About Crayon Stains

Crayons are part of being a child. Crayon stains, therefore, are part of being a parent. No matter how careful you are, you can end up sitting on a crayon or miss removing one from a child's pocket when doing laundry. When even a small piece of a crayon melts, it can stain everything it comes in contact with, and removing crayon stains is a challenge.

Identification

Crayons are made of paraffin wax and multi-colored pigments. When a crayon stain sets into fabric, it can be removed the same way candle wax stains are removed. One way to get a crayon stain out is to spray WD-40 on the stain site. Let it set for five minutes and rinse it completely. Rub Dawn dish soap into the stain with a clean rag until the crayon wax is gone. Spray or rub a stain remover such as Shout or Spray and Wash onto the remaining pigment stain and let it set for five minutes. Wash in hot water if possible.

Features

How you remove a crayon stain can depend on the type of material that's stained. If the stain is on fabric made of cotton, acrylic, linen, nylon, spandex, washable wool, olefin or polyester, scrape to remove the crayon. Apply blotting paper to each side of the stain and press it with a warm iron. Change the papers and press the iron carefully to avoid spreading the stain.

Non-Fabric Surfaces

For surfaces such as stainless steel, paint, brick, glass, gold, bronze, pewter, stone, concrete, enamel, grout, bamboo or tile, scrape the crayon carefully from the surface without scratching it. Wipe the area with dish or laundry detergent and water. If a crayon makes its way into your dryer, crayon particles may attach themselves to every load of clothing placed in the dryer. Wipe the inside of the dryer with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or Soft Scrub on a toothbrush.

Prevention/Solution

If crayon in the washer or dryer stains your clothing, pre-treat the stains with Palmolive dish liquid or Spray and Wash for 15 minutes. Add 4 cups of Oxyclean and 2 cups of laundry detergent to the washer. Repeat if necessary. If this doesn't work, try applying Goo Gone to the stains. Soak the stained items in a mixture made of a cup of white vinegar, a cup of Oxyclean, a cup of Shout and a cup of laundry detergent for one hour, then launder. You could also soak clothing in the washer with hot water and a solution made of 1 1/2 cups of Oxyclean Liquid Stain Fighter, 1 cup of Zout, and 1 1/2 cups of Wisk Multi-Action laundry detergent for an hour, then launder the load of clothes.

Considerations

If your child draws a picture on your wall, rub crayon stains on wallpaper with a dry SOS or Brillo pad. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth to wipe the stain away. If crayons are ground into your wood floor or furniture, scrape the crayon from the wood very carefully to avoid scratches. Polish the area with a soft chamois cloth.

Resources

• Tips for removing crayon stains