First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Lift off excess crayon with a plastic card, not a blade.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden patch before the wall.
- Keep liquid to a small amount and blot.
- Don't use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.
Crayon is wax with color mixed in, so the wax has to be loosened before the color can lift. Its wax part gives way to a solvent or a grease-cutting detergent, so a gentle start with that kind of cleaner is the right place to begin. Heat-set or melted crayon responds to the same approach, though it may take several passes to lift fully.
Lifting crayon off walls without removing paint comes down to restraint. If the crayon is still soft, dab a prewash stain remover spray or stick onto it and give it a minute. Test a hidden spot on flat paint, chalkboard paint, or wallpaper first, and stop if the finish starts to lift.
5 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Plastic card or dull knifeLifts the loose crayon without scratching the wall.
- Mild liquid hand dishwashing detergentLoosens the wax when mixed into warm water. (opens Amazon)
- Warm waterMixes with the detergent at 1 cup of water per teaspoon.
- Small spongeWorks the solution into the mark with light circles. (opens Amazon)
- Clean cloths or paper towelsBlot the mark and wipe away the loosened wax. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Scrape off the loose crayon
Start with a plastic card, a dull knife or a spoon, and lift off as much of the crayon as you can. Use short, light strokes with the edge flat against the wall, so the wax lifts instead of smearing across the paint. Leave the colored film for the cleaning steps, since scraping can't reach it.
Tip. Keep a clean edge on the card and wipe it often.
Careful. Don't scratch hard surfaces while scraping; use the dull edge of a plastic card.
Step 2 of 6
Mix a mild dish soap solution
Stir 1 teaspoon of mild liquid hand dishwashing detergent into 1 cup of warm water. Keep the mix at this strength rather than making it stronger.
Step 3 of 6
Test the solution on a hidden spot
Dab a little of the solution on an inconspicuous patch, such as a corner near the baseboard or an area behind furniture. Let it dry, then check for lifting, dulling or any change in color before you go near the crayon. If the paint changes, don't use the solution on that wall, and blot with clean water only.
Careful. Pretest any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
Step 4 of 6
Work the solution into the mark
Dampen a small sponge in the solution, wring it out well, and work it into the mark in small circles with light pressure. Use only a little liquid at a time and keep blotting as the wax comes up onto the sponge. Rinse the sponge often so you aren't moving the wax back across the wall.
Careful. Use only small amounts of liquid and blot rather than soaking.
Step 5 of 6
Blot and wipe the spot clean
Blot the area with a clean damp cloth, moving to a fresh section each time, until no more color comes off on the cloth. Then wipe the spot with clean water to remove any soap film left on the paint.
Step 6 of 6
Let it dry and check
Let the spot air-dry completely, then look at it in good light. If color still shows, repeat the sponge work with the dish soap solution on that spot only, and blot again.
Tip. Repeat on the same spot rather than working over the whole wall.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for crayon
For the wax, a mild liquid dish soap or heavy-duty liquid detergent is the product type to reach for. Check any product sold as a crayon remover for painted-wall safety, and test it on a hidden spot first.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on these surfaces, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Crayon on every material
Clothes & laundry1
Carpet & rugs1
Furniture & upholstery2
Kitchen & bath2
Metal & glass1
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
You're done when the cloth comes away clean and the spot looks like the wall around it. If a faint color still shows once dry, repeat the sponge work once more and blot again.
What changes for yours
Adjust for where the stain is
Flat and matte paint
Flat and matte paint shows every pass, so keep the sponge light and never scrub. Work the blotting gently and check the finish after each round, since a disturbed matte surface can look patchy. Use the same solution strength as the main steps.
If the finish dulls even with light work, stop there and blot with clean water only. A painter can then match the sheen on that spot.
Semi-gloss and gloss paint
Glossy finishes usually take a wipe better than flat paint, so the sponge can be a little firmer. The same limits still apply: small amounts of solution, light pressure and a hidden test first.
