If your little one decided to create a "work-of-art" on your carpet with a permanent marker you shouldn't lose hope for your floor! Even though "permanent" is in the name for a reason, there are some methods you can use to lighten a stain and make it less noticeable. Below I've listed a few different things you can try to get the marker out of your carpet.

Note that with any stain removal you should blot rather than rub to avoid embedding the stain further into the carpet fibers. Always test any cleaning solution on a small hidden section of carpet first to make sure it won't damage or discolor your floor.

Here are a few methods to remove permanent marker from carpet:
1) Apply rubbing alcohol or nail-polish remover to a clean white cloth or paper towel and dab until the stain lightens in appearance, and then rinse with warm water.

2) Spray the stain with hairspray and use a clean white cloth to absorb the liquid. Repeat as needed and then rinse the area with water.

3) If you are unsuccessful in removing all the stained carpet fibers and the area is small enough, you might want to try the method detailed in our Cigarette Burn Repair blog!

In my search for the best ways to remove permanent marker from carpet, I found advice that said that white (non-gel and non-bleaching) toothpaste does wonders for removing marker from hard surfaces. Perhaps this could work on carpet too!

If you've found a successful way to remove permanent marker from carpet, post a comment at the end of this blog!