First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off the excess crayon with a dull edge, such as a plastic card, so you don't smear it.
- Blot rather than soak, and use only small amounts of any solvent.
- Pretest any cleaner on a hidden spot, since colors can change.
Getting crayon out of clothes starts with the wax, since the color is only held in place by it. A mark you catch right away comes off with much less effort than one that has aged, and crayon that has melted or dried into fabric can take more than one pass. The wax part responds to a solvent or a grease-cutting detergent, so you're tackling two problems at once.
Melted crayon from the dryer needs cool handling, because heat drives the wax deeper into the weave. For oil pastel on jeans, an enzyme laundry pretreater worked into the spot before washing is a good bet. Skip the dryer until the mark is completely gone, since one warm cycle can set it for good.
Before you start
What clothes can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
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- Plastic card or dull knifeLifts off loose wax without scratching or smearing the fabric.
- Liquid dish soapBreaks down the greasy part of the crayon so it can rinse out. (opens Amazon)
- Paper towels or a clean white clothBlots the spot and catches the wax you lift. (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric (oxygen) bleachThe gentler bleach for the dye left after the wax is out, on colorfast fabric only. (opens Amazon)
- Dry-cleaning solvent (optional)A stronger option for oil pastel or a stubborn greasy shadow, used sparingly. (opens Amazon)
- Soft-bristled brush (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Scrape off the loose crayon
Use the dull edge of a plastic card, a dull knife or a spoon to lift off as much crayon as you can. Work from the outside of the mark toward the middle so you don't spread it. Keep the pressure light so the fabric isn't scratched.
Tip. Scrape over paper towels so the wax you lift doesn't land on the rest of the item.
Step 2 of 5A few minutes
Work in liquid dish soap
Put a few drops of liquid dish soap on the stain and work it in with your fingertips or a soft brush. Let it stand for a few minutes so the soap can loosen the wax. On silk, velvet or other delicate fabric, skip the soap and take the item to a cleaner.
Tip. Start with a small amount, since extra soap is harder to rinse out.
Careful. Never rub a fresh stain with bar soap; it sets many stains.
Step 3 of 5
Rinse the spot in warm water
Hold the fabric under warm running water and rub the stained area gently to lift the loosened wax and color. Keep the water running from the back of the spot so the crayon moves out instead of deeper in.
Tip. Look at the spot after rinsing; some color left at this point is normal before the wash.
Step 4 of 5
Wash with oxygen bleach on heavy soil
Wash the item on the heavy soil setting with the hottest water the fabric allows, and add an all-fabric (oxygen) bleach to the wash. Use it only on colorfast cotton or other fabric that can take bleach.
Tip. Treat the whole item rather than the spot alone.
Careful. Test the bleach on a hidden area first; if the color changes, leave it out.
Step 5 of 5
Air dry and check the spot
Lay the item flat or hang it to air dry, then check the spot in good light. If any crayon or color remains, repeat the soap and wash steps before anything else.
Tip. Look at the spot from the back as well as the front.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for crayon on clothes
Look for a plain liquid dish soap and an all-fabric (oxygen) bleach, which is the gentler choice for colored clothes. Pick a soap without added dyes or fragrance so nothing extra is left in the fabric.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on clothes, 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 before using any heat. 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.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
You'll know it's working when the waxy film breaks up and color lifts onto the cloth or paper towel. If the spot looks clear while wet but turns faint or dull once dry, repeat the soap and wash steps before drying again.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your clothes
Oil pastel and wax on fabric
Oil pastel holds more oil than wax crayon, so the soap step matters more and may need a second pass. Give the spot a full soap and rinse before the wash, and look for a greasy shadow once it's dry.
If a greasy shadow remains after the wash, the dry-cleaning solvent option is the next step, used with care. Repeat the oil removal before you treat any dye that's left behind.
Fabric, jeans and other items
Denim and other tough cotton handle the full steps well, so you can work the spot a bit more firmly on them. On lighter or delicate fabric, blot instead of rubbing so the fibers aren't damaged.
On wool, silk, mohair, leather or spandex, leave out the bleach and take the item to a cleaner. If you can't find the care label or don't know the fiber, test a hidden seam first and skip the bleach until you know what it is.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old or dried crayon is harder because the wax has had time to sink into the fibers. Scrape or brush off any crusted wax first, then soak the item in cold water with a little liquid dish soap before the steps above. Fresh stains come out far more easily than set-in ones, so expect to repeat the treatment.
Crayon that melted in a dryer spreads across the drum and the load. Wipe the drum with paper towels first, then clean any residue with a melamine foam eraser following its directions. Run clean, dry rags through a dryer cycle to pick up any wax left behind, and repeat as needed.
If the stain is still there after the wash and air drying, a dry-cleaning solvent sponged from the wrong side is the stronger option, used in a ventilated room away from flame and sparks. If the dye still shows, bleach the whole garment and don't leave the bleach on longer than 15 minutes. Expect a faint tint on some colored fabric; that's a realistic result after set-in crayon.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on crayon on clothes?
Plenty of home remedies come up for crayon. Liquid dish soap and a warm rinse do the work, and heat from a dryer can set the stain for good.
Works2Helps1Skip3
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
Baking soda + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's label says not to mix it with other household chemicals.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put it in the dryer or iron it yet
Heat sets crayon into the fibers and can make the stain impossible to remove. Air dry the item and check the spot in good light before any heat touches it.
Don't use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride
These are flammable or toxic and aren't needed for crayon. Stick to the dish soap and wash steps, and use the solvent option only if you need it.
Don't mix stain removers
Ammonia and chlorine bleach in particular can give off toxic fumes. If you need more than one product, rinse the item thoroughly between them.
Don't leave liquid pretreatments on too long
Liquid soap left on bright or fluorescent colors can change or fade the dye. Rinse on schedule and check the color before moving on.
When to call a professional
Take 'dry-clean only' items to a professional dry cleaner as soon as you can, and tell them the fiber content and the stain. Take washable items too if the stain covers a large area, the item is bulky, or the fabric is fragile. Suede, leather and fur trim go to a cleaner who specializes in those materials.
Questions
How do I get dried crayon out of clothes?
You can often still get it out, but it takes more time. Scrape off the crusted wax, soak the item in cold water with a little liquid dish soap, then work through the steps above before any heat touches it.
Can you get melted crayon out of clothes from the dryer?
Usually yes, but the drum needs cleaning too or the wax will transfer to the next load. Treat the clothes with the steps above, then clean the drum as covered in the set-in advice.
Does oil pastel come out of clothes?
Usually, but it takes more work because oil pastel holds extra oil. Start with the soap and wash steps, then use the solvent option if a greasy shadow remains.
Can I use chlorine bleach on crayon?
No, keep chlorine bleach off crayon stains. Chlorine bleach can ruin wool, silk, leather, spandex and non-colorfast items, so the oxygen bleach in the wash is the safer choice.
Does crayon come out of jeans?
Yes, denim is one of the easier fabrics because it's tough and holds up to the full steps. Work the spot a little more firmly than you would on lighter cotton, and check the color before drying.
Can I use bleach on crayon on wool or silk?
Don't use oxygen bleach on wool, silk or leather at home. Take the item to a cleaner, and if the care label is missing, have a professional check the fiber first.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Crayon on other materials
Other stains on clothes
Start from the bigger picture
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.