How to Remove Grease Pencil Marks from Board Games

Recently, I posted some instructions for removing packing tape from your board games. Most of the time we find the packing tape strangling games boxes that come from thrift purchases, especially Good Will and Salvation Army finds. Tape isn't the only bother from thrift purchases though--there's also the dreaded GREASE PENCIL! Aaaaaahhh!

Yes, the games may only cost $1 or $4, but they make us pay in other ways. So many resale shops will write prices in grease pencil on the box top. And if you're wondering about the odd digits they choose for the price? Apparently that's to make it tough for the rascals out there to smudge off parts of the price. I guess they've never heard of price stickers, but whatever.

The point is that I (along with my lovely assistant, Lily) have a very easy way to remove the grease pencil price fast as a flash, and without damaging the box at all.

1. I need you to go out to the store and buy one critical cleaning item: A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Let's face it, y'all, you should own one anyway. That bitch can remove marks from walls and cabinets that nothing else can.

2. Now come home, and ignore the instructions on the Magic Eraser box. Do NOT wet the sponge.

Let me type that again: Do NOT wet the sponge--do it, and risk doing some real damage to the cardboard.

3. Use the dry Magic Eraser to gently rub away the markings. It should take mere seconds and almost no effort.

 

I've also attempted this method with pencil, crayon, and marker graffiti, and other assorted scuffs. The results have been mixed (sometimes 40 year-old marker glyph is there to stay, no matter what Mr. Clean has to say).

Combine this tip and the last post to pull tape safely from your game box, and you'll have a good-as-new game box straight from the thrift shop or garage sale. Happy bargain hunting.