Use electrical tape to set up a pencil station like this one by @TheAlexNieves. Then have students write in their name when they need to borrow a pencil to save your pencil stash from going dry.

Accidents happen! Fortunately, Kenarry notes that you can clean dry erase marker off a painted wall by rubbing gently with rubbing alcohol. (Test in an inconspicuous place first to make sure it’s safe on your wall.) 20. Revive dried-out markers

Kick-start your creative meetings with templates

Our office has installed new whiteboards over the last two years. Many of these boards are heavily used and have already devolved to the point of being useless -- the writing on them has become all but permanent and they are heavily stained. If there are stubborn marks, use a cloth dampened with isopropanol or 70%+ ethanol to gently remove them. Most of these could occur in either in-person classes or remote sessions and may be synchronous or asynchronous. Tools

Tap / scrape / vacuum the excess dust off of your eraser & thoroughly erase the board from top to bottom Save your used fabric softener sheets because they make terrific whiteboard erasers! Watch a video to see this in action at BTOD. 18. Refresh and protect an old board with WD-40 Toothpaste is a mild abrasive, enough to clean stubborn marks without damaging your board. Choose the plain white paste type for best results. Learn more at Wikihow. 17. Re-use dryer sheets to keep things clean Sometimes detergents cause their own problems, so I only use them if there is actual dirt on the board (from people's fingers or mishaps). My standard "deep clean" technique is as follows:

Considerations and further guidance

If you can add a magnet to it, you can use it on your whiteboard! Miss Giraffe uses this idea for base 10 cubes and rulers. 7. Frame off sections If you teach handwriting, you’re going to love this washi tape idea from Bored Teachers. Use it to make lines on your whiteboard, plus try adding lines to the small whiteboards your students use too. 5. Try out magnet paper Depending on your activity there are a few tools that will suit you. This grid will help you choose which tool(s) to try. We have indicated whether there is an institutional licence, which tools are useful for remote, in-person, synchronous and asynchronous activities and provided a link to information about accessibility. Good dry erase markers are worth their weight in gold. Protect your teacher markers by labeling them with bright tape and your name, like @mrsroordasroom. 25. Keep dry erase markers out of reach You can buy pre-made whiteboard calendars or just make your own with paint markers or striping tape. Cute monthly decorations like the ones from @emily.ollis are optional, but so fun! 28. Add clothespins with removable adhesive strips

Did someone accidentally write on the whiteboard with a permanent marker? Good news! Imagination Soup confirms that all you need to do is write over it with a dry erase marker, and the alcohol in the ink will help lift the permanent marker up when you erase. Alcohol-based disinfecting wipes work too. 15. DIY some whiteboard cleaner To get a nice, even coating, make a second pass after allowing the initial layer to dry for about 15 minutes. Use isopropyl alcohol to clean the board. For a badly gummed up board this will take some serious elbow work. I have cleaned with paper towels or cotton cloth. Both seem to work equally well.Use a clean, soft cloth slightly dampened with plain water to gently wipe the last bits of dust off the board, again moving from top to bottom. If you think you might like to try one of them, this detailed comparison of the two apps might help you decide which one will suit your purposes. Considerations and further guidance If you want something that can be used in a live session but also before and/or after the class then Padlet or Microsoft Whiteboard would be good choices depending on the activity. We have written several blog posts about Padlet which should give you an idea of the possibilities: