Answers.Body: <p>I have had pretty good luck in the past using isopropyl alcohol and a q-tip.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-07-11T00:50:19.143Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-07-11T00:50:19.143Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: JohnnyB
Answers.Body: <p>First off be <em>very careful</em> of the printing on the minifigure, the plastic is quite durable but the printing can wipe off rather easily. I list a few different methods to remove permanent marker all have their varying degrees of risk. They are listed in the order I'd try them in.</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Dry erase marker?! Just cover over the permanent marker with a dry erase marker then wipe it off. <a href="https://youtu.be/kMdkhEvxkFU?t=83" rel="nofollow noreferrer">yes it works</a>.</p></li>
  <li><p>Aerosol hairspray, body spray, Rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl alcohol), etc. Like <a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/a/11446/9707">JohnnyB</a> suggested alcohol is a good cleaner for permanent marker, especially on plastic. Just be careful of the printing any alcohol biased cleaner can and will remove the printing.</p></li>
  <li><p>Nail polish remover. Be <em>very</em> careful with this one, nail polish remover's active ingredient is acetone. Acetone with enough time will dissolve ABS (and rubber tires very quickly) but long before that happens it will remove the printing :( I'd only try acetone as a last resort. </p></li>
  <li><p>Toothpaste I'd recommend skipping this social media craze, <a href="https://youtu.be/RTDiR41ZsJE?t=43" rel="nofollow noreferrer">it may work</a> (<a href="https://youtu.be/PZMalshlAgc" rel="nofollow noreferrer">on lego</a>) but there are better ways. On the plus side I doubt the toothpaste it will hurt the minifig, however all the scrubbing necessary to remove the marker that is another story...</p></li>
  </ul>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-16T04:36:38.773Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-22T20:17:40.233Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-12-22T20:17:40.233Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: David
Answers.Body: <p>Try using window cleaner spray, like this: <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/crsv0.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/crsv0.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>Such products are designed to remove nasty stains and their alcohol content should be able to loosen the permanent marker ink, since it is alcohol-based as well. To protect the underlaying print, do not use the spray head, but apply the fluid to the affected area(s) with a precision tool, like a toothpick or the corner of a sponge or tissue.</p>
  
  <p>Other apolar solvents, like oils could be tried too.</p>
  
  <p>Another option would be the use of a so-called "magic eraser sponge": <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6dnav.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6dnav.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>These work by being abrasive, so effectively scrubbing away the top layer of anything, so be careful to only touch the parts covered by the permanent marker. Optionally combine this with alcohol-based cleaning agents.</p>
  
  <p>On the same page, a pencil eraser might work, especially if the surface has a sheen which the ink could not penetrate.</p>
  
  <p>The gentlest possible method I have found an <a href="https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/26310-help-removing-sharpie/&amp;tab=comments#comment-455630" rel="nofollow noreferrer">endorsement</a> for is the use of water and soap, but there are <a href="https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/26310-help-removing-sharpie/&amp;tab=comments#comment-458451" rel="nofollow noreferrer">others</a> who haven't had problems using nail polish remover either. I'm a bit sceptical here, as acetone is <a href="https://bricks.stackexchange.com/a/1286/3631">known to solve ABS</a>, but if used with precision, care and moderation, the collateral damage could be contained.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-22T11:50:25.923Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-22T11:50:25.923Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: zovits
Body: <p>I recently purchased a lot of LEGO minifigures. Included in the lot was a first issue green goblin. The figure is in great condition aside from having a permanent marker line on the torso. Is there a way that I can remove the marker without damaging the print on the figure? My son and I collect together and have been looking for the green goblin fig to go with our collection. </p>
  
Tags: <minifigures><cleaning>
Title: Restoring valuable minifigures
UserDisplayName: Wendy Stoneback
ThreadText: # Restoring valuable minifigures
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-10)
  
  I recently purchased a lot of LEGO minifigures. Included in the lot was a first issue green goblin. The figure is in great condition aside from having a permanent marker line on the torso. Is there a way that I can remove the marker without damaging the print on the figure? My son and I collect together and have been looking for the green goblin fig to go with our collection.
  
  **Tags:** minifigures, cleaning
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2019-07-11. Score: 1 | Accepted answer
  
  I have had pretty good luck in the past using isopropyl alcohol and a q-tip.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2019-12-16. Score: 4
  
  First off be *very careful* of the printing on the minifigure, the plastic is quite durable but the printing can wipe off rather easily. I list a few different methods to remove permanent marker all have their varying degrees of risk. They are listed in the order I'd try them in.
  
  * Dry erase marker?! Just cover over the permanent marker with a dry erase marker then wipe it off. [yes it works](https://youtu.be/kMdkhEvxkFU?t=83).
  * Aerosol hairspray, body spray, Rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl alcohol), etc. Like [username_1](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/a/11446/9707) suggested alcohol is a good cleaner for permanent marker, especially on plastic. Just be careful of the printing any alcohol biased cleaner can and will remove the printing.
  * Nail polish remover. Be *very* careful with this one, nail polish remover's active ingredient is acetone. Acetone with enough time will dissolve ABS (and rubber tires very quickly) but long before that happens it will remove the printing :( I'd only try acetone as a last resort.
  * Toothpaste I'd recommend skipping this social media craze, [it may work](https://youtu.be/RTDiR41ZsJE?t=43) ([on lego](https://youtu.be/PZMalshlAgc)) but there are better ways. On the plus side I doubt the toothpaste it will hurt the minifig, however all the scrubbing necessary to remove the marker that is another story...
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2019-12-22. Score: 1
  
  Try using window cleaner spray, like this: [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/crsv0.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/crsv0.jpg)
  
  Such products are designed to remove nasty stains and their alcohol content should be able to loosen the permanent marker ink, since it is alcohol-based as well. To protect the underlaying print, do not use the spray head, but apply the fluid to the affected area(s) with a precision tool, like a toothpick or the corner of a sponge or tissue.
  
  Other apolar solvents, like oils could be tried too.
  
  Another option would be the use of a so-called "magic eraser sponge": [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/6dnav.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/6dnav.jpg)
  
  These work by being abrasive, so effectively scrubbing away the top layer of anything, so be careful to only touch the parts covered by the permanent marker. Optionally combine this with alcohol-based cleaning agents.
  
  On the same page, a pencil eraser might work, especially if the surface has a sheen which the ink could not penetrate.
  
  The gentlest possible method I have found an [endorsement](https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/26310-help-removing-sharpie/&tab=comments#comment-455630) for is the use of water and soap, but there are [others](https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/26310-help-removing-sharpie/&tab=comments#comment-458451) who haven't had problems using nail polish remover either. I'm a bit sceptical here, as acetone is [known to solve ABS](https://bricks.stackexchange.com/a/1286/3631), but if used with precision, care and moderation, the collateral damage could be contained.
  
  
  ---
  
  