First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off loose crayon with a plastic card or dull knife, without smearing it.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first.
- Use small amounts of solvent and blot instead of soaking.
- Don't use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.
Crayon on a floor is wax with color in it, so the wax has to lift before the color can come off. Tile can handle a damp sponge, but laminate and linoleum should never be flooded, and wood needs a light touch so the finish isn't damaged. Fresh marks usually wipe off in one or two passes, while older ones may only fade.
Crayon on tile is the easiest of these, so that's where you can push a little harder. Crayon on hardwood or laminate needs a lighter hand, especially if the mark has been sitting for a while. If the finish starts to look cloudy, stop and call a flooring pro before the damage spreads.
Before you start
What laminate & vinyl floors can take
Use with care5
- Water
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid3
- Soaking
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
8 items
What you'll need
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- Plastic credit card or dull knifeLifts the wax without scratching the floor.
- Sponge and clean clothsFor the wipe, the rinse and the drying. (opens Amazon)
- Washing soda or mild detergentMakes the wipe solution for tile and other hard floors. (opens Amazon)
- Crayon bar or artgum eraserLifts the color that remains once the wax is gone.
- NaphthaUsed in a light pad on wood floors. (opens Amazon)
- 70% isopropyl alcoholLifts crayon from laminate on a clean cloth. (opens Amazon)
- Paste wax and #0000 steel woolRestores the hardwood finish once the stain is gone. (opens Amazon)
- Chamois clothBuffs away any residue left on wood. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Scrape off the loose crayon
Hold a plastic credit card or dull knife almost flat against the floor and push the crayon off in short strokes. Stop when the mark has lifted, because more pressure only spreads the wax around.
Careful. A sharp edge or hard pressure will scratch the surface, so keep the edge dull.
Step 2 of 5
Wipe with washing soda or detergent
Dip a sponge in a solution of washing soda or detergent (not soap) and water, then wipe the marked area. Work in small sections so the solution doesn't sit on the floor.
Careful. Skip this step on vinyl, since detergent can leave a dull film there.
Step 3 of 5
Rinse and dry the floor
Rinse the sponge in clean water and wipe the area again to take off any leftover solution. Dry it right away with a towel so no water sits on the floor.
Step 4 of 5
Rub the marks with a crayon bar
Rub a crayon bar lightly over the marks, using only a light stroke. Check the cloth after each pass, because the wax lifts onto it.
Tip. An artgum eraser works in place of the bar.
Step 5 of 5
Check and clean up what remains
Wipe the spot with a dry cloth and look at it in good light for any color left behind. Repeat the scrape and rub on any mark that still shows, and rinse the area again after each pass.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for crayon on laminate & vinyl floors
Look for a crayon bar at a hardware or wallpaper store. An artgum eraser is a good backup if you can't find one.
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 laminate & vinyl floors, 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 mark should lift onto your cloth as you work, and a properly cleaned patch should blend back into the surrounding finish when it's dry. A dull or hazy patch means something was left on the surface, so go back over it with clean water on a cloth, then dry it thoroughly. If the mark still looks the same after two rounds, switch to the advice for old, set-in marks.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your laminate & vinyl floors
Tile floors
Tile follows the main method, so scrape first, then wipe with the washing soda or detergent solution and rinse it off. Glazed tile responds well to the crayon bar, and the marks lift with a few light passes.
Dry the grout lines as well as the tile, since leftover solution can sit in them.
Hardwood floors
Hardwood starts with the scrape, then a light pad dampened with naphtha, which you wipe over the mark and blot dry right away. Once the marks are gone, rub paste wax into the boards with a soft cloth, moving with the grain. Skip #0000 steel wool, which would scratch the finish.
Finish with a chamois cloth to buff away any residue, then polish or wax the wood as you normally would.
Wood floors
Scrape first, then rub the marks with the crayon bar, and use an artgum eraser if you can't find one. Keep the strokes light so the finish stays even.
Once the marks are gone, a chamois cloth takes off what's left. Then polish or wax the wood as usual.
