How To Remove Crayon Stains From Plastic (4 Ways To Do It!)
If you have young children, you likely know all about the challenges of keeping a home clean. Young kids are bundles of boundless energy and they tend to make a mess when they’re having fun. Give them crayons to play around with and things can get messy pretty quickly.
So, what should you do if you find crayon stains all over the place? Cleaning up is obviously the answer. The good news is that removing crayon stains is an easy enough task.
For crayon stains on plastic surfaces, you first need to spray the marks with all-purpose cleaner. Allow the all-purpose cleaner to sit for a bit then wipe it clean with paper towels before rinsing. More stubborn crayon stains will require the use of warm water, dish soap, and rags.
Don’t fret too much if you spot crayon stains on some of your belongings. They are stains you can get rid of relatively easily. Check out the information included in this article to learn more about how to deal with those crayon stains.
Do You Need Furniture Cleaning Services?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
Precautions to Take before Cleaning
Before you start working on cleaning the plastic surfaces, it’s important to take some precautionary measures first. Given how delicate plastic surfaces can be, they can be damaged if you use the wrong cleaner.
One thing you should absolutely do is test the cleaner of your choice on a small area first. Apply the cleaner on to that small spot and see what happens. If the plastic looks worse for wear, you may need a more delicate cleaner.
You should also remember to clean up the surface thoroughly after you’re done. Since you know your kid has access to it, they could come into contact with the cleaner you used. When you wipe clean, make sure there’s no trace of the cleaner left.
The Different Ways to Remove Crayon Stains on Plastic Surfaces
Removing crayon stains from plastic surfaces is very easy. It’s even easier than removing paint from plastic surfaces.
You can also utilize different methods and items to remove the crayon stains. Feel free to use whichever method you prefer.
Use an All-Purpose Cleaner
This is probably the easiest way to remove crayon stains from plastic surfaces. If you already have an all-purpose cleaner, this should be the first method you try. It should be enough on smaller stains.
Step 1: Apply the All-Purpose Cleaner
Get your bottle of all-purpose cleaner and spray directly on to the crayon stains. Make sure you cover the stains completely with the cleaner. Leave the all-purpose cleaner to sit on the plastic surface and the stains for about five minutes.
Step 2: Wipe the Plastic Surface Clean with Paper Towels
Grab some paper towels now and use them to wipe the all-purpose cleaner away. Wipe vigorously if need be to get rid of the stains.
Use Liquid Dish Soap
Some crayon stains are too tough for all-purpose cleaners to remove. They will require the use of liquid dish soap.
Step 1: Create the Cleaning Solution
Mix a few drops of liquid dish soap and warm water together in a container. Diluting the liquid dish soap is necessary to prevent it from damaging the plastic surface.
Step 2: Soak the Cleaning Rag
Grab a rag now and place that in your cleaning solution. Allow it to soak for a bit before using it.
Step 3: Clean the Plastic Surface with the Soaked Rag
Pick up the rag and use it to soak the crayon stains. Follow that by wiping with a bit of force to remove the stubborn stains.
Step 4: Rinse and Repeat
If the stains remain on the surface after using the rag, that means you will have to repeat what you did. Rinse the plastic surface with water and repeat the steps above to remove the stains.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is a common household item that can be used on crayon stains. Because of how abrasive it is though, you should avoid using it on delicate surfaces.
Step 1: Scrub the Stains with Baking Soda
Sprinkle some baking soda on to a damp rag. Use that rag to scrub the crayon stains on the plastic surface. Continue scrubbing until the stains start to fade.
Step 2: Clear the Surface with Another Rag
Don’t leave any residue of the baking powder behind on the plastic. Clean the remaining baking soda away with a separate rag.
Use Vinegar
Vinegar can be a very potent cleaner, but its acidity level is not always good for plastic surfaces. Be careful with the amount you apply to avoid damage.
