Hey, prospective parents! You’ve made a great decision at the start of your family journey by giving crayons to your kids. But as you know, children are not always angels. And sometimes they do things like drawing on their clothes with crayons.
The good news is that there’s no need to panic when this happens because there are plenty of ways to remove crayon stains from fabric.
To get rid of crayon stains, you can use baking soda, dish-washing liquid, vinegar, Amodex, WD-40, OxiClean, and other items. You can either use a common household item or a special fabric stain remover for the task.
No matter the type of fabric or garment you have, there is always an effective way to remove crayons from clothes. In this article, I’ll provide some helpful tips on removing these tough stains so that you don’t have to worry about them anymore.
A Bit of Information You Need to Know
Crayons are made of waxy components. And while removing it from clothes, you may find it a bit challenging. The reason is, you’ll find some of the stains are from melted crayons, some are from dried wax, some are from soft ones, and others are from washable crayons.
Now, you’ll get confused about for which purposes will you use which of the methods? That’s why I’m here to throw away all of your confusion. Have a look below, and you’ll get all of your answers.
All-Rounder Method to Remove Crayon Stains from Clothes
Among all the methods, there is one method that works magically for all types of crayon stains. It’s none other than a household cleaning item – Baking Soda. It’s a powerful abrasive item that removes the stain by breaking the waxy pigmented bond. Whether you get melted, dried, washable, or other crayon stains, this one ingredient is enough to fight.
Sometimes you may also find that after laundering the clothes, some crayon stains didn’t go out. Instead, they get stick to the fabric. It means the crayon gets set with the surface. Baking also plays a “Hero” role in this regard.
It has unlimited uses for cooking and cleaning. And you’ll be amazed to know that it also helps to erase crayons from walls. Interestingly, it won’t harm your paint.
However, now you may think about how to use it for fabric? Well, it’s pretty simple and easy. Just follow the steps below to remove the stain effectively.
Method 1: Using Baking Soda
1st Step: First of all, try to scrape off any excess crayon from the fabric if possible. Use a butter knife and scrape gently. It’s not recommended to use any kitchen knife or sharp object in this process because it may damage the fabric.
So, when you are done with scraping away the extra waxy crayon, prepare your washing machine to run a cycle.
2nd Step: Now, you have to fill the tub with hot water. Then take a capful of detergent. You can take any of the premium laundry detergents.
Then take a cup of baking soda. It should be near about 250 ml. Now, it’s time to put these ingredients into the washing machine tray.
3rd Step: In this step, put all of your kids’ clothes with crayon marks in the machine. Some people also use laundry pre-spray stain remover in this stage before loading them into the machine. You also can do this if you think the stain is too tough.
Now, set a standard wash cycle and let the loaded washing machine do the work for you. After finishing, bring out the clothes, and you’ll see that all the stains have gone.
4th Step (Optional)
If you see any stain left, only then you should do this step. In that case, you can use some oxygen bleach with the baking soda. But before putting the clothes into the machine, let them sit in the bleach for at least 30 minutes.
Then put a load of laundry again in the machine and run a wash cycle. After that, your clothes will be new as before.
Remember to check your clothing label that it is safe for bleach or not before doing this step.
Final Step: Finally, bring out the clothes from the washer and air-dry them. It’s better to air-dry these clothes rather than machine dry. And keep in mind that this process works for every crayon stain.
Baking soda also helps to vanish permanent markers from clothes. You’ll find a complete guideline on our website.
Removing Soft Crayons from Clothes
Sometimes you may want to treat particular stains on clothes, and soft crayon marks the most common ones. These are the regular crayons that kids play with or draw with. So, it’s natural that you’ll find a stain on their clothes also.
I’m mentioning the easiest two ways to remove these types of stains – using OxiClean or Amodex. Both of them work pretty well.
Using Oxygen Bleach – OxiClean
1st Step: Make the Stain Hard
While removing the soft crayon stain, the first thing you have to do is to scrape away extra crayons over the surface. But the problem occurs when you try to scrape the color when it’s still soft. And there is a chance of spreading the stain on the other parts of the fabric.
So, for soft stains, mainly for the fresh crayon stains, you need to make the paint hard first. For this, throw the piece of cloth into the freezer.
Keep it inside a minimum of 30 minutes, and then check if the crayon hardens or not. If it gets hard enough, then bring it out and keep it on a table or hard surface.
