Guide to Removing Crayon Stains

Moms know that raising kids is a messy job. Combine that with the fact that once they turn their backs, craft time can run amuck. It's a great idea get a handle on easy stain removal techniques. One product, typically used in the garage as a car part lubricant, is just at home under the kitchen sink.

If your toddler has doodled with a Cerulean blue crayon on your vinyl floor, don't panic. Perhaps your dining room walls boast an Inch Worm green sky scraper, complete with a Burnt Sienna reddish sunset. It's all easily removed.

For most surfaces, all you'll need is a can of WD-40®, which is most likely sitting on the workbench in your garage.

The following information comes from Crayola's helpful website and is meant for regular crayons only. Be sure to visit Crayola's Stain Removal Tips page for stain removal tips related to various products and surfaces.

Common Household Surfaces

Many household surfaces can be wiped clean of crayon stains with a can of WD-40, a soft cloth, a sponge, warm water and liquid dishwashing detergent.

To remove crayon marks from chalkboards (slate or green), finished wood (paint-, stain-, or varnish-covered), Formica®, metal, glass, porcelain, painted walls, plastic, scrubbable wallpaper, tile, marble, microfiber fabrics and no-wax vinyl flooring: simply spray with WD-40, then wipe with a soft cloth. If there's any residue left over, add liquid dishwashing soap to water and wash with a sponge in a circular motion. Be sure to rinse well. Otherwise, the surface will be very slippery.

Brick and Concrete

You'll need a stiff bristle brush to remove crayon stains from brick and concrete. Just spray with WD-40 and brush with the stiff brush. To finish the job, respray and wipe clean with a soft cloth.

Car Interiors, Carpet and Upholstery

Crayons are great to keep the kids occupied in the back seat. If they happen to color on the cloth interior or, worse yet, if a crayon happens to melt on the car seat, it can be removed.

Use the following materials with WD-40: sponge, paper towels, dull-edge object (like a metal knife or spoon), liquid dishwashing detergent and a small stiff bristle brush.

Begin by scraping off the excess crayon with the spoon. Spray with WD-40, allowing it to stand a few minutes. Next, use the stiff brush and work the crayon stain off. Wipe with paper towels.

Time to respray with WD-40, but this time add the liquid dishwashing detergent to the sprayed area. Work-in again with the brush. Finally, wipe the stain away with a damp sponge. You can repeat the procedure if it's not completely clean.

You can also try any brand of upholstery cleaner. Just follow the directions on the bottle.

Unfinished Wood Deck

To remove crayon stains from an unfinished deck (or any other untreated/unfinished woods), all you'll need is rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth.

Carefully apply the rubbing alcohol to the soft cloth and wipe the stain. Repeat until the stain is completely gone.

Clothing and Stains on Dryer Drum

For crayon stains on clothing, whether they're fresh or heat-set (melted), gather the following materials: laundry detergent, liquid dishwashing detergent, color-safe bleach (like OxiClean or Clorox 2® ), paper towels (enough to create a padded surface on which to work) and WD-40.

With the stained surface down on the pad of paper towels, spray with WD-40. Allow it to stand for a few minutes, then turn the fabric over and spray the other side.

Next, apply liquid dishwashing detergent and work it into the stain, replacing toweling as it absorbs the stain. Then, wash in hot water with your regular laundry detergent, adding Clorox 2 or OxiClean powder. Wash for about 12 minutes; rinse water should be warm.

If you've inadvertently dried a crayon in your dryer, you'll need to clean the drum to remove any remaining wax residue. Just spray a soft cloth with WD-40 and wipe away. Then, remove the WD-40 residue from the drum by washing with liquid dish soap and water. Finally, run a load of scrap rags through a drying cycle to be sure all residue is removed.

Amodex Ink & Stain Remover

Beyond WD-40, many crayon-stained surfaces can be cleaned with Amodex® Ink & Stain Remover. This non-toxic, cream formula also removes other types of ink-related stains, including permanent ink, from a multitude of surfaces.

With a little bit of elbow grease and patience, your stained surface will be good as new.

SOURCES

Crayola Stain Removal Tips

http://www.crayola.com/canwehelp/staintips/index.cfm

WD-40®

http://www.wd40.com/products/

http://www.wd40.com/about-us/

Amodex

http://www.amodexink.com/