rag to scrub the toothpaste into the bottom of the whiteboard eraser. Use small circular strokes to make sure that you get the toothpaste deep inside the fibers.

Step 2 – Rinse the whiteboard eraser

Place the eraser under the tap. You can continue scrubbing the eraser using your fingers if you like, but the toothpaste should have been able to loosen the dry-erase ink enough.

Proceed to rinse the eraser under running cold water until you see the water running clear.

Step 3 – Dry the eraser completely

Shake the eraser to remove most of the excess moisture. To completely dry the whiteboard eraser, you need to let it dry under the sun. A couple of hours under direct sunlight should be enough to make the whiteboard eraser completely dry.

Conclusion

Whiteboard erasers may seem cleaner compared to blackboard erasers, but they can still get quite dirty, especially if you use them often. You do not have to throw away your seemingly useless erasers. If you know how to clean a whiteboard eraser properly, you can bring them back to life.

The nice thing about cleaning whiteboard erasers is that the methods are quite simple and you do not have to buy any special tools. All the things needed to rejuvenate your old whiteboard erasers are usually in your kitchen pantry and bathroom.

You will be surprised that your dingy old whiteboard erasers can look and work like new with your markers just by cleaning them.

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