The kid is lucky he is still alive...

[sugarrae]

My 18 month old got a hold of a black permanent marker and drew all OVER THE SCREEN AND KEYBOARD of my laptop. I swear, it took every bit of restraint I had not to give him up for adoption.

I managed to get it off my screen by instantly wiping it, but of course, I now have this discolored lined across the bottom of it, in addition to permanent marker marks all over my keyboard.

The warranty will likely replace the screen, but the keyboaard having marks on it I am imagining won't be covered ;).

I'm anal and the marks will drive me insane - any suggestions on getting the marks off the keys and touchpad or is it totally screwed. (I'm guessing the latter)

[hannamyluv]

Magic Eraser. You can get it at the grocery store. It took off magic marker from my walls like a dream when my 3 year old used a magic marker on them. It at least worth a shot.

Nail polish remover, if that does not work, but that may take the letters off too so test on an unimportant letter. ;)

[giggle]

I'm anal and the marks will drive me insane

I've got a 2 yo and a 3yo - I think that you had better get used to a certain amount of marks, it's inevitable!

[snowman]

Your 18 month old will grow and be the love of your life.

Your laptop will be obsolete in 6 months.

Your call!

[vincevincevince]

You should be able to pull the keys up with a lever action of a small screwdriver. After that you'll find cleaning a lot easier. If you use alcohol based cleaners make sure you wash them off quite quickly as they are likely to break down the key itself. And don't forget that the numbers/letters on the keys may well come off as well.

Your laptop will be obsolete in 6 months.

Snowman - can I have your old laptop if it's obsolete after 6 months...?

[MatthewHSE]

I've had some success using hair-spray to remove ink sometimes. I've never tried it on permanent marker, though. Hair spray does leave a sticky residue which has to be cleaned off. (If you try this, obviously don't spray it directly on the keyboard - apply it first to a cloth or tissue and use that to clean up the mess.)

[encyclo]

My son (22 months old) has his own (unconnected) keyboard to "type" when he wants to copy what I'm doing, although I do let him write messages to his mother when she's at work. I open up a word processor window, put the text style as something big and colorful, and I sit him on my lap and let him hammer away mercilessly at the keyboard for a while. Then I save it and email it.

Our computers have scotch-taped cardboard "doors" blocking all the shiny buttons (he loves switching them off when you're in the middle of doing something important), but I wouldn't mind if he drew on the case as it's a dull beige affair which could do with some decorating!

[lgn1]

I go thru two keyboards a year, due to coffee related mishaps. Next time buy an all black keyboard.

Its funny, I have little marker marks on my screen on
purpose, for reference sizes while im doing web design.

[TinkyWinky]

buy an all black keyboard

NOOOO - tippex looks BAD on that.....

[sugarrae]

Actually found a thread on an apple site that did the trick for the screen - have to run to the store to see if it does the job for the keyboard - was surprised how many other people this had happened to.

My kids are seven, four and one - I know all about them being the loves of my life. I wasn't *serious* in regards to wanting to kill him - sometimes I wonder why people take everything way too seriously.

[Macguru]

Hi sugarrae,

I am surprised you found enough love or energy to type a smily in your first post.

Did you take pictures of the laptop? You could "work" on his guilty feelings later when the kid growns up...

Not surprised you found the solution on a Apple site, the young one seems to be a promising graphics designer. :)

If it works for your keyboard (hope it does), do you mind sharing what the trick is?

[sugarrae]

Supposedly it is just rubbing alcohol for the keys - the LCD - the trick was to wipe over the permanent marker with a dry erase one - it bonds to the perm marker and then it wipes right off. :)

[PyrettaBlaze]

At least your laptop still works.
When my daughter was just a bit over 1 year old, she poured an entire Dr. Pepper onto the keyboard of my laptop and fried it...
From then on, no drinks allowed ANYWHERE in the house except the kitchen.

[bunltd]

This thread makes me glad that all my daughter does is occasionally turn off mommy's machine by pushing the nice big button. Although she has been known to decorate the bathroom with an assortment of sparkly kid's toothpaste and makeup and lotion...

Glad you found a solution for the marks, Rae. :)

LisaB

[AAnnAArchy]

The Magic Eraser is awesome. I want to buy a whole crate of them.

[Sarah Atkinson]

This thread makes me glad that all my daughter does is occasionally turn off mommy's machine by pushing the nice big button. Although she has been known to decorate the bathroom with an assortment of sparkly kid's toothpaste and makeup and lotion...

Glad you found a solution for the marks, Rae. :)

LisaB

When I was a kid my friend and I decorated her bathroom with bug shells from the 14 year cicada thing or maybe it was the 7 year one. Any way we put them on the curtains and that night when her mom came in the street light was casting giant bug shaddows on the walls . The Scream was to die for.

[Sarah Atkinson]

might try dryel cleaning pads on some stains. I haven't tryied them yet but they are supose to be great for apolstery.

[ann]

Oxyclean dissolved in warm water and use a soft cloth.

[wheel]

Try saliva - seriously! Just like on the kid :). dampen a kleenex and rub. It's likely to come off instantly.

[hannamyluv]

I just read today that WD-40 is actually a great stain remover. I think it's begining to be right up there with duct tape.

[Sarah Atkinson]

I heard for permenent marker take the same marker are write over the mark then quickly wipe clean. probable similar to the dry erase... might I sujest if you have kids don't have perment markers or at least only have one or two put up somewhere saftly.

Of course, come to think of it, I have one sitting on my desk at home right now