Does anyone have any tips on removing a sharpie marker? For lots of gifts that my inlaws give my daughter, they insist on writing her name on it and writing the date and who gave it to them "To Anna, from Grandma and Grandpa ____, August, 2010." It really bothers me. My MIL is very possessive and has her own issues, and this is just a tiny illustration about her personality.

Currently, my daughter is the only child. If we have two children, are they not going to be allowed to play with each other's toys? My daughter has toddler OCD and I just know that if we have a second child and it has the other kid's name on it, by daughter will not touch it because she won't think it's hers to play with - and she likely wouldn't let the other child play with the books because, after all, they have HER name on it. HA. They will need to learn to share, and I don't like their names on their toys and who they came from.

FYI - I perfectly understand writing names and dates on "special books" but not EVERY book.

Other than advice to talk to my MIL about it (she won't listen), is there any way to remove sharpie markers (other than write over them!)????

Maybe you could supply MIL with some removable stickers/labels that she can write on instead of the item? Maybe even print some up with a blank for the date. Then you can remove the labels/sticker.

Have you tried hairspray? Sometimes it will work.

A couple more I found by googling are toothpaste, alcohol, and writing over it with dry erase marker(wipe after dry with lint free towel-not paper towels). It may take several tries. I have never tried these, I just read them on line.

Nope, not that I have found anyway. They are permanent, period!!

It depends on the surface they are on and how determined you are. I guess I don't see anything wrong with book inscriptions. Do they do this to a doll? A truck?

I can get sharpie off/out of many things but it doesn't mean the stuff I got it off is the same after it is done. My process is usually for proving which pen made what mark and when. The original material is usually destroyed in the process (or you can really tell that I removed it).

I would advise to not try to remove the marks and treat the underlying issue. Get help for the OCD instead. What seems like a little quirk now can be very devastating later in life.

I would just put a sticker over it. If she asks why tell her you put it on because your DH said to, lol. Tell her that when your daughter outgrows toys books etc you are going to donate them and would like them unmarked. and wouldn't it be great to give to the less fortunate.

you wouldn't object to her writing in special items that she will treasure forever. or at least into college.

try gojo on the plastic items, no help with the books, sorry

gojo is the hand cleaner your auto repair man uses, wal mart carries it

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser worked for me. It is amazing.

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll see what I can do.

My daughter is just under 3 but her language skills are far above that. She's very particular - everything had a place and a purpose. She even voluntarily cleans up her toys (for the most part) before starting a new activity. OCD cannot be diagnosed until kids are much older - I just call it "toddler OCD." She just pays attention and is organized. Multiple pediatricians have assured me that she is "within the range of normal." :) It's just something to be observed for now. She's the "Teacher's helper" at preschool. She's a girly-girl, likes taking care of her baby dolls, and likes to "play teacher." Some of her dolls get put in time out for biting each other and not following other rules. :)

Anyway, thanks everyone. Most of the books MIL has written on are children's board books. Nothing special that deserves to be written on (Like a special copy of the "Night before Christmas" we had when we were kids, given to use by a special family friend who signed it.) And, yes, some plastic toys, and the tags of some clothes (ink ran once and marked up part of the shirt).

But yes, we will eventually donate these books and don't want my daughter's name on them! Good point! That's a safety issue! Thanks for the sticker idea, it may work in some of the books -- but at times MIL writes in all caps in blank ink diagonially across the whole inside front page! (or the back page, depending on the book).

It is completely aggravating to me. But lots of things about MIL are like that. Sigh, that's another saga...

Thanks, everyone!