How to Clean Crayon From Carpet

If one of your children accidentally mistakes your carpet for a coloring book, use this recipe to remove the budding Picasso's creations.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Scrape off excess crayon wax with a butter knife or other non-serrated knife.

2. Place a single layer of paper bag over the stain.

3. Heat an iron to its hottest setting.

4. 

   Move the hot iron back and forth rapidly over the stain.

5. Replace the paper bag when it becomes saturated with crayon.

6. Repeat as many times as necessary until you've ironed up as much crayon as possible.

7. 

   Pour dry cleaning fluid over the remaining stain.

8. Blot with a dry, white cloth.

9. 

   Apply a small amount of mild liquid detergent to the spot.

10. Blot again with the cloth.

11. Flood the stain with water.

12. Blot again.

13. 

    Pour a small amount of ammonia on the stain.

14. Blot again.

15. Apply a little more liquid detergent.

16. Blot again.

17. Flood the area with water.

18. 

    Blot one last time.

Tips & Warnings

• Dry cleaning fluid can be purchased at home supply stores or at a dry cleaners.
• Always test the cleaning solutions on an inconspicuous part of the carpet before using on a large area.
• Always use a white cloth rather than a colored one to prevent any dyes from coming off on the carpet.
• As you blot, keep turning the cloth so that you are using a clean, dry section to pick up the stain and cleaning fluids. Don't rub.
• If using a brush to help clean the stain, always brush from the outer edges of the spill inward to prevent the stain from spreading.
• Test a small, hidden area of carpet first to make sure it will withstand a hot iron - even though you're ironing through a paper bag.

[ajvasquez]

on 9/4/2009 Forget all of the above! Just use Vinegar. It workes wonders!! Orange and Yellow crayon right out of the carpet in my car!! Email me for pics!! [e-mail]

on 8/8/2006 Using the Murphy's Oil Soap at full strength worked great! I rubbed it in gently and then used my Bissel Little Green Carpet Machine and it removed the crayon 100%.

on 3/28/2006 My two kids love to crayon and the carpet is full of marks. The ironing and ammonia tip works, but for large area its too time consuming. Especially, in winter time when all windows are closed, we could not use ammonia to clean without a gas mask.

The Murphy oil soap worked great and in no time I was done. Amazing! Thank you.

on 11/22/2005 Use Murphy's Oil Soap. Believe it or not, it will pull crayon out of the carpet and even clothes that have been through a dryer with a crayon! Apply it full strength to the stain and use a white wet cloth to work it out.