If you have a toddler in your home, then you have likely taken preventive measures to protect your nice furniture from spills and accidents. For example, you might have hidden your new Ashley sofa under a fitted slipcover or treated the fabric with Scotchguard. Or you might have closed off your dining room with a baby gate to keep your beautiful Basset-Vaughan dining set safe from sticky hands and wayward markers.
But protecting your painted walls is another story altogether. You can't reasonably be expected to keep an eye on a child 24/7, nor can you hang plastic sheeting in every room. In other words, there will probably come a time when your child's inner artist will emerge in the form of frenzied crayon marks on the nearest wall.
When this happens, don't panic. Just use one of these surefire ways for removing crayon from painted surfaces:
Melamine Foam (sold as brand names such as "Magic Eraser" and "Easy Erasing Pad") and Water
- Wet a small block of melamine foam with water and wring out excess
- Softly swab the crayon marks until no trace remains
WD-40 and a Clean Cloth
- Spray a bit of the WD-40 onto the cloth
- Gently wipe the crayon marks until they disappear
- Repeat as needed for tougher, more set-in stains
- Wipe away any WD-40 residue left on the wall
Hairdryer, Liquid Soap, and a Paper Towel
- Turn the hairdryer to its hottest setting and aim the air onto the crayon marks until they begin to soften
- Put a few drops of mild liquid soap onto the paper towel
- Lightly scrub the affected area until clear
- If desired, pat dry with a clean paper towel
Using one of these three tried-and-true methods, you should be able to clean your painted walls in no time if and when your toddler decides to use the surface as his personal canvas!
