1) Only use manufacturer suggested dry-erase markers on your whiteboards, not permanent markers or pens.

2) Erase board after each day’s use, if your board is used daily, the cleaning should be performed at least 2 to 3 times a week. Use water or glass cleaner for cleaning powder form board.

3) Allow marker ink to dry always before wiping , waiting 8-10 seconds before erasing. If erased while still damp, it may smear.

Hard Tempered Non-Magnetic Whiteboard

This unit is not recommended for use on damp walls or in high moisture areas.

Important – Do not use this board until you have read these instructions.

Cleaning – It is necessary to clean your hard tempered board prior to use. Clean board thoroughly with glass cleaner. Simply spray the surface with the cleaner and wipe with a clean soft cloth. It is suggested that the board be periodically cleaned. For best results, Expo markers should be used on the hard tempered board.

Caution – It is advisable to erase board after each day’s use. If ink is left on the board for several days, the ink will set and it may be difficult to erase. If there is any ink on the board that will not erase, the cleaning procedures outlined above will remove the ink.

Porcelain Steel Magnetic Whiteboard

– For the initial cleaning, wipe your board with a clean cloth moistened by a liquid cleaner.

– Rinse with clear water. This step is simple but very important.

– Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

– If your board is used daily, the cleaning should be performed at least 2 to 3 times a week.

– More thorough cleaning may be required if writing is left on the board for more than 2 days.

– Allow marker to dry 8-10 seconds before erasing. If erased while still damp, it may smear.

What is used to clean the board?

For example: whiteboard cleaners, chemicals, etc. This is important as chemicals may compromise the whiteboard surface. Ask for name of cleaning product used. Glass Cleaner works well also.

How often are the boards cleaned?

If the boards receive heavy usage during the day, they may need to be cleaned during the day to prevent/eliminate issues.

Removing Permanent Marker

– Moisten a clean, dry cloth with isopropyl alcohol. Use less alcohol for chalkboards.

– Wipe the board in a circular motion to loosen marker residue.

– Rinse with clear water.

– Dry the board with a clean cloth.

– Repeat these steps as often as necessary to remove all powder residue.

Removing Crayon and Tape

– Dampen a clean, dry cloth with water.

– Sprinkle a small amount of powdered cleanser onto the cloth; we recommend using Bar Keeper’s Friend.

– Begin cleaning a small, manageable area using a back and forth horizontal motion. Use normal pressure as if you were cleaning a window. Wipe of all residue with a dry cloth.

– Rinse well with clear water. Please note that rinsing and drying steps are very important.

– Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

– Follow the same procedure for the remainder of the board.

If there are erasability / ghosting issues, it is usually due to the following reasons:

1) Using the incorrect type of marker.

2) Dirty erasers. Need to be washed with liquid soap w/out oil.

3) Wet erasing. Do not use wet erasing.

4) Heavy board usage without cleaning frequently enough.

Using the incorrect type of marker. What types of markers are used? ” Use EXPO ! ”

There are three types of markers: alcohol, and water-based. Alcohol and-based markers are used for use on porcelain steel surfaces. Water-based markers will bubble and smear in porcelain steel surface, resulting in buildup.

Flex-A-Chart suggests using Expo Markers

Expo – alcohol based

Expo2 – alcohol based

Sanford – alcohol based

Dixon – alcohol based

Wet Erasing

Was marker ink dry before board was erased?

Wet-erasing, erasing the ink prior to drying, smears the ink on the whiteboard. Smearing the ink can lead to a buildup on the board surface. Build up can lead to erasability issues.

Dirty Erasers

Are the erasers/cloth dirty?

Dirty erasers/cloth don not clean the board, they just push the dry erase material around on the surface- creating erasability issues. It is important to properly clean erasers and/or cloth before using to clean whiteboard.

Heavy board usage without cleaning frequently enough

In order to keep your whiteboard in top condition, it is important to properly clean the board based on usage.

Solutions…

How to restore writing surface

There are 2 options to suggest when addressing the erasability issues. They are listed in recommended order.

1) Use 50% water / 50% alcohol wash on the board followed by a clear water rinse. The clear water rinse is the most important part of the cleaning process. The customer needs to clean the film off the surface and the clear water rinse brings the surface back to its original qualities with no chemicals or build up on the surface. If this doesn’t solve problem, suggest next step – Bar Keeper’s Friend.

2) Use Bar Keeper’s Friend (found at local grocery and hardware stores). Bar Keepers Friend is the manufacturer recommended cleaner for the porcelain enameled steel surface.

1) Custodial personnel can’t resist cleaning a clean whiteboard with their standard cleaners
2) Their cleaners leave behind an oily residue (possibly a germicidal?)
3) That oil makes the normal dry erase flakes turn into a gummy mess
4) Custodians learn they can’t clean the gummy mess with anything they have, so they quit trying to clean the gummy residue
4) That mess can only be removed with things like isopropyl alcohol and a sore shoulder of elbow grease
5) The first time you clean it it’s 90% clean, the second time it’s 99%, and the third time it’s 99.9% clean
6) Repeat steps 1-5
Optional
7) Show the custodial supervisors what’s going on
8) Prove to the custodial supervisors what’s going on by performing step 5 in their presence
9) Go over the heads of the custodial supervisors to have them ordered to tell their charges NOT to touch the boards
10) Repeat steps 1-10

Yeah, even when they use water, the water comes from their mop buckets, which has the oily residue in it.

Sometimes, writing “Touching this board is punishable by death” works, as well as developing a rapport with your custodian, but unless they call in to YOU when they’ll be off and a sub covers,all bets are off.

I would try Goo Gone, you can get it in any store, like walgreens, rite aid, walmart fredmeyers, ect. I use that at work a lot because it takes off sticky residue ect. hope that helps

-non-acetone nail polish remover on a paper towel or buy the nail polish remover wipes

-magic eraser

try this