Use dry-erase markers specifically designed for whiteboards — like Bic, Expo, or Sharpie Whiteboard ones. Their ink is erasable, non-permanent, and wipes off cleanly with no residue.
How do you write on a whiteboard easily?
Print in uppercase letters with plenty of space between each word — cursive just won’t cut it when people are six feet away.
Imagine you’re painting a highway sign. Slow down. Leave wide gaps. I once scribbled a process flow in cursive during a meeting and watched my colleagues squint like they were reading hieroglyphics — never again.
What can dry erase markers write on?
Any smooth, non-porous surface works — glass, glossy tiles, acrylic, melamine cabinets, even some stainless fridges.
The ink sits on top instead of soaking in, so cleanup is a breeze. Just test a hidden spot first — some laminates react strangely. I once doodled on my fridge door with a dry-erase marker on a whim and erased it with a tissue seconds later. Magic.
Can you use glass as a dry erase board?
Absolutely — glass is one of the best dry-erase surfaces out there. It’s smooth, non-porous, and wipes clean in seconds.
Try a glass shower door, picture frame, or a large table. Skip tempered or frosted glass — they tend to ghost. I’ve used a sliding glass door in my office for years; it erases faster than a whiteboard and never stains.
What markers can you use on a whiteboard?
Stick to name-brand dry-erase markers like Expo, Sharpie Whiteboard, Bic, or Edding — they’re built to release cleanly and resist ghosting.
Those dollar-store markers? They’re a false economy. Their solvents eat the whiteboard coating over time, leaving permanent shadows. I learned the hard way when a 50-cent no-name marker left a ghost that never faded.
How do you write on a whiteboard without a marker?
Soak a cotton pad or swab in rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer and rub gently — the ink dissolves and wipes away.
Work in small circles. Don’t scrub — you’ll scratch the surface. Acetone (nail polish remover) works in a pinch, but use it sparingly; it can eat the coating. I keep a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol in my desk just for these emergencies.
How do you write on a zoom whiteboard?
Share your screen, select the whiteboard option, and click the pencil or annotation icon — your writing appears live for everyone.
- Open Zoom and start or join a meeting.
- Click “Share Screen” and choose the whiteboard.
- Use your mouse or trackpad to write, draw, or add shapes.
- Click “Stop Share” when finished — Zoom saves it as an image.
How do you write on a zoom whiteboard easily?
Pick the pen tool in the Zoom annotation toolbar, choose a color, and draw with your mouse or touchpad — tablets can enable “Touchscreen Mode” for more natural strokes.
- Open the Zoom whiteboard during screen share.
- Click the pencil icon in the toolbar to start drawing.
- Select a color and brush size.
- Draw directly on the screen — everyone sees it instantly.
How do you permanently write on a dry erase board?
Dry-erase ink won’t stay forever, but you can seal your writing with clear acrylic spray or adhesive laminate — turning the board into a permanent marker surface.
Another trick? Paint it with chalkboard paint. For truly unerasable notes, use painter’s tape to create a temporary “frame” and write inside it. I turned an old whiteboard into a kitchen menu board by spraying the back with clear acrylic — it’s held ink for two years with zero ghosting.
How do you make a cheap whiteboard?
Mount a melamine board or glossy tileboard ($8–$12) in a wooden frame — it erases like a whiteboard and costs a fraction of the price.
- Buy a 2'×4' melamine board for under $10.
- Cut 1×2 wood molding to make a frame.
- Sand and stain or paint the frame.
- Glue the molding around the board’s edges.
- Mount it to the wall with sticky strips or screws.
Melamine erases cleanly and lasts for years. I made one for my garage workshop three years ago — no ghosting, no stains.
Does Sharpie wash off glass?
Yes — if you wipe it while the ink’s still wet, it comes off with just a paper towel.
If it’s dried, dab some hand sanitizer (60%+ alcohol) on a cloth and rub gently. I once wrote “DO NOT TOUCH” on a glass jar by accident — a quick wipe with a tissue removed it in under five seconds.
Can you use Sharpie on a whiteboard?
Sharpie permanent markers work on whiteboards, but they won’t erase — though you can sometimes remove them by drawing over them with a dry-erase marker and wiping both away.
This trick works for small marks, but large scribbles may need alcohol or a gentle eraser. For temporary notes, always use dry-erase markers. I once labeled a whiteboard section with Sharpie for a long-term project — it stayed legible but never came off, so I covered it with a sticky note instead.
What is the difference between a whiteboard and a dry erase board?
None — they’re the same thing. “Whiteboard” just refers to the color; “dry erase” describes how you use it.
Both are smooth, glossy surfaces made for dry-erase markers. Some people call them whiteboards because most are white, but they also come in black, green, and other colors. It’s like asking if a “photocopier” and “Xerox machine” are different — nope, because Xerox became a verb.
What kind of markers do you use on a black dry erase board?
Use highly opaque whiteboard markers made for dark surfaces, like Loddie Doddie or Expo Low-Odor — they’re designed to stand out against black.
Color markers work too, but white and yellow are the most visible. Skip standard Expo markers meant for whiteboards — they look faint on black. I tested several brands on a black glass whiteboard and found Loddie Doddie left the brightest, most readable lines.
What should you not put on a whiteboard?
Skip alcohol-based cleaners, acetone, abrasive cloths, and anything not labeled “dry-erase” — they’ll damage the surface or leave permanent stains.
- Avoid kitchen/bathroom sprays like Windex or Lysol — they often contain alcohol or ammonia.
- Never use steel wool, scrubbing pads, or coarse sponges.
- Also skip non-dry-erase markers — their ink can bind permanently.
How do you get old marker off a whiteboard?
Dampen a soft cloth with rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer and rub the stain gently — repeat until it lifts completely.
- Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol to a microfiber cloth.
- Rub the stained area in gentle circles — no scrubbing.
- Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
- Repeat if needed with fresh alcohol.
Old ghost marks may take a few passes. Skip regular glass cleaner — it streaks and degrades the coating over time. I once rescued a whiteboard that had been collecting dust for a year; three alcohol wipes later, it looked brand new.
