How to Get Melted Crayon Out of Dryers and Clothing

There's no mess quite like a melted crayon, and it's even worse if it melted in the dryer because then it's all over your clothes and the dryer itself. It's not easy or guaranteed to remove these stains, but it is possible. Before beginning the cleaning process, assess the damage and decide what's more pressing: the dryer or the clothing. The dryer is almost surely the more expensive and valuable item; however, the longer crayon remains on a piece of fabric, the harder it will be to clean. You may want to go back and forth between the two.

If you open your dryer to discover that a stray crayon or two has melted all over your machine, act quickly. First, remove any wax that has yet to set. Wipe as much away as you can using an old rag or paper towels. Next, scrape away as much of the stain as you can using a rubber or plastic scraper or even a credit card. Don't use anything metal, as it could damage your dryer drum.

Once you've scraped as much wax as possible out of the dryer, reapply some heat to melt the remaining wax and try cleaning once it's soft. You can use a hairdryer to spot-treat or run the dryer for a few minutes, but you risk having the wax spread if you run the dryer. Once the wax has softened, use soapy water or apply some powdered cleaner like Ajax to a sponge, then scrub.

If some wax still remains, break out the WD-40. Apply a minimal amount to a rag and rub the stain until it lifts. Once it does, be sure to wipe off any remaining WD-40 using soapy rags. You may also want to run a few old, damp towels through the dryer to make sure it's all gone.

The first step for getting melted crayon out of clothes is similar to getting it out of a dryer. First, scrape off as much of the wax as you can. If it's still wet, use paper towels to absorb it. More than likely, though, you'll need to use a scraper or credit card. Be careful not to rub any more of the wax into the fabric.

Next, apply a liquid dish soap directly to the wax (no need to dilute in water). Using an old toothbrush, scrub the stain and loosen as much of the wax as possible. Wipe using a rag or paper towel and repeat.

Leave the dish soap on the stain and let it soak in for a few minutes. Then, rub the stain vigorously under warm running water to get more of the color out. After you've finished that step, machine wash on your heavy soil setting using your toughest detergent. You may also want to spray the crayon stain with OxiClean, Spray n Wash or another stain treatment product.

It's okay to wash in warm or hot water, but do not put the clothes in the dryer! Let any clothing with a crayon stain air dry. If any crayon is still stuck on the clothes and you put it in the dryer, you might end up with the same mess in the drum, and the crayon on the fabric will have set further.

If you inspect the dry clothes and still have a crayon stain, repeat the steps above. Crayon is a difficult stain, and it might take extra work to get it out. It's also possible, that you may not get the stain out completely.