Washable Marker Experiment
I’m currently working with a client to set up an art space for her 16-month-old daughter. Whenever I’m thinking about materials for toddlers, I always think about washability, but even more so when the art space is in a central area of the home. This toddler art space is in an open family room/kitchen that leads out to the back yard. It’s where this family hosts guests and spends the majority of their time, so I’d like to help them out by stocking them with the most washable supplies I can find.
But The Label Says It’s Washable
When it came time to choose markers for my client’s art space, I decided to do this experiment because I’ve found that the term “washable” is used very loosely on packaging. Most of the markers that I have used in the past clearly say “washable,” but still tend to leave a faint stain on furniture, fabric and skin. I did a similar experiment with tempera paint a few years ago when I had an online shop for art supplies. You might be surprised at how non-washable some “washable” paint really is! This isn’t usually a problem with older kids (or even preschool-aged kids), but having an 16-month old with free access to her markers is a different story! I want parents to feel comfortable giving toddlers a little more autonomy and access to certain art materials, so it’s important to find the ones that are truly washable.
With washabliltiy being the #1 priority, I also wanted to look at a few other factors to find the best marker for toddlers. Ora, my 4-year-old was happy to help me with this experiment (especially when I said she would get to draw on a shirt, her arms, the table and the wall!)
The Contenders
I decided to test my two favorite brands (Stabilo and Faber-Castell) alongside Crayola’s “Ultra Clean Washable Markers.” (affiliate links) All three brands say “washable” on the packaging.
Test 1) How do the markers draw? How easy is it to take the caps off or put on? What is the pigment like?
We use the Stabilo brand markers more than any other in our house. They have nice colors, are smooth and easy to use, they last a long time and can be left with the caps off for a while before drying out. One of my favorite things about them is that the caps are all clear, which means you don’t have to worry about matching the cap color to the marker. In general, these are great markers, but we haven’t got to the washability yet.
The Faber-Castell markers seem to be the highest quality of the bunch. They have really great vibrant colors and seem like they will last a while. The only issues I have with them as a toddler marker is that the caps are hard to take off and snap back on and vibrant colors usually make a product less washable.
The Crayola markers have the softest pigment and the caps are also hard to take off and snap back on.
Test 2) Let’s draw on our clothes, on the table, on the wall, and on our arms!
If you have a toddler you know they are more likely to draw on the furniture, the walls, or their body before the paper you have placed in front of them. This is a natural and creative part of being a toddler! Of course, when this happens it’s a good idea to re-direct your child back to the paper or whatever surface you have approved, but often times we are too late and have to deal with the aftermath. Even my 4 year old still loves to draw on her body! For the washability test, we drew on a variety of surfaces with each brand of marker and then waited a bit to let it sink in.
After about 30 minutes, we started the washing process. First we scrubbed Ora’s arms with soap and water. Here is the result:
Then I washed the t-shirt in the laundry and wiped the table and wall with all purpose cleaner.
Conclusion
Best toddler marker = Crayola Ultra Clean Washable Markers
While the Faber-Castell markers are high quality and have beautiful pigments, they are the least washable of the bunch. It’s possible that the stains will come off with a few more washes, but I’m not going to use them in my client’s toddler art space. I’ll definitely keep them in our art space and would recommend them for kids ages 5+.
The Stabilo markers wash off a bit better than the Faber-Castell, but still not enough for a toddler. They are thinner markers, which are harder for toddler hands to hold, but are good for ages 3+ to get kids used to the tripod grasp (how we hold pencils when write), which is an important skill when learning to write.
The Crayola markers win the washability test hands down. I definitely recommend these for toddlers or for times when washability is the priority.
Do you have any favorite washable markers or art supplies? Have you had issues with a product that says it’s washable, but turned out not to be? I’m always on the look out for great art products, especially when it comes to finding good products for specific age groups. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Tell your clients that rubbing alcohol will take out any marker stains. My son used a permanent marker on our microfiber couch when he was two. The market came right off. Then again, he used an ink pen on our white leather kitchen chairs. Rubbing alcohol to the rescue. In any case, this was a great test and a great post for parents to read!
