How to Clean Vaseline off Calkboard

By Becca

Chalkboards sometimes get stains that are difficult to remove, especially if they are within a young child's reach.

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Learn the proper way to remove Vaseline or any other oil based stain from a chalkboard.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

acetone
isopropyl alcohol
spray bottle filled with water and a few drops of dish soap
a brush
clean cloth

Step1

To remove an oil based stain such as Vaseline, you must first prepare the area for safety. Unsafe chemicals will be required to remove the Vaseline stain so be sure there are no children around. The area needs to be well ventilated so that you do not inhale too much of the fumes while working.

Step2

Apply a solvent such as acetone to the stains using a clean cloth. Wipe the stain with the soaked cloth changing the surface area of the cloth with each wipe. If the stain is stubborn try wiping in only one direction, i.e. top to bottom rather than back and forth.

Step3

After the acetone has dried completely, wipe the chalkboard with rubbing alcohol. Use another clean cloth that has been dampened with the alcohol and thoroughly wipe the area of the chalkboard that had the acetone.

Step4

Finally, spray the chalkboard with the soap spray. Be sure to wash the chalkboard good so that all the chemical has been removed. Rinse it with plain water when finished.

Tips & Warnings

If the Vaseline stain is too stubborn try a dry, soft abrasive first such as baking soda to remove some of the excess.
Be sure to carefully dispose of the chemicals in a way that it safe for the environment - save them for reuse or throw them away in a sealed container. Never dump chemicals down the drain!
Make certain the area is properly ventilated or you can become sick.