How To Fix A Dry Highlighter Pen Work Again
Highlighter markers are a very important tool in our daily life. Whether you are a student, teacher, or anyone trying to remark on important things while reading books or documents, it’s essential.
Though they are not so expensive, it can still be frustrating if you run out of ink in the mid of highlighting any important text. But if you don’t want to throw away your favorite highlighter pen, you can try some methods to revive it.
In today’s article, I will show how to revive highlighter pen to enjoy its efficiency a bit longer. So, keep reading, and you’ll find some effective methods to fix your dead highlighter.
Important
As the uses of highlighter markers are increasing, so many top-quality brands of marker have started producing highlighter pens. But it doesn’t mean that the highlighter cannot malfunction. Most of the time, it happens if the ink clogged inside or if you keep the cap off carelessly for a long time.
However, you can try the easy methods below to revive highlighter pens before throwing them into the trash bin. Remember that it may not work for every brand, but you should try it at least once.
Things You' ll Need
Below I’ve given a few things you need to fix dried-out highlighter pen.
Scissor/Knife
Small Glass/Bowl
Warm Water
Rubbing Alcohol
Tissue Paper/Paper Towel
Nail Polish Remover
Cotton Ball
Syringe/Drops
Inkjet Printer Ink
Ways to Reviving Highlighter Pens
Many people may want to revive the old highlighter and use it again. But they might not know how to do that. It is actually very easy.
However, there are some easy ways that you need to follow to make your highlighter pen work as before. Here we mentioned few methods which will help you fix dried out markers.
Method 1 – Using Water
Step 1: This is the quicker solution among all. Firstly, you have to check is there any ink left in the marker or not. So, shake it 2-3 times and write on a paper piece.
If you can write any words with it, you can move to the next step even if it becomes unclear or broken. Otherwise, if there is no ink left inside it, you have to buy a new one probably.
Step 2: You have to open up the highlighter pen to get the ink tube out of the plastic body in this step. For this, you can use a knife or scissor whatever you found near hand.
But be careful enough as these tools are very sharp. You can open the marker both from the front or back, depending on the marker model. Then remove the ink sponge.
Step 3: Now fill the bowl with water. If you want, you can use slightly warm water. But you have to be careful and not use hot water. It can damage the ink for good.
Then put one side of the ink sponge inside the water and wait for a few minutes till it becomes soft enough to be squeezed out in your hands.
In the same way, put the other side in the water and wait. You’ll see that the sponge is immediately squeezing the water like water-based markers.
Step 4: Lastly, take some tissue paper or paper towel and put the ink sponge on it. It’ll help to gently squeeze the excess water from the sponge and make it ready to use.
Then take a piece of paper and start writing. Hopefully, you will get your highlighter marker working as new as before.
Method 2 – Vinegar Solution
You should know that vinegar not only works for permanent markers but neon highlighter markers also. This is very easy to fix a highlighter pen following this method.
Firstly, fill a small glass with the white vinegar solution (equal parts of distilled white vinegar and warm water).
Now, dip the dried-out tip of your highlighter into this solution for about one minute. The acid from the cleaner solution replaces dryness inside your highlighter marker and restores its original color.
After you are done, wipe off any liquid that remains onto a paper towel or disposable rag. Now, your marker is ready to use. Keep in mind that it’s a temporary solution.
Method 3 – Using Alcohol
Step 1: In this method, to revive a highlighter pen doesn’t require any special equipment but involves a little alcohol. It works in the same way you restore a dried-out marker.
Firstly, you will need to pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol in a bottle cap or small bowl.
Step 2: Then dip the dry marker tip into the solvent and wait for a few seconds. After that, take the marker from the solution and remove excess liquid from the tip. Then hold it upside down. It’ll help to soak the alcohol through the ink pad.
Step 3: Now put the marker cap on and let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes. It’ll help the marker absorb the alcohol properly and prepare it for writing.
Step 4: In this step, take a piece of paper and start writing. And if you don’t get your expected result, repeat the process a couple of times.
However, you can also use acetone-based nail polish remover if you don’t find rubbing alcohol at hand. It works similarly to alcohol.
And in this case, you have to follow the same process of using rubbing alcohol as mentioned above. Interestingly, you can also revive dry erase markers using acetone.
FAQ
Q: Why Do Highlighter Markers Dry Out?
Whether you use high-quality highlighter markers or cheap ones, you’ll eventually face the dry-out problem. There can be many reasons for this – too much usage, the marker was left open or unused for a long time, and it is possible that you dropped it badly.
Sometimes also the ink clogged inside or pen tip that causes writing problems. Even if they claim to be non-toxic, highlighters may still contain solvents that could evaporate over time.
However, if there is still some ink left in the ink sponge, you can revive it and write with it as before by following the method mentioned above.
Q: How Long Does Highlighter Pen Last?
The simple answer is, “It Depends!”
Highlighter pens can last anywhere from a few months to years after years, depending on the frequency of use and how well they are cared for.
It also depends on the volume of ink that a highlighter marker contains. On average, highlighter markers ink pad contains 10ml ink, which will allow you to highlight around 50,000 words. The figure seems big!
But if you are a continuous reader and highlight 1000 words per day, you can use a highlighter pen for up to 50 days.
