How to Remove Crayon Marks from Everything in Your Household

The day we found our home, it was immaculate. The floors were gleaming, the paint was spotless and the massive run of cedar on the walls of our stairway was beautiful. We made an offer and jumped up and down for sixty days in anticipation of ‘the big move.'

The day of the walk-through the house looked pretty much the same. Of course there were boxes here and there, but the overall condition of the house was visually-flawless.

We moved in the next day to the shock of our lives: the children who lived in the house decided to give us a house-warming present. They got artistic in just about every room with crayons! That's right, we had crayon marks in just about every room of the house.

Over the course of nine months, I have become a crayon-removal expert. Crayons in a Jacuzzi tub? No problem! The kids drew on the window screens with crayon? I've got a solution. Crayon on cedar planks? Now that was a tough one, but I finally got it under control.

The next time little Picasso decides to draw you a masterpiece on your walls, windows or furniture with crayon--relax, here are some tips to help you remove crayon marks from everything:

• Crayon marks on walls: One of the quickest methods to remove crayons from walls is WD-40. If you have flat paint on your walls, be forewarned that WD-40 is a lubricant and will most likely leave a grease mark. Soap and water, Mr. Clean or a degreaser will remove any oily smudges left by the WD-40. Another method is baking soda and warm water, wipe with sponge (nothing too abrasive, you don't want to damage your paint).

• Crayon on glass or windows: There are several methods for removing crayon from glass and windows. The first, which I found to be the easiest, was WD-40. Spray it on the stain and wipe it off! That's it. If you don't have a can of WD-40 handy, dishwasher detergent and warm water work well, as does vinegar and warm water. You may have to use a little elbow grease, but these solutions work.

• Crayon marks or wax on carpet: I have no idea how crayon became imbedded in my brand new Berber carpet, but I can tell you that a brown paper bag and an iron will remove it! It worked for me. Place the brown paper bag down on the wax, place the iron on the bag. The heat from the iron will draw the wax from your carpet and it will stick to the bag.

• Crayon marks on screen windows: Spray WD-40 onto the crayon markings left on the screen. No scrubbing necessary and no awkward oily residue. It works like magic! Your screens will look brand new.

• Crayon marks on wood floors and ceramic tile: I've heard of people using WD-40 on flooring, but I wouldn't recommend it, as I've never used it for floors. I worried about colorfastness with our wood flooring. Here's a solution that I've used successfully to remove crayon from wood floors and ceramic tile: dishwashing detergent in warm water. Use a sponge and work in a circular motion on the wood floor. I had to work on it a little while, so be patient. It does work.

• Crayons marks on fabric blinds and curtains: Scrape off any excess crayon. Lay fabric as flat as possible and place the stain between two pieces of paper towels. Lay an iron on the paper towel gently. Change paper towels as crayon is soaked up by heat. Otherwise, you'll end up putting wax right back onto the fabric.

• Crayon marks in the clothes dryer: After the little artist decided to spruce up our home, his mother washed and dried his clothing with crayons in his pocket. To take care fo this problem, use an old rag that you'll be happy to throw out afterward. Spray a small amount of WD-40 on the rag. Rub the crayon markings with the rag. NEVER spray WD-40 inside of your dryer! It's flammable. Throw away the old rag and use a soapy wet paper towel to remove any oily residue.

• Crayon marks in tub and on shower walls: Spray WD-40 onto the crayon marking and wipe off with a sponge. This worked like a charm in our Jacuzzi and on the tub surround in our other bathroom. Make sure that you wash the tub and walls thoroughly afterwards. If you have a Jacuzzi tub, run the jets with a solution of dishwasher detergent and hot water to remove any excess wax that may have gotten onto/into jets.

• Crayon marks on cedar walls: Removing crayon from cedar was a big challenge, but after several unsuccessful attempts, I found a solution: bread. I'm not kidding! I dismissed this tip after a friend told me about it because it seemed crazy. But desperate times call for desperate measures and bread worked! Leave a piece of white bread out overnight. When you're ready to remove crayon from cedar, squeeze the bread into a ball and rub the crayon mark with it. FYI: It can be a little messy, so be prepared to vacuum afterwards.

Note: Please use caution when using WD-40 for crayon removal. Make sure that you have proper ventilation (open the windows) and do not spray contents or place can on a hot surface.