First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off the excess crayon with a plastic card, keeping the edge flat.
- Keep the screen dry and avoid spraying anything onto it.
- Pretest any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Never use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.
Crayon on electronics is wax with color mixed in, so most of it can usually be lifted from the screen with a dry cloth before any liquid touches the glass. The bigger risk is moisture getting into the device, so keep the cloth barely damp and never let liquid sit on the display. Leather cases follow their own rules, since cleaning or conditioning leather may change its color.
When you're clearing crayon off a TV screen, start with the cloth dry and only dampen it if the wax won't move. Keep moisture away from vents and ports, since that's where liquid does real harm. If it's a phone or tablet screen, work slowly around the edges where liquid can seep in.
Before you start
What electronics & screens can take
Use with care2
- Water
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid4
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Scrubbing and abrasives
5 items
What you'll need
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- Plastic cardThe dull edge lifts wax without scratching the glass.
- Soft, dry, lint-free clothRemoves loose wax and dust without leaving fibers. (opens Amazon)
- Soft, lint-free cloth for dampeningUsed lightly for marks that stay after the dry wipe. (opens Amazon)
- Screen cleanerA cleaner made for screens, applied to the cloth. (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl alcohol or 75% ethyl alcohol wipeFor hard-to-remove smudges on the hard glass. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Scrape off the excess crayon
Use the dull edge of a plastic card, or a dull knife or spoon, to lift the loose wax off the glass. Hold the edge flat and work in short, gentle strokes so the crayon doesn't smear across the screen. Stop as soon as the surface is clear of raised wax.
Careful. Don't scratch the screen while scraping; use the dull edge of a plastic card.
Step 2 of 7
Unplug and disconnect the device
Unplug the device and remove all cables and external power before you wipe anything. With the power off, you can see the marks more clearly and nothing is live while you work.
Step 3 of 7
Wipe with a dry cloth
Buff the crayon with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth using light, even strokes. Fold the cloth to a clean side as it picks up wax. Many light marks come off at this stage, so check the screen before moving on.
Step 4 of 7
Dampen the cloth for the rest
If the mark remains, dampen a soft, lint-free cloth slightly and wipe the area again. Wring the cloth out well before you touch the screen, so it is only barely damp. Follow with a dry pass to remove any moisture left behind.
Careful. Never spray cleaner onto the screen or submerge the device; dampen the cloth instead.
Step 5 of 7
Use a screen cleaner on the cloth
Pretest the screen cleaner on a hidden spot first. If it's safe there, apply a small amount to the cloth and wipe the crayon in short passes. Turn the cloth to a clean section as you go.
Careful. Keep cleaner away from openings and don't let it pool on the screen.
Step 6 of 7
Use alcohol for stubborn smudges
For hard-to-remove smudges on the glass, wipe with a cloth moistened with 70% isopropyl alcohol, a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe, or a disinfecting wipe. Work one section at a time, and use the cloth lightly so the alcohol doesn't reach the edges.
Careful. Use only small amounts of alcohol and blot; don't soak the screen.
Step 7 of 7
Check before powering on
Look over the screen and edges for damp spots, residue or streaks. Make sure no moisture is near the openings before you plug the device back in and turn it on.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for crayon on electronics & screens
Look for a cleaner labeled for screens, and apply it to the cloth. For stubborn marks, a plain 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe is a better choice than a general-purpose spray.
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 electronics & screens, 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.
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
The crayon should lift in a smear-free layer, leaving the glass clear and even. If a faint haze shows only in direct light, repeat the dry and damp wipes in small sections.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your electronics & screens
TV and monitor screens
Large screens get the same dry-then-damp routine, but work in small sections so the cloth doesn't leave a streak across the whole panel. Put the screen cleaner on the cloth, never on the glass, and wipe one section at a time.
If the crayon is only in one corner, you don't need to treat the whole panel. Pretest the screen cleaner on a hidden edge first.
