How to Refill Dry Erase Markers and Remove the Ink from a Highlighter Pen

Save on expensive dry erase marks by restoring them or refilling them yourself. You can't buy ink to refill your markers but using a little acetone can help extend the life of your dry erase markers. If you have acetone on hand, you probably don't need to buy any additional equipment as they are common items.

Use needle nose pliers to hold the stopper on the bottom of the pen. Try grabbing one of the small plastic tabs.

Pull gently back and forth to remove the stopper from the pen. Pull the pliers up as you swing the plug back and forth. Set the plug aside.

Fill a small pill or bulb syringe with a small amount of acetone. Turn the syringe upside down to prevent the acetone from spilling until you are ready.

Hold the marker in one hand with the plug end facing up. Put the tip of the syringe into the end of the pen. Slowly squeeze the syringe to insert the acetone into the dry erase marker.

Put the plug back on the end of the pen. Push it down with your fingers, using pliers if it's stubborn. Let the pen sit with the marker tip down and let the acetone seep into the ink filter.

Use centrifugal force to rejuvenate the pen in the absence of acetate. Glue a piece of string to the plug end of the pen. Put the cap back on. Swing the string in a circular motion over your head, forcing the ink to flow to the tip of the pen.

Highlighters are designed differently than regular ink pens. With most regular ink pens, you can easily take the pen apart to access the ink reservoir. Highlighter seals tighter - to prevent highlight ink from spilling or drying out. However, if you want to remove the ink from the highlighter, you can use the proper tool to do it.

Lay the highlighter on a towel so you don't stain the work surface if any ink spills.

Check your highlighter for the end cap. The end cap can be a distinct twist cap, or it can be designed to blend in with the barrel and simply look like a notch.

Grasp the end cap with a pair of rubber-coated pliers and unscrew the cap from the barrel if the cap is a twist cap. If not, insert the narrow tip of your craft knife between the seam where the end cap and barrel meet. Slowly rock the craft knife back and forth to pry the end cap out of the barrel.

Insert the tweezers into the pen holder, use them to grasp the ink tank and pull it out.