It can be so cute having a little artist in the family! Children are naturally curious and creative while growing up. Sometimes they make clay sculptures, sometimes they use Mummy’s fancy lipstick on their face. And sometimes, well…
Sometimes they draw with crayons on nice, clean living room walls.
While you treasure your child’s art, you also treasure your home decor – or your rental deposit. Fortunately, getting crayon off walls is straightforward! You can use your standard white vinegar or baking soda, or you can use a pencil eraser. Crayon markings also come off using toothpaste, Magic Eraser, or simple dish soap and a blow dryer.
How to get crayon off the walls? Easy! It just takes some elbow grease and some household cleaning products. Then follow our tips so your little artist doesn’t mess up your clean walls!
Cleaning Products to Remove Crayon
Here’s a rundown of some of the best products to help remove crayon from walls:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Pencil eraser
- Toothpaste
- Clean magic erasers
- WD-40
- Dish soap and a blow dryer
Avoid using a damp cloth or damp rag by itself, since that might smudge the crayon wax. You also don’t want to use steel wool, since it can damage your walls. Meanwhile, steer clear of mayonnaise or peanut butter – they’ll only make your walls smell funky.
Of course, if your little artist scrawled over too much canvas, or if you’re struggling to clean your kids’ crayon art, then it’s time to leave it to professionals. Hire a home cleaning service and get the kids out of the house for an afternoon. Just make sure they don’t draw on your walls again after!
Cleaning Crayon with White Vinegar
Remove crayon from walls with this all-powerful household product: distilled white vinegar. It can do just about anything, and as a bonus, it’s safe for painted walls!
For removing crayon with white vinegar:
- Pour some vinegar into a small bowl
- Dip an old toothbrush into the liquid
- Gently scrub the crayon wax, adding pressure as needed
- Wipe afterwards with a damp microfibre cloth
You can also pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and spritz directly onto the walls, then scrub with a toothbrush. It’ll also act as a natural mould deterrent.
Clean Crayon with Baking Soda
Since baking soda is mildly abrasive, it’s also an effective way to remove crayon marks from your home’s walls.
- Pour some baking soda into a bowl
- Dip a damp cloth in the substance
- Lightly rub in circles to remove crayon markings
- Follow with another damp microfibre cloth to rinse the area
- Use a clean rag to dry the area
You can also make a thick paste of baking soda and water, which will have the same effect.
Remove Crayon from Walls with Erasers
A pencil eraser or art eraser is more effective for a smaller affected area. It’s also better for wallpaper, rather than painted walls or drywall.
- Rub the eraser in small circular motions
- Be gentle, or you could smudge the colour
- Wipe with a damp cloth afterwards to remove eraser residue
This method is also effective as a primer before using another one of our tips! It’ll lighten the crayon stains and reduce the amount of scrubbing you need to do.
Remove Crayon Marks with Toothpaste
The important thing for this method is to use non-gel toothpaste – and preferably white, because otherwise the colour might rub off… and then you’ll have to clean even more. Also, test it out on a small part of your wall first, just in case.
To get crayon off walls with toothpaste, apply some on a damp towel or microfibre cloth. Rub the toothpaste in gentle circular motions over the crayon marks until they’ve been cleaned off.
TIP: You can use toothpaste to clean other things too, like white shoes!
Get Crayon off Walls with Magic Eraser
Both magic erasers and eraser sponges are nifty tools for cleaning your home. Dampen the eraser or sponge – damp, not wet! – then lightly scrub the marks.
Just like regular erasers, this method is only effective over a small area. If your kid has scrawled over large sections or multiple walls, you’ll risk wearing out the sponge. Better to choose other methods instead.
Clean Crayon from Walls with WD-40
This is the strongest solution on the list – well, besides repainting or repapering the whole wall. (Let’s not resort to that, though.) It’s very effective over large sections of wall. You’ll need:
- WD-40
- Paper towels
- Soapy water
- Microfibre cloth
Do not spray WD-40 directly on the wall, since this can leave an oily residue. Instead, spray a small amount on a folded paper towel and lightly rub it over the crayon marks. Be gentle, and use only enough to clean the stains. Change your paper towel regularly so you don’t stain the wall further.
When you’re done, dip the microfibre cloth into soap and water to clean up any residue. Dry the walls afterwards with a clean rag.
Get Crayon Marks Off with Dish Soap and a Blow Dryer
Sometimes the simplest method is the best. It’ll need some elbow grease, but it’s one of the least risky options.
To remove crayon from walls, you’ll need:
- A blow dryer
- Dish soap
- Baking soda
- Hot water
- A damp rag
Mix the last three items into a paste, and keep it handy!
First up, turn on the dryer – but use it carefully. Too much heat applied to one spot could damage your wall. The dryer will heat up the wax, making it easier to wipe up.
Once you’ve blow-dried one spot, gently scrub the area with a damp cloth dipped in the cleaning paste. Keep going until the whole wall is clean.
After you’re done, wipe down the wall with a damp microfibre cloth to remove any residue.
Crayon Cleaning Tips
The best solution to getting crayon off walls is to never get them dirty in the first place! Of course, kids will be kids, so here are some tips to protect your walls from your child’s creative endeavours. (Otherwise, it’s time to start scrubbing.)
1. Buy washable crayons
Simple in hindsight, isn’t it? Make clean-up easier by getting a crayon set that you can simply wash off after your little Picasso is finished. Less effort for cleaning, and you don’t hinder your kid’s self-expression. After all, creative freedom is one of the joys of childhood!
2. Paper the walls
Want to preserve your kid’s art but don’t want to risk your rental? Grab some manila paper and get ready to paper up.
The idea is simple – cover the lower part of your walls with removable paper. Your children can draw to their hearts’ content without actually marking the paint or wallpaper. When the paper is full, take it down and replace it!
This way, you get to keep the art without having to clean up.
3. Test first
If you’ve Googled “how to get crayon off the walls” and found our tips, test each method first! This ensures you don’t accidentally damage your walls (and lose your rental deposit).
Once you’ve tested your cleaning method of choice, go ahead and work over the entire affected area. But if you’re really stumped, sometimes it’s better to leave it to the professionals!