2nd Step: Start Scraping
Now, it’s time to start the scraping process. For this, any dull knife will be enough. So, gently rub the crayon and remove how much you can. While rubbing, move the knife to one direction only with an angle. It’ll help to rub off the excess ones over the surface.
3rd Step: Set the Fabric
Then, go for the underneath stains. Place cardboard or hard object on the iron table. Now, take the cloth on the iron table and put just the single layer (stained part) on it.
Then fold a white paper towel and place it over the stain. It is recommended to use a white color paper towel. It’ll ensure that the color of the paper towel doesn’t get transferred to the fabric.
4th: Use Iron Machine
Now, low set the iron and press over the stain for 5-10 seconds. Then lift the iron off and repeat the process. Remember to change the paper towels and replace them with a clean one every time you lift the iron.
And don’t drag the iron over stain like we usually do when we iron our wrinkled cloth. Just press over the stain, keep it there and lift it off. By doing this, you’ll be able to remove a noticeable amount of crayon from the clothes.
Final: Wash it Out
At this stage, you have to wash the clothes. Use regular detergent and oxygen bleach together and run a hot water wash cycle in the washing machine. If you wash them in the warmest water, then it’ll also be enough.
After one wash, if you see that stain has not completely gone and just faded, then run another wash cycle in the same way. Hopefully, you’ll get back the clothes like before.
For oxygen bleach, you can use the OxiClean laundry cleaner. The reason is, it’s safe for colored fabrics and is an alternative to “Chlorine Bleach.” It also helps bring back the white clothes’ original white color and makes them brighter than before.
Using Stain Remover – Amodex
Amodex is another one of the magical stain removers. It not only removes crayons but also helps to get highlighter stains out of clothes.
For using stain remover, follow the OxiClean method as mentioned earlier. But in this regard, after freezing, scraping, and ironing, you have to stop. And don’t make a rush for cleaning.
Before throwing the clothes into the washing machine, apply the Amodex stain remover. In this case, you have to place clean paper towels beneath the stained area. Then use a gentle amount of Amodex all over the stain.
Now, you have to rub it using your finger or brush for 10-15 minutes. Then depending on the toughness of the stain, leave it for at least 1 hour. Eventually, you’ll notice that the color is getting fade.
Then you can throw them into the washing machine. Use a flow of warm water and regular detergent. After a cycle, you’ll see that it has become new.
Removing Melted Crayons Out of Cloth
Crayon wax melted down mostly when you accidentally put the clothes with crayon stains into the washing machine, and the disaster happens! But no worries at all. Here you’ll find two of the effective ways that you can use for removing melted crayons from fabric.
1: Using Hottest Water
By reading the name, don’t just start the cleaning process. The reason is, only the hot water is not going to work. So, first, read the instruction carefully.
After noticing the melted wax, let it dry properly. Then scrape the excess wax as much as possible with dull knife or hard object like credit card.
Now, take an old toothbrush and spread some laundry detergent over the stained area. Rub over the mark with the brush for sometimes. Let the detergent sit for at least 15 minutes on the fabric.
Then set the washing machine and wash it with the hottest water the fabric can bear. Remember to check the dress label before washing to find out the temperature tolerance.
Hopefully, all the stains will be gone on the first attempt. But if any color remains, then soak it in hot water, mixing with some oxygen bleach, and keep overnight. Then wash in the morning as usual. In the same way, you can remove candle wax from clothes.
2: Using White Vinegar
Among all the household cleaning items, vinegar is a blessing. It not only works better for clothing items but also for chalkboard items. For example – using vinegar, you can clean the chalkboard eraser and erase the chalk marks from chalkboards. Well, that’s another story. Let’s focus on the main thing first.
For removing crayons from fabric, you have to use white vinegar technically. First, you need to fill 2-3 large pots with water (though water quantity depends on the clothes). Then put them on the stove and bring them to boil.
Now put your stained clothes into the washer and set the water level to hot. But here, you’ll need the hottest water. So, put the boiling water into the washing machine.
Then add half a cup white vinegar, 3-5 teaspoons dish-washing liquid soap, and regular laundry detergent. Mix all the things altogether and let it soak for about 10-15 minutes.