If the mark sits in a high-traffic spot, go over it once more with the sponge and check the sheen before you move on.
Chalkboard paint
Treat chalkboard paint like flat paint: keep the sponge barely damp, blot rather than rub, and test a hidden spot before you begin. Check the surface after each round, because a chalky finish can show a patch quickly.
If the surface starts to lift or change, stop and let a painter take over.
Wallpaper
On wallpaper, keep the sponge barely damp so the seams and print don't lift. Blot rather than rub, and never let the solution run along a seam.
Test a hidden strip first, especially near a seam, and dry it fully before you judge the result.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Older crayon is harder to lift than fresh crayon, because the wax has had longer to set into the surface. Expect more than one round, and don't judge the result after the first pass.
Once the spot has dried, repeat the sponge work with the dish soap solution and let it dry again. Each round takes a little more of the wax, so patience works better than strength here. Don't reach for oxygen bleach or baking soda scrubbing, since painted surfaces can't take them.
If color still shows after several careful rounds, stop. A realistic goal for an old mark is to lift the wax and most of the color, and a light touch-up with matching paint is a safer finish than a harsher cleaner.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on crayon?
Most of the cleaners in your cabinet won't do much for crayon on a wall, and some can harm the paint. The dish soap solution is the one cleaner worth trying; the rest do little or risk the paint.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't reach for gasoline or lighter fluid
Skip gasoline, lighter fluid and carbon tetrachloride; they aren't needed for crayon. The mild dish soap solution handles the wax without them, so there is no reason to reach for them.
Don't scrub flat or matte paint hard
Flat and matte finishes show every pass of a sponge, and hard scrubbing can leave a dull patch that's hard to blend. Work in small circles with light pressure, and skip scouring powders on these finishes.
Don't use heat to dry the wall
A hair dryer or iron can set the stain and make it more permanent. Let the spot air-dry and check it again in good light before deciding on another round.
Don't mix cleaners on the wall
If you switch products, rinse the spot thoroughly between them. Mixed products can give off hazardous fumes, especially chlorine bleach with ammonia, so use one product at a time.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The crayon smears instead of lifting
Ease off the pressure and use shorter strokes with a clean edge. Wipe the card after each pass so you aren't pushing wax back onto the surface.
A colored shadow stays after the wax is gone
Treat the remaining dye as its own step. On washable fabric, repeat the dish soap rub and the hot wash with oxygen bleach, then air-dry again.
When to call a professional
If the mark survives several careful rounds, or the paint starts to lift, stop and have a painter look at it. A painter can match the finish and touch up the spot, which is safer than pushing a cleaner harder.
Questions
Will crayon come off a painted wall without taking off the paint?
It can, if you keep the work gentle. Scrape lightly, use the dish soap solution in small amounts, and blot instead of rubbing hard. Test a hidden spot first so you know how the paint reacts.
Do crayon stains on walls come out completely?
Fresh crayon lifts most easily with these steps. Older marks take more rounds, and full removal is uncertain. A light paint touch-up is the realistic finish if color stays.
Do crayon removers work on walls?
Some may, but the label and a test matter more than the name on the bottle. Check that the product is safe for painted walls and test it on a hidden spot first. A mild dish soap solution handles the wax in these steps without any special product.
Is baking soda safe for scrubbing crayon off a wall?
Not on flat or matte painted walls, since those finishes can't take the hard scrubbing that baking soda needs. Use the sponge and dish soap solution instead, and blot rather than scrub.
Can I use heat to help lift the crayon?
No. Heat from a hair dryer or iron sets the stain and makes it harder to remove. Let the spot air-dry between rounds, and check it in good light.
Can I use rubbing alcohol on crayon on a wall?
No. Alcohol is meant for lipstick and ink, not crayon. Alcohol is used for lipstick and ink, not crayon. Test any alcohol on a hidden spot first, but the dish soap solution is the safer first choice on painted walls.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.