How to Get Crayon Off of the Wall Without Taking Off the Paint

Crayons make painted walls appear dingy.

Households with young children may experience crayon marks on painted walls. Although children find wall surfaces ideal for drawing and coloring, parents generally do not. Pigments and paraffin wax in crayon leave painted walls marred with colorful, waxy blemishes. The longer crayon sets on walls, the harder the waxy marks are to clean. Hence, complete wall restoration is more likely when crayon marks are immediately removed. Fortunately, convenient solutions effectively clean crayon from walls without removing paint.

Things You'll Need

• Toothpaste
• 4 cloths
• All-purpose water-displacing lubricant
• Soft sponge
• Dishwashing liquid
• Towel

Instructions

1. Attempt to remove the crayon from the wall with toothpaste first. Apply a quarter-size dollop of toothpaste to a cloth.

2. Rub the toothpaste in circular motions over the crayon marks. Remove as much crayon as possible.

3. Moisten another cloth with water. Wipe the toothpaste and crayon residue off the wall.

4. Inspect the wall for remaining crayon. Douse any stubborn crayon marks with all-purpose water-displacing lubricant.

5. Wipe the lubricated crayon off the wall using another cloth.

6. Dampen a soft sponge with water. Add a drop of dishwashing liquid to the damp sponge.

7. Wipe the soapy sponge over the previously marked wall in circular motions. Clean the water-displacing lubricant and crayon residue off the wall.

8. Moisten a fresh cloth with water. Wipe the detergent off the wall.

9. Dry the wall with a towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Repeat the procedure if the crayon is extremely unyielding.

• Abrasive sponges may remove paint from the wall.

References

• The Crayola Factory: How Crayola Crayons are Made
• Crayola: Stain Removal Tips
• AllAboutHome.com: Cleaning Tips for Your Home - Removing Crayon Marks