21 Crayon Busters: How To Remove Crayon From Walls
Here is an organized master tip file of crayon removal tips that I’ve gathered over time.
Keep in mind some paint finishes may be dulled or damaged by a particular method, so test a small area of your wall first.
If the walls are covered in wallpaper, you’ll need to work carefully and make sure to test a small hidden area first. You’ll want to watch for paper discoloration as well as paper fiber damage. Things like WD-40 and solvents of any kind may leave stains on the wallpaper, so take your time finding the right solution. Non-washable wallpaper is especially tricky.
21 Tips For Removing Crayon Marks From Walls
- Toothpaste (regular paste–not gel). This one’s my first pick always (good old regular Crest), it also helps clean up permanent marker stains pretty easily.
- Artgum Eraser - gently rub on marks in a circular motion, can also try a regular pencil eraser. Done carefully, this might be an option for wallpaper stains.
- Baking Soda - make a paste with water and use it to gently scrub the mark. You could also just sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and rub.
- Baby Oil - apply directly to crayon stains then rub off.
- Mayonnaise - Glob some on the stain and scrub a bit in a circular motion, then wipe off.
- Shaving Cream - apply to markings, rub in, then wipe off.
- WD-40 - spray some on the marks and rub off. Wash walls with hot soapy water once the crayon has been removed.
- Turpentine - dab some on a damp cloth and scrub into stain to remove crayon.
- Lighter Fluid - apply as you would turpentine
- Goo Gone - Same directions as for turpentine
- Ammonia - soak a section of cloth in household ammonia and scrub markings. You may also luck out with an ammonia based cleaner like Windex and a hot soapy cloth.
- Vinegar - soak a toothbrush in white vinegar and scrub marks off.
- Heat - Take a hair dryer to the crayon stain and allow it to heat the wax. Wipe heated crayon wax off with a hot, soapy cloth. You could try a clothes iron as well (no steam), just make sure it’s on a low heat setting so it won’t scorch the paint. Place a few paper towels between the wall and the iron.
- Hand Lotion - rub directly into crayon and wipe off.
- Powdered Dishwasher Detergent - make a paste with water and gently scrub area. Some detergents contain bleach so be careful on wallpaper.
- Powdered Household Cleaners - such as Ajax or Comet. Mix with some water or sprinkle on a damp sponge then scrub gently.
- Non-stick Cooking Spray - just spray it on then wipe off the marks. Not the best solution for wallpaper since this could leave a grease stain.
- Hairspray - spray generously on walls then scrub off the crayon.
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser - go gently, you don’t want to rub off any paint.
- Rubbing Alcohol - Saturate part of a clean cloth then rub stains.
- Moist Baby Wipe Towelettes - Rub them directly on the crayon stains and scrub markings off. The homemade baby wipes should work too!
Here are a few tips dealing with wallpaper stains: Vandykes.com - Cleaning Wallpaper
Crayon: (You have to remove both wax/grease and color.) If thick amount left, scrape off excess with table knife. Use a warm iron and white paper towel method as under “grease spots”. For non-washable papers, try paste spot remover as under “grease spots”, or wipe gently with a cloth moistened with denatured alcohol or spot remover; these are flammable and the vapors are toxic, so be sure there is no flame, spark or pilot light in area and have plenty of ventilation. Do not clean walls by this method! Use only on small spots. For washable papers, use sudsy sponge after lifting grease. Do not smear the residue. Make certain you only buy washable crayons for children, however do not let them write on walls!
After applying the stain removal treatment, make sure to completely remove any cleaner or residue by washing wall with hot soapy water.
If I missed your tried and true or favorite way to remove crayon scribbles from walls, I hope you’ll add it below :).
*Admin Update: I moved comments from a previous crayon removal tip to this post (that older tip has been incorporated into this list and then deleted).
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Posted in Cleaning Tips, Popular Tips | 
( 6 )
18 Jun 2007 at 5:19 pm
Actually a better scrub free idea is Goo Gone (or googone?). It can be purchased at any Walmart. It’s as easy as wiping up water off your counter. Just wipe it over the wall on a cloth and watch the crayon disappear like magic.
I’m not sure how well it works on all paint/wallpaper so be sure to test a small area first… just in case.
19 Jun 2007 at 10:16 am
I always use the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for stuff on the walls. My kids are always writing on the walls with crayons, markers, pens, pencils and the Magic Eraser works on all of them. It is a little expensive but works better then anything else I have tried. I’ll have to try the Goo Gone too.
20 Jun 2007 at 3:47 am
You can remove crayon from books with rubber cement. Just paint it on, and then when you peel it off, the crayon comes off as well
25 Jan 2008 at 8:55 am
I just freshly repainted our home six months ago in just in the past month are fifteen month old has decided to draw on almost every wall in our home. Evey time we turn around there is another nice drawing on the wall. I love it by all means I even have taken pictures but I would like to remove it. So my husband and I did purchase googone from walmart and it is definitely not cheap. About 7 dollers for a gel bottle and a little bit doesn’t go along way. And I sprayed on the wall and let sit I sprayed again and srubbed and scrubbed and yeah its a tiny bit lighter but not by much. So today I am hoping on trying the toothpaste method. Well see. I wouldn’t waste your money on goo gone. Not impressed forthe price.
08 Jul 2008 at 11:32 am
[...] have also been known to work are WD-40 and lighter fluid. If none of these work, check out these 21 Crayon Busters, posted on Tipnut.com. If all else fails, you can always apply an all-purpose primer to seal-in the [...]
14 Aug 2008 at 4:46 am
Peanut butter works like a charm for crayon on walls. Then wash off the residue. Not for use if someone in house is allergic to peanuts.