Permanent markers, commonly referred to by the brand name Sharpies, can make for some of the most intimidating types of stains . However, contrary to their name, these types of pens don’t necessarily cause permanent damage—if you know how to remove a permanent marker stain like a pro. “In many ways, sharpies and permanent markers have more in common with spray paint than they do with a ballpoint pen,” Guy Peters, owner and founder of MOP STARS cleaning service, explains to Reader’s Digest . That’s because permanent markers, like spray paint, contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that evaporate to dry the ink. “The faster you can remove the ink, the less time the evaporation process has time to affect, and the greater chance that you can successfully remove the ink before it really does become permanent,” he points out. As a general rule of stain removal, the faster you act, the better your chances of success; that’s especially true when it comes to removing red wine from clothes .