In desperate need of restoration help for My Little Ponies

[cmichele]

I am desperately trying to remove permanent marker (possibly Sharpie) off the My Little Ponies I have been collecting.  Lately I have been able to get them for .25 each at a local thrift store and I enjoy cleaning them up and getting them back to their original look.  But, for the life of me, I can't understand why the employees insist on marking the price DIRECTLY onto the ponies, whether it be underneath on their bellies or on the bottom of one of their hooves.  Anyway, I have researched several sites and took the advice of using rubbing alcohol, acetone nail polish, clearasil cream, just plain old scrubbing, and hand sanitizer!!!  To no avail, no luck at getting the marker off completely!  I know it can be done, but I need to know what anyone out there would recommend I try that would give good results.

[EricaVee]

Someone had a similar question here a little while ago. I think toothpaste proved to be effective, but there were other suggestions--I will find the thread and link to it.

[Sora]

Actually, it's pretty impossible to fix. You can try sun fading, which is setting the pony in a sunny window for months. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. There really isn't a perfect solution.

[princess_lucy]

Yeah I was gonna suggest sun fading too but like Sora said it doesn't always work. If you do decide to try it make sure you cover the rest of the pony in foil so you don't end up fading the hair or the rest of the plastic.

[emery]

I know it won't help for the ones you have but maybe try to talk to the manager at the thrift store and ask if there is another way to mark the toys where it's not staining them?

[apanda0622]

The thrift stores in my area use the those pencils that will rub off with a magic eraser.  I can't remember there exact name.

[EricaVee]

Here's that other thread I mentioned:

http://ghostofthedoll.co.uk/Forum/index.php?topic=602.0

Toothpaste and soaking with a denture tablet were the most effective solutions. 

[ianthe99]

Sun fading usually works with permanent marker. It takes a while! It all depends on how sunny it is where you live. when I sun fade a pony, I use painter's tape and tin foil. Painter's tape is this blue paper type tape that peels off easy. If the marker is just on the belly or bottom of the feet.. just cover everything but the marker part with tin foil! Wrap that pony like a baked potato! If it's in a spot near the symbol or eyes, use painter's tape and cut it to cover any painted part and then use tin foil to cover the rest! Always cover their hair and whatever you aren't trying to fade. Well.. unless it's a white pony... and even then, if the pony is Cherry Treats... don't put her in the sun.. she'll turn brown!

As I understand it, benzoil  peroxide pimple cream works on some things, but you really have to watch it on anything but a white pony.  They say to put it on the spot, then check every day on the progress.

[pirateparakeet]

My roommate is fantastic at removing marker stains by sunfading. Try whitening toothpaste as well. Good luck!!