Step 1: Apply the Vinegar Carefully
Since you want to avoid applying too much vinegar on the plastic surface, you’ll need a smaller applicator. A toothbrush will suffice in this case.
Dip your applicator into the vinegar and move it to the plastic surface. Start scrubbing gently and continue until the stains fade away.
Step 2: Wipe Away the Vinegar
Keep the vinegar from doing damage to the plastic surface by removing it as soon as the job is done. Get rid of the vinegar by wiping the surface clean with a rag.
How to Remove Melted Crayons from Plastic Surfaces
Removing crayon stains etched on to plastic surfaces is one thing. Removing crayons that have melted on to plastic surfaces is a bit different. You’ll have to follow a slightly more involved process.
Step 1: Prepare Your Cleaning Items
For this clean-up job, you’ll need some ice, a putty knife, some rags, and the cleaner of your choice. All-purpose cleaner, liquid dish soap, and vinegar are all viable options.
Step 2: Solidify the Melted Crayon
Put some of the ice in a rag and place it over the melted crayon. Your goal here is to harden the melted crayon so you can scrape it off later. Alternatively, you can wait for the wax in the crayon to harden on its own, but that can take a while.
Step 3: Scrape Off the Hardened Crayon
Now that the melted crayon has solidified, you should be able to remove it. Get your putty knife and lift up as many sections of the melted crayon as you can.
Step 4: Clean the Plastic Surface
At this point, you can just clean the plastic surface using one of the methods mentioned above. Apply the cleaning agent first then wipe it clean with a rag. Continue until there is no more crayon residue left behind.
How Do You Remove Crayon Stains from Other Surfaces?
So, let’s say that the crayon stains didn’t end up on something made out of plastic. Instead, your child’s canvas of choice turned out to be your walls, wooden pieces of furniture, and some of your silverware. What should you do then?
The cleaning process actually doesn’t have to change that much. You can still pick out your cleaning agent of choice from the options listed above. Once you’ve applied the cleaning agent and allowed it to penetrate the stains, you can then wipe it clean.
The big difference here is related to how forceful you can be with the scrubbing. Sturdier surfaces such as walls and metal won’t be damaged so easily. Finished wood on the other hand will require a more delicate touch.
Adjust your approach accordingly based on the surface on which you’re working with. You won’t have any problems removing the stains as long as you do that.
Do You Need Furniture Cleaning Services?
Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.
Related Questions
Can You Use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on Crayon Stains?
For those who may be unaware, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is a relatively new product that excels at versatile cleaning. It’s great to use on stubborn stains and you don’t have to use a liquid cleaner to bring out its effectiveness. You can just rub the stain with the Magic Eraser to remove it.So, can you use it on crayon stains etched on to plastic surfaces? You can indeed, but be careful.The abrasiveness of the Magic Eraser can still be damaging on plastic surfaces. Be gentle while using it and allow the unique structure of the product to do the cleaning for you.
What Are Other Cleaning Agents You Can Use on Crayon Stains?
Even though we already named quite a few suitable cleaning agents above, there are still other items you can use. Toothpaste, shaving cream, and even peanut butter have been used before as cleaning agents for crayon stains and they’ve worked.Allow those items to sit on the stains for a bit before wiping them away to get the desired results. Of course, you could be left with other messy residues then, so use those items at your own risk.
How Do You Remove Crayon Stains from Your Dryer?
Some kids may accidentally leave crayons in their pockets without telling you. It’s only when you open the dryer that you realize what happened.Don’t worry though because crayon stains can be removed from dryer walls. If the crayon etchings are hard enough, you can probably scrape them off with a putty knife or a similar tool.For the crayon residue, use the cleaner of your choice again and soak the stains with it. Follow that by wiping the dryer walls clean with a rag.
We are a team of passionate homeowners, home improvement pros, and DIY enthusiasts who enjoy sharing home improvement, housekeeping, decorating, and more with other homeowners! Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide on fixing an appliance or the cost of installing a fence, we've here to help.
More by Upgraded Home Team
