If your house smells like Sharpie or permanent marker, it is likely due to a marker being used or stored inside the home or your neighbor’s home.
Sharpies or other permanent markers use powerful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including xylene, toluene and urethane resin in their ink. They can permeate through walls and furniture and cause your house smells like a sharpie or permanent marker.
The same permanent marker or sharpie smell can come from a refrigerant leak, a Coolant leak, an AC unit such as a thermostat, and glues and sealants used in construction. These sources release the same gases sometimes.
Is Sharpie or Permanent Marker smell Dangerous to health?
As mentioned, permanent markers like sharpie use chemicals such as xylene, toluene, and urethane resin. These chemicals are not harmful to normal sniffing. I mean, that is common sense.
If smelling permanent marker or sharpie INK causes health risks, FDA would not accept marketing the marker, right?
Besides, a public health statement clearly indicates that smelling xylene is not harmful at all.
A statement from National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teachers says that sniffing sharpie or permanent marker INK smell has no short-term or long-term effects.
However, if you consistently smell them or get exposed to them, you may experience headaches, skin rash, or similar minor problems. So try to avoid long-term contact with it.
Exposer to children regularly can cause some problems as well. So take necessary steps to remove the odor from your home.
What to do if your house smells like a sharpie or permanent marker?
The best thing to do is to try and identify where it’s coming from and work on cleaning it up and removing the smell. In the meantime, keep your windows open and air out the house as much as possible.
You may also consider using an air purifier with activated charcoal filters to help remove VOCs from the air.
Let’s discuss this in detail.
Find out the sources
Try to find the sources. The best way to do that is to use your nose. Sniff and try to find the location of the source. If it is coming from an AC unit such as thermostat, refrigerator, or air conditioner, try not to be so close to the sources.
Is it coming from the nearby marker or sharpie?
Sometimes, the sharpie or permanent marker bursts into the drawer. Check the drawer. If it is coming from there, you have got your culprit. Simply clean the area with a towel or soap water to remove the mark. The odor will be gone soon.
Also, open the windows and doors for better ventilation. It will blow off the odor soon.
Is it coming from your neighbors?
The sharpie smell may come from neighbor houses as well. If that is the case, all you can do is inform them. Using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can work as well. It traps the odor particles and removes smells from home.
What if it comes from home appliances like AC, fridge, or thermostat?
If your nose takes you to electrical appliances such as ac, fridge, or thermostat, try not to reach too close. Observe from a distance and see whether it is coming from a leak or not. Your fridge smells like permanent marker might be a problem.
Sometimes, the smell comes from the leak, and sometimes, from wire burning. Turn off the main switch first and then inspect.
If there is a leak, you may need to hire a professional to cover it. Changing wire may also need a professional.
You can, of course, do it if you know how to do it. But I will suggest hiring a professional for safety and better performance.
Use an air purifier or air freshener
If you do not find a source, simply use an air freshener. Using an air purifier is the ultimate solution if the smell stays long.
Make sure the purifier has a HEPA filter that can capture the elements of foul odor. It makes your house clean and safe for your children and pet.
What Gas Smells Like Permanent Marker
Xylene is the primary gas associated with the smell of sharpie or permanent markers. Toluene and naphthalene have a similar odor that are also used in making INK for permanent markers.
These chemicals are also found in gasoline, sealant, or glues.
These molecules evaporate quickly and release those characteristic fumes we associate with gas stations and cars and glues or sealants.
Apart from that, these gases smell like sharpie or permanent markers as well.
- Naphthalene
- Ethylbenzene
- Styrene
It’s worth noting that some people may be more sensitive to these odors than others, and the perception of the smell can vary from person to person. Additionally, the odor of these chemicals can become less noticeable over time due to a phenomenon known as olfactory fatigue.
Permanent marker smell in kitchen
Apart from any existing permanent marker or sharpie present in the kitchen, cleaning solutions such as vinegar, rubbing alcohol, ammonia, or bleach can react and cause permanent marker or sharpie smells.
If you have a refrigerator in the kitchen, a leakage can also cause a smell. Besides, any gas leak might smell like a a sharpie or permanent marker if the ventilation is improper. You should check the surrounding to find the sources to solve the problem. Keeping the ventilation on
I Keep Smelling Permanent Marker or sharpie smell in nose
If you keep smelling permanent markers but cannot find the source or no one else smell it, you may be suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).
MCS is a condition where people are sensitive to chemicals in their environment. These chemicals can come from many sources, including cleaning products, perfumes, and even ink in permanent markers.
People with MCS may have various symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms can sometimes be so severe that they interfere with daily activities. If you think you might have MCS, you must see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
There is no cure for MCS, but avoiding exposure to triggering chemicals can help lessen symptoms.
But if everyone smells the same, follow the steps above to remove the smell from your house.
Car Smells Like Permanent Marker
The most likely scenario is your kid got into your car and used your markers to draw all over the place! But it’s also possible that someone else drew in your car if you do not have kids.
Another possibility is that you accidentally left a permanent marker in your car rolled under the seats or between cracks in the upholstery. Over time, the ink from the marker will start to seep out and fill your car with its distinct smell.
Gas leak or smell from pump can also smell like permanent marker or sharpie. Check that out.
So what can you do if your car smells like a permanent marker?
The first step is to try and identify where the smell is coming from.
If you suspect someone drew in your car, do a thorough search for evidence of this (look under seats, in crevices, etc). Clean it up as soon as possible – which may be difficult if it’s extensive or on hard-to-reach surfaces.
If you think the smell might be coming from an errant marker somewhere in your car, again, do a thorough search until you find it.
Once found, remove it from the vehicle and dispose of it properly. You may also want to give affected areas a good cleaning with soap and water or a cleaner specifically designed for removing ink stains.
If the reason is leak or oil pump, get rid of it as fast as you can.
Hopefully following these steps will get rid of that pesky permanent marker smell for good!
Why Do I Keep Smelling Sharpie?
If you keep smelling Sharpie, it could be for a few different reasons. First, if you have recently used a Sharpie marker, the scent may still be lingering on your skin or in the air.
Second, some people are sensitive to certain chemicals in Sharpies and other markers, which can cause them to smell the scent more strongly than others.
Finally, if you have been around someone who has been using a Sharpie marker, the scent may have transferred to you. If you’re concerned about any of these potential causes, we recommend seeking medical attention from a healthcare professional.
It can also be from the nearest HVAC, neighbors’ houses, or any gas leak. Find the source and solve the problem.
Why Does My Ac Smell Like Sharpie?
If your AC smells like Sharpie, it could be because the filter needs to be changed. A dirty filter can cause a musty smell in your home. You should check and change your filter every 1-3 months.
Another reason why your AC may smell like Sharpie is because of mold or mildew growth in the unit. These can release musty odors into your home through the vents. If you suspect mold or mildew, you should have a professional come out and take a look.
They will be able to clean and disinfect the unit so the smell goes away.
Conclusion
Sharpie or permanent marker smell is ugly. Most people dislike it.
If your house smell like a permanent marker such as sharpie, you should find the sources as soon as possible. Once you find the source, it will be easy to eliminate the smell.
You can try to air out the room or use a fan to circulate the air, but if the smell is strong, you may need to call a professional to help remove the odor.