Phone and tablet screens
Small screens are cleaned the same way, but keep the cloth lightly damp and use a clean section for each pass. Don't press hard near the edges, where the cloth can catch on the frame. If the mark stays after the dry and damp wipes, move to the screen cleaner on the cloth.
Keep liquid well away from the openings, even when the cloth is only barely damp.
Leather cases and covers
Leather cases get the dry wipe first, and any dampened cloth should be pretested on a hidden spot. Cleaning or conditioning leather may change its color, so stop if the color shifts.
Use the lightest touch you can and keep moisture away from openings and seams. Leave the alcohol off leather.
VR headsets
Headset lenses and displays get the same gentle routine: unplug, dry wipe, then a barely damp cloth. Some headsets can be damaged by household cleaning products, so use only a screen cleaner applied to the cloth.
Spray nothing directly onto the device, and keep the cloth away from any openings.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old crayon that has sat on a screen for a while is harder to lift than a fresh mark. Start by repeating the dry wipe and the damp wipe, because a second pass often lifts more than the first. Don't increase the strength of the cleaner to make up for time.
If the wax has dried into a film, work the screen cleaner on the cloth in small circles, one section at a time. Don't let it pool or drip, and keep the cloth away from the openings.
If the mark is still there after these passes, stop rather than reaching for stronger cleaners, which are not safe on displays. A professional repair service can check the screen if the mark is still visible.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on crayon on electronics & screens?
Many home remedies work on crayon for other surfaces, but a screen is much more delicate. Stick to cleaners a display can take, and put alcohol on the cloth, never on the screen. Bleach, abrasives and soaking are off limits on a screen, so most remedies don't belong there.
Works1Skip1Avoid4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use bleach or hydrogen peroxide
Neither product belongs anywhere near electronics, even for a stubborn mark. Hydrogen peroxide is ruled out for these devices, and bleach is not allowed on these surfaces either.
Don't use household or window cleaners
Window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, ammonia and any cleaner containing acetone are wrong for displays. Use a cleaner made for screens or the alcohol wipe instead.
Don't use paper towels or rough cloth
Paper towels and abrasive cloths can leave fine scratches on the screen, and abrasive cleaners do the same. Use a soft, lint-free cloth for every step.
Don't use gasoline or lighter fluid
Gasoline, lighter fluid and carbon tetrachloride are dangerous and have no place in cleaning electronics. The alcohol and screen cleaner in these steps are the only solvents to use.
When to call a professional
If liquid gets inside the device, stop cleaning and don't try to clean the inside yourself. Get help from an authorized service provider.
Questions
Can I use vinegar to clean crayon off a TV screen?
No, skip vinegar; a dry cloth, a barely damp cloth and a screen cleaner on the cloth are the safe starting points. A dry cloth, a barely damp cloth and a screen cleaner on the cloth are the safe starting points.
Is rubbing alcohol safe on a screen?
Yes, for hard-to-remove smudges on the glass, as long as you apply it to a cloth and pretest on a hidden spot first. Use 70% isopropyl alcohol or a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe, and never spray it on the screen.
Can I use baking soda on a screen?
No. Baking soda is an abrasive, and abrasives are not safe on displays, even when the paste is mild.
It can leave fine scratches that are harder to see than the crayon itself. Use a soft, lint-free cloth and the steps above instead.
What if the crayon has melted onto the screen?
Repeat the gentle wipes and the screen-cleaner pass, one small section at a time. If it still won't come off, stop and get help from a professional service rather than using stronger cleaners.
Should I unplug the device before cleaning?
Yes. Unplug the device and remove all cables and external power before you clean it. This lets you work with nothing live.
Can I clean the screen with water?
Only with a soft, lint-free cloth that is dampened rather than wet. Keep moisture away from the openings and don't soak the device.
Can I clean crayon off a leather phone case?
Start with a dry cloth and pretest any dampened cloth on a hidden spot. Leather can change color when it is cleaned, so avoid alcohol on it.
Crayon on other materials
Other stains on electronics & screens
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.