Laminate floors
Laminate can take only damp cleaning, so don't wet-mop it and dry any water right away. Dampen a clean cloth with isopropyl alcohol, rub the crayon lightly, then wipe the spot with a dry cloth.
Skip wax, polish, oils, soaps and detergents on laminate. Test the alcohol on a hidden spot first, and keep the cleaning to the marked area.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old crayon is harder to lift than fresh crayon, because the wax has had time to set into the finish. Scrape it first, then go back to the wipe and rub steps rather than reaching for stronger products.
Once it has dried, expect to repeat the wipe and the bar more than once, with a rinse and dry between each pass. On wood or laminate, the solvent step is the stronger option, so pretest it and use only a small amount.
If the mark is still there after several passes, accept a faint shadow rather than scrubbing the finish to chase it. A trace of color can stay on the floor, and that's a better result than damaging it.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on crayon on laminate & vinyl floors?
Most household remedies belong to fabric stains, so only a few apply to a floor. The ones below show what to use, what to skip, and what to keep off the surface entirely.
Helps2Skip3Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rub wood against the grain
Working across the grain leaves streaks in the paste wax and can mark the boards. Keep every pass with the grain, from the first wipe to the final buff.
Don't work near an open flame
Naphtha is flammable, so keep it away from open flames, pilot lights and sparks. Open a window or work in a room with fresh air while you clean.
Don't press hard with the crayon bar
Heavy pressure can dull a glossy finish, even with a mildly abrasive bar. Use light strokes and check the spot often.
Don't wet-mop the crayon off laminate
Laminate can't take a wet mop, so a barely damp cloth is the most water it should see. Dry up any liquid the moment it lands on the surface.
Don't use steam to loosen the mark
Steam pushes heat and moisture into the floor, which can damage it even while the crayon is still there. Work the solution in with a hand cloth instead.
Don't let alcohol touch the trim
Keep rubbing alcohol and mineral spirits off the coordinating wall base and quarter round, even when the mark sits right beside them. Wring the cloth nearly dry for the floor edge and check the trim afterward.
When to call a professional
If the crayon has gotten into the finish, or a mark survives a gentle cleaner and a soft pad, stop and call a flooring professional before trying anything stronger. For laminate or vinyl with damage beyond a surface mark, the maker's certified retailer is the first call. On linoleum, a stain that survives neutral cleaner and a nylon pad needs the maker's technical service before anything else.
Questions
Will the washing soda solution harm tile?
It's the cleaner used for hard surface floors, which includes tile, so it's a suitable choice there. Rinse the area well and dry it, so no solution is left in the grout lines.
What if the crayon has been on the floor for a long time?
Older crayon takes more passes than fresh marks, so expect to repeat the scrape, the wipe and the rub. Work through them in order, rinsing and drying between each pass.
Can I use naphtha on hardwood?
Yes, but only in small amounts on a light pad. Sponge the mark and blot it dry straight away, so the wood doesn't soak.
Can I use the crayon bar on painted floors?
Yes, the bar works on flat and glossy painted surfaces when it's rubbed lightly. Use gentle strokes and check the paint after each pass.
Why scrape before using any liquid?
Liquid can spread wax into a wider smear and push it into seams. Lifting the bulk of it first leaves the cleaner for the color that's left.
Can I use diluted bleach on a vinyl floor?
Yes, for a spot stain, one part bleach to ten parts water is the mix to use, and only on vinyl. Laminate makers don't list bleach, so don't reach for it there. Rinse with clean water and dry the spot once you're done.
Is vinegar a safe option for laminate?
No, skip it on this floor. Stick with the washing soda or detergent solution from the steps. Keep the cloth just moist rather than dripping, and skip ammonia entirely since it reacts badly with vinegar.
Will a rubber-backed mat stain my floor?
Yes, it can, and the damage may be permanent. The antioxidant in rubber or latex backing is the culprit, so a mat without that kind of backing is the safer pick.
Crayon on other materials
Other stains on laminate & vinyl floors
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.