Then run a wash cycle in the washing machine. Hopefully, all the stains will go away within just one wash. But if necessary, repeat the process.
Note: The process may vary according to the washing machine brand/setting. So, proceed carefully.
How to Remove Dried Crayons
Actually, working with thoroughly dried crayons is easier. But if you see that the stain is somewhere between hard and soft, you may need to freeze it. However, I’m giving here some suggestions below that work the best for dried-out crayons.
1: Using WD-40
WD-40 is a multi-purpose cleaning spray that was first used to save the exterior of “Atlas Missile” from corrosion and rust. It is actually made of baby oil, vaseline, and some other ingredients that work pretty well for removing stains. In fact, it can remove the tough stains of Sharpie from metal surfaces.
However, you can easily use WD-40 cleaning spray to get rid of crayons from clothes. For this, first, you have to place a paper towel underneath the stained area. Now, spray over the stain and let it sit for a few minutes.
After that, you have to reverse the cloth and place another clean paper towel underneath. Then flip the fabric and again spray over the stain on the reversible side. Let it sit for another few minutes. The paper towel helps to soak the wax. Now, it’s time to wash the clothes.
You can use regular detergent to wash the clothes. Sometimes the clothes may smell a bit due to the use of WD-40. That’s why you can use any scent booster like Clorox Fraganzia.
In the same way, you can also use WD-40 to remove crayons from upholstery.
2: Dish Washing Soap
Using liquid dishwashing soap is the easiest way to remove crayon stain. You can use Blue Dawn in this regard. It really helps a lot.
Firstly, pour some gentle amount of soap on the stain and rub it with fingers. You can also use an old toothbrush instead of fingers. Keep rubbing with it over the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes. It helps to fade away the pigment.
Then wash them using a washing machine with hot water. Hopefully, all the stains will be gone within one wash.
Removing Washable Crayons
Among the types mentioned above, namely – dried, melted, and soft crayons, removing washable ones are the easiest. The removal method is also easier than other ones.
Since the stains are of washable crayons, you can easily remove them with any of the methods above. But you don’t need to use any harsh type of chemical or WD-40 spray in this case. Only the dishwashing liquid soap will be enough here.
That’s why for avoiding any mess, give your kids washable crayons. It will not only boost their creativity but also help you to remove those stains easily from anywhere.
For your convenience, here I’m recommending a crayon set that is really good for toddlers named – Honeysticks 100% Pure Beeswax Crayons. These are totally washable and non-toxic in nature. These ergonomic crayons come in 12 colors. For knowing more details, you can check here.
Warning
In case of using bleach and baking soda, make sure to check the label of the clothes. It’s done to make sure that the cloth is safe for bleach or not. Sometimes there remains a chance of fading away the original color. So, it’s always better to check before taking any steps.
Another thing is that don’t use WD-40 for every type of crayons stains. It’s a strong cleaning spray that removes the permanent stain. So, until the color is tough, don’t use such a powerful cleaner.
FAQs
Q: Does Magic Eraser remove ink from dryer?
Removing ink from the dryer, especially the crayon ink, using Magic Eraser is the best way. Though rubbing alcohol works effectively, if you don’t want to use anything inflammable, Magic Eraser is the best option.
However, to remove crayon from dryer, first, you have to wet the eraser with water. Then rub the stain with it until the stain is completely gone though you may need to do some elbow grease.
After that, clean the whole area with a wet cloth to ensure no ink is left inside.
Q: Will crayons come out of clothes after drying?
The short answer is, “Yes.”
But the long answer is, the crayon will come out only from the upper side. And you can remove it by scraping it with a butter knife. But as soon as the crayon sticks on clothes, the waxy ink gets into the fabric.
So, when you scrape, crayons come out from the top of the fabric, but not all of it comes out because ink remains stuck in clothes. That’s why you need to apply a special method for getting rid of the crayon ink from clothes.
Q: What takes melted crayon out of clothes?
For getting rid of melted crayons, the hottest water and oxygen bleach will be enough. But if you want to use household items, then white vinegar works effectively. You can follow the method mentioned above to get the melted out of clothes.
Final Word
So, crayon streaks are not a big problem. It can be handled easily with some household tips and tricks mentioned above.
Whether it is melted, dried, or a regular one, you can get rid of it. Just follow the method needed, depending on your stain type. Take some time out today!
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