There’s nothing quite like giving your child a new box of brightly colored crayons. As a parent, it’s delightful to watch your kids bring their imagination to life on paper.
But when those waxy sticks melt in the car or dryer, you end up with a rainbow-colored stain on your upholstery or clothing. That’s not quite so delightful. Fortunately, with a few tricks and tips, you can learn how to remove melted crayons from car seats, clothes, and the dryer drum.
How to Get Melted Crayon Out of Clothing Fabric
Even though you always check pockets before loading clothes into the washing machine, somehow crayon stubs make their way into the wash. Once the clothes reach the dryer, the crayons melt and wreak havoc. If you find yourself pulling crayon-stained clothing out of the dryer, remove the mess with these tips:
- Allow the wax to dry and scrape off as much as possible with a butter knife or credit card.
- Place a folded white paper towel on the counter and lay the stained area of fabric on top.
- Apply WD-40, cooking oil, butter, or mayonnaise to the stain. If you choose WD-40, spray the crayon-stained spot, and then flip the fabric over to spray the reverse side as well. If you use a different type of oil, apply it to a clean white cloth and blot both sides of the stain.
- Let the oil sit for 15 minutes. Then, gently scrape away any remaining crayon solids with a butter knife.
- Apply dish soap or laundry detergent to the stain and rub it in with your fingers or an old toothbrush.
- Let the soap or detergent sit for 15 minutes. Then, launder the clothing with oxygen-based bleach on the heavy soil setting with the hottest water the fabric will allow.
- Check the clothing before transferring it to the dryer. If any stain remains, soak it in warm water and oxygen-based bleach overnight. Then, wash as usual the next morning.
How to Remove Melted Crayon from Car Upholstery
Kids like to color on long car rides. Unfortunately, abandoned crayons melt in the hot sun, leaving a waxy mess behind. Here’s how to rid your car upholstery of crayon residue and stains:
- Loosen the wax by applying a generous amount of WD-40.
- Scrape away the loosened wax with a butter knife.
- Apply a few drops of dry cleaning solvent to a clean white cloth and dab the stained area.
- Let the seat air dry.
How to Remove Melted Crayon Stains from the Dryer Drum
When a crayon melts in the dryer, it often leaves residue on the drum. If you see any, remove it before running the dryer again to avoid transferring the stain onto other clothes. Here’s how:
- Soak any waxy areas with WD-40.
- Let it work for a few minutes, and then scrub the drum with a rubber scraper.
- Wipe the drum with an old cloth.
- Throw in some old towels and run the dryer on high heat for 5 to 10 minutes to remove any oil residue.
Get Help with Household Chores
When you have kids, cleaning the house is an ongoing chore. From picking up toys to wiping up spills to removing stains, it can all be a bit much. Why not recruit some help from the professionals at Molly Maid? We can take over the more tiresome tasks around the house to leave you with more time to spend bonding with your kids.
To arrange professional house cleaning services near you, please contact your local Molly Maid or call us today for a free estimate.
