How to Remove Crayon From a Rug

Depending on their size, rugs can be as easy to clean as your favorite sweater, or as difficult as wall-to-wall carpeting. Crayon is a particularly tough stain to get out of a rug, especially if the rug in question is too large to throw into the washing machine. Crayon stains often occur when a forgotten crayon is stepped on and ground into the rug, which simply adds to the challenge.

Things You'll Need

• Dull knife
• Scrub brush
• Vinegar
• Carpet cleaner
• Rubbing alcohol
• Dish soap/laundry detergent

Instructions

1. Scrape excess crayon from the surface of the rug. Use a butter knife or other dull implement so as not to cut or damage the rug fibers.

2. Apply white vinegar to the stain and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. If you are unsure about the colorfastness of your rug, apply vinegar to a small, inconspicuous area first to test it.

3. Scrub with a soft brush. Add more vinegar if necessary. Check the brush to see if the color is coming up. If not, blot it dry and apply a commercial carpet cleaning solution. Then try scrubbing again. Diluted rubbing alcohol may also be helpful (again, check for colorfastness).

4. Launder small rugs by first treating the area with laundry detergent to remove any remaining traces of color. Wash/dry it according to the manufacturer's directions, by itself (so as not to allow the color to get on other items).

5. Rinse larger rugs well and gently scrub with mild dish soap after the stain is completely removed. This will get rid of any remaining color and the chemicals from the carpet cleaner. Blot it dry and repeat if necessary.

References

• Crayon Stain Removal at Mrs. Clean
• Crayon Stain Removal at The Frugal Life