Scribbling and drawing stuff on mirrors is lots of fun. Artistic kids and even adults can have a blast decorating large plain mirrors for a quiet indoor recreational time.
Writing or drawing on your mirror can also help family members remember things or leave behind messages for each other. It could be love notes, inspirational quotes, or reminders for appointments, grocery lists, chores, etc.
However, not just any marker pen from your stash of home stationery will do the job. Mirrors are quite picky with ink. You’ll need markers specially formulated for slippery nonporous surfaces.
Most importantly, something with ink that wipes off with ease is a good idea, unless you want to permanently stain your mirror or risk ruining it with aggressive stain removal options.
Can you use dry erase markers on mirrors? Yes, you can use dry erase markers on mirrors. They are a favorite in many households because they offer an easy cleanup. You only need soft dry material like foam, felt, cloth, or paper towels to wipe it off effortlessly.
Dry erase markers are formulated using pigments, a highly volatile solvent such as acetone or alcohol, and an oily release agent. When used on a mirror, the solvent evaporates into the air leaving behind the pigment.
Because the release agent is oily, it prevents the pigment from clinging permanently to the surface. A mirror being nonporous will not absorb ink hence the ease to wipe off.
If you are looking to purchase a pack or two, you’ve come to the right place. We know how saturated the art supplies market is, so we already did the heavy lifting for you and sought the best 3 dry erase markers for mirrors.
But before going to our top picks, let’s find out what you should look out for before throwing that dry erase marker pack into your shopping cart.
6 Things To Look For When Shopping For Dry Erase Markers For Mirrors
For an easier time narrowing down your options, you might consider the following things which were also the basis for picking our top three products:
The Formula – Before picking out a pack of markers, please read the label carefully. Most customers will confuse dry erase markers with permanent markers, paint markers, wet-erase markers, or chalk markers.
Permanent markers or paint pens utilize acrylic polymer release agents to enhance the bonding of pigments to surfaces. Therefore, removing the color once dry takes the effort of detergents, sometimes even blades, potentially damaging your mirror.
Wet-erase markers and chalk markers require a damp cloth to clean up the ink. You are looking for markers that clean dry. You will also want to make sure your marker is designed for mirrors or glass-like surfaces.
Tip Design – There are three common tip styles: fine point, round bullet, and chisel tips.
Chisel tips are versatile. You can orient them to produce two or three widths of varying dimensions. Fine and extra-fine tips are ideal for defined smaller writing but may have visibility issues on mirrors.
A bold, round tip is perfect for mirrors because of a wider width and thus high visibility. It is a good choice for doing bold writings or artwork.
Comfort – Try to avoid bulky markers. Ensure the construction is ergonomic, lightweight, and comfortable to hold and use for a long time.
Opacity – Go for dry erase markers with solid opaque pigments. The reflective nature of mirrors gives rise to visibility issues as opposed to a white or blackboard with an advantage of contrast.
Color Selection – For dramatic, fun, and more exciting designs at home or for your business, opt for a vibrant variety than the standard office black, blue, red, and green colors.
Durability – Some inks run out too fast or dry out too quickly. Other marker pens look big on the outside but contain tiny capacity barrels. It is, therefore, important to not only get quality pens that won’t dry after just one use but also check how long they last.
The 3 Best Dry Erase Markers For Mirrors
Without further ado, let’s head straight to our top three dry erase markers for mirrors!
| Rank | Brand | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Expo Neon Window Dry-Erase Markers | Non-toxic, glass-like surfaces, bullet tip |
| 2. | Quartet Glass Board Dry-Erase Markers | Vivid bold color, thick lines, won't bleed |
| 3. | U Brands Dry-Erase Markers | Thick round tip, odorless, magnetic |
1. Expo Neon Window Dry Erase Markers
We had trouble deciding which Expo markers to go for because of the sheer number of choices under their dry erase marker line. We chose to go with the Expo Neon Window dry erase markers specially formulated for mirror and glass-like surfaces.
