It’s a sunny day, and you and your kids are playing with crayons at home, watching the little artist draw on paper. You think everything is so beautiful. It looks like your “little artist” doesn’t just use her imagination on paper. Her wild art even spills onto her clothes! The sun doesn’t seem to be shining so brightly when you look at the crayon marks on your clothes. How hard it must be to wash crayons! Is this how you’re going to send this dress to the dry cleaner? How time-consuming and labor-intensive is that? You decide to search online for a solution. And just like that, this article appears!
1. Squeegee, Warm Water, Soap
You can get a squeegee from home and start by gently scraping away the top layer of crayon marks. The crayon’s surface layer doesn’t sink deep into the fabric. By scraping with a squeegee, you can lift the top layer and separate it from the deeper stain. Next, fill a tub with warm water, mix it with some neutral soap, and you’ll have a tub of warm soapy water. Warm water helps soften the wax without making it too hot. This prevents the wax from blending into the fibers. The softened wax will come off the surface of the garment easily. Soapy water lowers the surface tension, allowing it to soak into the fabric. This breaks the bond between the wax and the fibers, making it easier to remove the wax. Dip a sponge or soft cloth into the soapy water and gently rub it over the stain. At this point, you’ll find that most of the lighter crayon stains have been removed.
2. Iron Heating Method
If there are still deep crayon marks that soapy water can’t remove, it’s time to grab your iron. While soapy water works chemically, heat from the iron removes the stain physically. Wax melts at a low temperature, around 50°C. When the iron heats up, the wax softens and even melts. The melted wax becomes more fluid and loses its grip on the fabric, making it easier to remove. Lay a layer of paper towels or cloth over the garment and gently iron it with an iron. The crayon will melt under the heat and be absorbed by the paper towel. The paper towel also acts as an insulating layer to protect the garment from being burned. When using an iron, set it to medium. A high setting can burn clothes, and a low setting may not melt the wax. Most crayon marks will come off with the heat, leaving only the toughest stains behind.
3. Eliminate Crayon Marks with Alcohol
Alcohol’s chemical composition can effectively dissolve the wax in crayons. Wax is oily, and alcohol (especially isopropyl alcohol) helps break it down. This loosens the wax from the fabric fibers, making it easier to remove. Alcohol also dissolves the dyes in crayons, especially oil-based dyes. The alcohol breaks the bond between the dye and the fibers, allowing it to be released from the fabric. First, grab a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a clean white cloth or cotton ball. Test the alcohol on a hidden part of the fabric to ensure it won’t damage or discolor it. Then, dip the cloth or cotton ball in alcohol and gently apply it to the crayon marks. Use another clean cloth to gently wipe or pat the stain, helping the alcohol dissolve the wax. You can tap in the direction of the crayon marks to avoid excessive rubbing. Often, alcohol will dissolve the wax and dye quickly. Continue patting until the stain is visibly reduced or gone. Next, rinse the garment with warm water to wash away the alcohol and dissolved crayon residue. If crayon marks remain, repeat the steps above.
These three steps match different levels of crayon stains and can be used as needed. The last two methods are more effective at removing wax, but they can also damage clothes, so use them based on the situation.
Usually, after these three steps, crayon marks can be eliminated. Crayon stains on clothes can be a hassle, but with a few simple steps, you can remove them. First, use a squeegee to gently scrape away the top layer of the crayon marks. Then, soak the garment in warm soapy water to soften the wax and loosen its grip on the fabric. For deeper stains, the iron method works great. Heat the wax with an iron, letting it melt and be absorbed by a paper towel. Finally, if stains remain, alcohol can help dissolve the wax and dye. Alcohol breaks the bond between the crayon and fabric, making it easier to remove. You can combine these three methods based on the stain’s severity. They’ll help restore your clothes.