Wow, great tip, Marina! I’ll have to do some tests with that as well. Also, the Mr. Clean Magic eraser is great for getting stains off of hard furniture and walls.
Thank you so much. A wonderful post here. I’m lucky that my daughter has been pretty good and NOT gone for the walls thank goodness but certainly loves drawing on herself and sometimes likes to drawon paper on the floor and accidentally goes off the edge. I’ll have to try and see which one I found the best and write it here. We have several brands and yes, some are better at getting off than others, are more vibrant AND last longer as well.
That’s how it’s been with my kids, too, Bridgette. I’ve always had a large chalk wall in our home, so maybe that was a good outlet for their wall-drawing urge. If you think of your favorite marker brands, let me know :)
Maybe she just knows the tone of my voice means business Megan. Ha ha ha!!! Or I give her so much leeway with rolls of paper on the floor and total access to paper everywhere else that she doesn’t need to go against the grain there … Even though she does in other ways – I’m trying to get her to bed right now and she’s stalling in every way possible (I’m typing here because she’s decided it’s time to do a toilet run!!!!! GRRRRR!). OK, gotta go. They’re canny these four year olds!
Hi I just found your blog… Love the test because I have experienced a lot of trouble with so called washable markets and paints! For most paints I found that the key is not let them dry to long but quick removal solves the issue. That is also true for most washable markers, but I found one brand that washes out of clothes without any stains as well as the tile floor, fabric couch covers, wooden furniture with different finishes and most walls (currently we have some horrible cheap paint in most of our rental home, so if I try to wash the wall the paint comes off) even if it dried for days or weeks… The colors are vibrant, the caps are all white and easy to take off and put on. They can be left 24 hours open without drying out…. I love these markers and so do all my kids!
GIOTTO TURBO MAXI (maxi washable)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DCXS1MA/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1465288062&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=giotto+turbo+maxi&dpPl=1&dpID=51lyOr3BHxL&ref=plSrch
Lydia,
Thanks so much for the marker suggestion! It looks like they are regularly priced and readily available in Australia- the Amazon link you shared shows them being almost $50 for a 24 pack (but I can see they are much lower on Australian office supply sites) I have a lot of Australian readers who need good product suggestions, so this is perfect.
Glad you found my blog, welcome!
Geez, they’d want to do the job too at almost $50 a pack. Phew!
… OH, I’ve just spied your reply above Megan. Thank you for thinking of the lovely Australians on your site! I’m glad to hear they’re a bit cheaper somewhere else. I’ve never heard of them and I will check them out. They sounds amazing. Thank you Lydia.
Yeah the price on Amazon is totally exagerated… In my local craft supply shop here in the Middle East they’re more like 15USD for a bucket of 48 (12 colors 4 of each). I hope nobody pays 50USD for the pack of 24… I just wanted to link up so one has a picture to the brand.
Oh, good to know! Where in the Middle East are you? Thanks Lydia :)
I am in Israel… Just checked the price on Amazon Germany and there the bucket of 48 costs 12 Euro which is about 15 USD… some of the price difference might have to do with import tax I guess, since the brand is from Europe.
Lydia,
That’s what I figured about the pricing. Say hi to Isreal for me :) Beautiful country.
Isn’t it funny. I had this idea amazon was cheap and competitive prices. Ha!!! Yes, I found them in Officeworks here (Online – special order) which is my local store for $35AUD for the bucket of 48. For a while, it was a lot more worth buying USD due to the similarity in cost but now the market has changed so I think we’ve gone up cy almost double again. They’re looks to be a good range of colours anyhow.
My daughter’s got a really bad cough (onset of Winter here – last night was the coldest it’s been so far but it never lasts long) so I think we’ll stay home today so I’ll test out the textas we have here for washability Megan. You’re right, I was looking at all the brands on the Officeworks site and they all say they wash out. Interesting!!! We’ve got a few to try out …
Brigitte- Ha! I’d love to hear your results. Hope your daughter feels better soon.
Oh and I never even stain treat the clothes… I just throw it into the regular wash and there is nothing visible after!