First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Pretest any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Scrape loose crayon off gently before any liquid touches it.
- Don't use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.
Crayon on concrete is a mix of wax and pigment, so the wax needs a grease-cutting soap first and the color needs a solvent after that. Concrete is porous, which means marks sink in and a rushed scrub smears them wider, and heat-set crayon might only fade instead of disappearing. If the slab is painted, the solvent choice changes, so check that before you pick a product.
Take cement one small patch at a time so you can see what's actually lifting. Give each product a minute to work before you rinse, rather than rushing to the next step. If crayon on painted concrete still shows color after a few tries, stop and call a pro.
Before you start
What concrete, brick & driveways can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Hot water
- Soaking
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Plastic card or dull knifeLifts off the loose crayon without scratching the surface.
- Liquid dish soapBreaks down the greasy wax part of the stain. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff, non-metal scrub brushWorks the cleaners into the concrete without damaging it. (opens Amazon)
- Solvent-based paint removerLifts the color that remains after the soap step. (opens Amazon)
- Heavy-duty concrete degreaserHandles any color still showing after the solvent. (opens Amazon)
- Water and a bucketRinses between each product so none are left sitting on the concrete. (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Scrape and soap the stain
Gently scrape off the excess crayon with a plastic card or dull knife, working lightly so you don't scratch or smear the surface. Wet the stained area and work liquid dish soap into it with a stiff, non-metal scrub brush in a circular motion.
Careful. Keep to a plastic or dull edge, because a steel blade can gouge the concrete.
Step 2 of 6
Rinse and check the color
Rinse the area with water to clear away the soap and the loosened wax. The stain may already look lighter, and that shows how much of the color the soap lifted. Check it before going further, so the solvent only goes where the color is still showing.
Step 3 of 6
Apply the solvent sparingly
Wet the area again and apply a commercial solvent-based paint remover. Work it in with the scrub brush in a circular motion.
Careful. Use only a small amount and blot. Don't let it soak into the surface.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse and let it dry
Rinse the area with water and let it dry completely. Once it's dry, look at the stain again to see what color is left.
Step 5 of 6
Degrease any color left
If color still shows, apply a heavy-duty concrete degreaser to just those spots. Work it in with the scrub brush so it reaches the color the solvent left behind.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse and repeat as needed
Rinse the area with water. If any color is still visible, go back through the steps that worked, starting with the dish soap, and repeat as needed.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for crayon on concrete, brick & driveways
Look for a solvent-based paint remover made for stripping paint, and a heavy-duty concrete degreaser for any color left at the end. Use solvents in a well-ventilated area away from flame and sparks.
These are the everyday supplies the steps above use, in the versions most people buy on Amazon.
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.
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
Check the color only after the slab has fully dried, because damp areas can fool the eye. A good sign is the waxy film lifting onto the brush while the rinse water runs clearer with each pass. If the color stays bold after the solvent and degreaser rounds, it has set into the pores and needs the older-stain approach.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your concrete, brick & driveways
Painted Concrete
Painted concrete changes what you can safely use, because the paint can react to the solvent as well as the crayon. Start with the dish soap step on its own and see how much the crayon lifts before going further.
Watch the paint closely during the solvent and degreaser steps, and stop if it softens, dulls or starts to lift. If that happens, go back to the dish soap step, rinse well and let the area dry before judging the result. Keep the solvent and degreaser for spots where the paint is holding firm.
Melted Crayon
Heat-set crayon is harder to lift than fresh crayon, because the wax has hardened into the surface. Scrape the hardened layer first, then start the dish soap step on what is left.
Expect more rounds of the solvent and degreaser, and move to the poultice if color stays after the last rinse. Don't use heat, a hair dryer or a heat gun to soften it, since heat sets the stain further.
Fresh Crayon
Fresh crayon is softer, so the first round of the steps often does most of the work. Scrape gently so the wax doesn't get smeared across the surface, then follow the steps in order.
Skip the degreaser if the color is already gone after the solvent round. Save the poultice for a stain you find dried or set in later.
Large Slab
On a big slab, work in sections small enough that you can rinse each one before moving on, so no cleaner is left sitting. Keep the dish soap, solvent and degreaser in the same order on every section.
Rinse the whole slab only once each section is done, and check the color from a few angles before you decide the job is finished.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A stain that has sat for a long time is harder to lift than a fresh one, and a full pass of the steps may only take off part of it. When the stain is still set in after that, switch to a poultice rather than scrubbing harder.
Spread a commercial poultice at least 1/8 inch thick over the stain, cover it with plastic and leave it for 24 hours. A stain-specific product is the better choice over a homemade mix, because it is more predictable.
Once it has dried, scrape or brush the poultice off and check what is left. Repeat as needed, and expect old stains to fade a lot without always disappearing completely, because stronger methods also carry more risk of damage to the concrete.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on crayon on concrete, brick & driveways?
Several common household remedies come up for crayon, but most are built for fabric, food or other marks. Here is how each one holds up on concrete, and why the steps stick with dish soap and product-type cleaners.
Works1Skip5
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't mix cleaners on the same spot
Never mix stain removers, especially chlorine bleach with ammonia. If you move from the soap to the solvent or the degreaser, rinse the area thoroughly in between, because mixed products can give off hazardous fumes.
Don't start with the color
The color is the easy part, and the wax is what holds it, so the dish soap step always comes first. Going straight to the solvent or degreaser skips the part that makes the rest work.
Don't rely on plain water to lift crayon
Water alone won't break down wax, so rinsing without soap just spreads the crayon over a wider patch. Work the dish soap in first, then rinse once the wax has loosened.
Don't use gasoline or lighter fluid as a shortcut
Gasoline, lighter fluid and carbon tetrachloride are never safe for this job, and their fumes linger in a closed garage. Stick with the soap and solvent steps, and keep the area ventilated whenever you use any solvent.
When to call a professional
Bring in a restoration pro if the slab is old or historic, or if a coating or sealer keeps the cleaners from working. Tell the tech which colors were used and how long the crayon sat, so they can pick a solvent that won't harm the surface.
Questions
Can You Remove Crayon From Concrete?
Yes. The wax needs a grease-cutting soap and a solvent, and the color comes up once the wax is gone. If it's still there after the full set of steps, repeat them, and only then move to the poultice.
Will crayon come off concrete with just water?
Usually not on its own. Water can wet the surface and may lighten the stain, but the wax part needs liquid dish soap and a solvent to lift. Rinse after each product so you can see what has changed.
Does old crayon get harder to remove?
Yes. Old stains are harder to remove than fresh ones, and the steps may only take off part of an old mark. Give it a full pass of the steps first, then use the poultice for what remains.
How do I know when to stop?
Stop when the stain no longer changes after a full round of the steps and the area is dry. A faint shadow can remain on concrete, and repeated passes won't always remove it.
Can I pressure wash crayon off a concrete driveway?
Pressure is a poor first move on crayon, because a strong jet can drive the wax into the pores instead of lifting it out. Soap and a stiff nylon brush should do the work first, and if you do use a washer, keep it gentle and well back from the surface.
Why should I wet the slab before cleaning?
A wet slab won't pull the dish soap down into its pores, so the wax stays where you can reach it. Keep the surface damp through each pass, and rinse as you go so residue doesn't sit on the concrete.
Is bleach safe for getting crayon off concrete?
Bleach doesn't break down wax, so it won't help with crayon at all. Save it for moss and algae growth, and never mix it with ammonia, since that combination gives off a toxic gas.
Crayon on other materials
Other stains on concrete, brick & driveways
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.