It comes in five flashy eye-popping neon colors and bold bullet tips for enhanced visibility. Your message will be hard to miss, and kids will enjoy adding a splash of vibrant colors over all your mirror surfaces.
There’s hardly any smell from the ink. You can comfortably use the markers within your household without having to put up with heavy odor or worry about safety – Expo is AP non-toxic certified.
Most importantly, the pigment is easy to erase using a dry cloth or tissue. There’s also an Expo cleaner formula out there in case you need help eliminating a few stubborn ghosts once in a while.
The one thing you can be sure of from a brand whose primary business is dry erase markers and its accessories is that they know their stuff. So you only get the best with Expo at a modest price.
Just be sure to store them inside a plastic bag or container as they tend to leak.
2. Quartet Glass Board Dry Erase Markers
This Quartet six-pack is a refreshing switch from the same old black, green, blue, and red colors as with traditional markers. There’s a brilliant, beautiful color selection with this set, which includes pink, orange, purple, blue, green, and brown.
The pigment is so vivid, you don’t have to keep going over the same place to attain opacity. The rounded tip further enhances visibility with thick solid writing.
The pen itself has a sleek design and a transparent gauge for monitoring the amount of ink left inside to avoid nasty surprises. You will truly appreciate this feature if a marker has ever run out on you at the worst possible time.
It writes beautifully without the annoying squeaky sound and dispels ink consistently and without bleeding or streaking. The colors remain bright and highly visible to the end.
It cleans up with a regular cloth or duster and needs a little more effort once dry, but that’s a small price to pay for the excellent color opacity you get in the mirror.
One of the most common complaints is that the barrel doesn’t come full. It is somewhere between the half and full marks. It could be a way to allow room for the expansion of the ink during shipping or particular weather to prevent leakage.
Other than these concerns which won’t affect the quality of the pen overall, this Quartet set is one of the best dry erase markers for mirrors for the boldest, brightest illustrations.
3. U Brands Dry Erase Markers
Mirrors’ reflective nature makes it a bit difficult to clearly see anything written on them. But U Brands offers their pens in a thick rounded tip for bold legible writings.
You get 12 fun and vibrant colors in 6 pens, as each one is double-sided. That’s more colors for less bulk. Plus, the double-sided feature just makes them all the more fun.
This ink is highly visible and odorless – with none of those nauseating chemical fumes typical of dry erase markers.
If you are always losing marker pens, you’d be delighted to know that these have a magnetic feature. You can attach it onto any convenient easy to reach metal surface.
That’s not all. The capped ends are flattened, so your dry erase markers will not roll away from flat surfaces to the floor and under furniture. You’ll find it exactly where you placed it.
Each marker comes readily attached with an eraser, so you do not have to search far and wide should you make a minor mistake. The ink wipes off with relative ease too.
There’s simply everything you can ever want in a dry erase marker in U Brands. If you do not mind a bold tip, this is a perfect buy for you or your kids.
Summary
Mirrors are hard to miss. Chances are good you’ll look in one every day, making it a great place to jot or draw anything for yourself or someone else to see. They are a nice inexpensive canvas too. Kids and adults alike can put their artistic skills to practice over and over.
You can use dry erase markers on mirrors. They are practical pens for writing stuff or drawing artwork that needs to be changed or corrected frequently. You only need to go for a formula specially made for mirrors and such surfaces and have a soft pad, cloth, or paper for erasing.
We recommend looking for a good quality set that is easy to clean up after, comfortable to use, bold and opaque, durable, and has great color options. Any of the products from our review should fit the bill, but you may find your own favorite.
Remember to occasionally clean the mirror because the longer the ink stays, the tougher it gets to erase. Investing in a dry erase marker cleaning solution is essential. When used regularly, it helps keep your mirrors in pristine condition by eliminating stubborn cloudiness and “ghosting”.
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