How to Remove Melted Crayon From Fabric

Melted crayon can be safely removed from almost any fabric. This is splendid news for anyone who has despaired upon discovering that a stowaway crayon has made a complete journey through the dryer cycle. Few sights are more depressing than an entire dryer load of clothes stained with colored wax. But there is hope for hapless crayon launderers--this melted crayon removal technique has redeemed more than a few seemingly spoiled garments.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid laundry detergent
• Sink with running water
• Lubricant spray like WD-40
• Laundry stain pretreatment spray like Shout or Spray N Wash
• Freezer
• Butter knife with a dull smooth edge

Instructions

1. Place the stained item in the freezer for 15 minutes. Remove the item from the freezer. Use a butter knife to scrape as much wax from the stain as possible.

2. Test the melted crayon to see if it is “washable” crayon or a regular wax crayon. Many crayons these days are not made from wax, but from a washable water soluble material. To see if the crayon is washable, try washing a portion of the crayon stain with a little laundry detergent and water. If the crayon dissolves easily, it's washable crayon. If the crayon is washable, skip Step 3.

3. Saturate the melted wax crayon stain with lubricant spray. Gently work the lubricant spray into the stain. Wait five minutes.

4. Spray the stain thoroughly with laundry pretreatment spray. Gently rub the spray into the stain. Wait five minutes.

5. Apply full strength laundry detergent to the stain. Gently rub the detergent into the stain. Wait 10 minutes.

6. Rinse the stain with cold water.

7. Check to see if the stain is completely gone. If it is not, blot excess moisture from the stained area and allow it to air dry. Repeat Steps 3 through 6.

Tips & Warnings

• After cleaning your laundry, be sure to clean melted crayon from your drier.

• Do not use warm or hot water during crayon stain removal. While hot water will help melt the wax, it may also cause the crayon pigment to set permanently.

• Do not use a hot iron to iron out the excess wax. Heat may cause the crayon pigment to set permanently.

Resources

• Tips for removing melted crayon from the dryer drum