How to Remove Pen & Crayon From Wallpaper

Crayon and ink wallpaper art is a lot more fun to create than it is to clean. At first glance, it may appear to be a total disaster. Initial efforts to scrub the scribbles away may have only made it worse. But, you can safely remove crayon and ink, while leaving your expensive wall coverings intact.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brown paper bags
• Iron
• Cornstarch
• Surface cleaner
• Toothbrush
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Nail polish remover
• Tissues
• WD-40
• Hairspray
• Detergent
• Warm water
• Paper towels

Removing Crayon

1. Cover crayon marks with a plain, brown paper bag. Place a hot iron against the paper. The heat from the iron will melt the wax and the paper will absorb it, removing it from the wallpaper.

2. Repeat the ironing action 2 or 3 times depending on the intensity of the artwork. Always use a fresh and clean section of paper bag. Otherwise you will only succeed in transferring the recently removed crayon back onto the wallpaper.

3. Place 2 tbsp. of cornstarch in a bowl and add a small quantity of general purpose cleaner such as Formula 409, Fantastik, or Simple Green. Add just enough liquid to make a thick paste.

4. Apply a generous coating of the paste to any residual crayon stains and allow the paste to dry completely.

5. Scrub the dried paste away by gently rubbing with an old toothbrush. Be sure the paste is totally dry before attempting this or you may cause unintentional damage to your wallpaper.

Removing Ink Stains

6. Remove ink pen markings from wallpaper with isopropyl alcohol. Lightly dampen a small tissue and pat the stained area. The alcohol will gradually dissolve the ink. Be careful not to use a tissue that has been soaked as this will cause the ink to run. Alternatively, nail polish remover can be used in the same manner to achieve similar results.

7. Spray a bit of WD-40 or cheap hairspray on your fingers and gently rub over stubborn ink stains.

8. Blot the area with a clean paper towel and then scrub gently with a mixture of laundry detergent and warm water.

9. Wipe the wall dry and the stain should be gone. This technique can also be used on crayon marks.

Tips & Warnings

• A product called Magic Eraser made by Mr. Clean can be found in your local Wal-Mart and Target store. It is simple to use and is nothing short of a miracle worker when it comes to things like crayon removal.
• Do not use the steam setting on your iron when removing crayon marks or you may end up removing your wallpaper as well. Before using any technique outlined above, perform a test in a hidden area to ensure that no further damage will be done to your wallpaper.

Resources

• Make You Own Cleaning Products