A whiteboard stays bright for years if it is cleaned properly. Here is how.
Every day
Wipe the board with a dry duster or microfibre cloth. Do not leave writing on the board for days: the longer it stays, the harder it is to remove.
Every week
Wipe the whole board with a whiteboard cleaner, or a cloth dampened with a little isopropyl alcohol, then dry it with a clean cloth.
Ghosting (faint marks that will not wipe off)
Write over the ghost marks with a fresh dry-erase marker, then wipe immediately. The fresh ink loosens the old ink. Follow with whiteboard cleaner.
Permanent marker by mistake
Draw over the permanent marker with a dry-erase marker and wipe straight away. Repeat if needed. Isopropyl alcohol also works.
Avoid
- Abrasive powders, scouring pads and scrubbers, which scratch the surface and make ghosting worse
- Glass cleaners and household sprays not made for whiteboards
- Permanent, oil-based or paint markers
- Leaving markers uncapped: dry markers write faintly and people press harder
Blackboards and noticeboards
Clean a blackboard with a dry duster, and occasionally with a slightly damp cloth, letting it dry fully before writing. Brush or vacuum noticeboard cloth gently to remove dust.
