How to Get Melted Crayon Out of Clothes? (Complete Guide)

Finding melted crayon stains on your clothes can be incredibly frustrating. Crayon is designed to stick to surfaces and can be very difficult to remove once it has set into fabric. The good news is that it is possible to get melted crayon out of clothes if you have the right techniques and cleaning products.

In this complete guide, you will learn how to remove melted crayon from clothes using simple household ingredients. We will cover how to get crayon out of cotton, polyester, nylon, acrylic, wool, and other common clothing materials. With a bit of elbow grease and the proper methods, you can salvage your crayon-stained clothes.

How to Remove Melted Crayon from Clothes

What You Need

Before starting the removal process, you will need to gather the following supplies:

• White cloth or paper towels
• Butter knife or dull table knife
• An old toothbrush
• Liquid dish soap
• Laundry detergent
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Rubbing alcohol
• Hairspray
• Iron
• Washing machine

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these methods to remove melted crayon from clothes, depending on the fabric type:

For Cotton, Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic

1. Lay the stained fabric flat on a table. Scrape off any thick, excess crayon with a butter knife. Take care not to damage the fabric.
2. Apply a small amount of liquid dish soap directly onto the stain. Use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the soapy area for 2-3 minutes. The soap will help break down the wax.
3. Flush the scrubbed area with warm water and check if the stain has lightened or come out.
4. If the stain remains, make a paste by mixing 1 part baking soda and 1 part liquid dish soap. Spread the paste onto the stain using the toothbrush. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
5. Wipe away the paste with a clean cloth dipped in warm water. Scrub vigorously to remove all traces of the baking soda mixture.
6. Check if the stain has lifted after washing. If not, repeat steps 2-5 as needed until it fades significantly.
7. Once the stain has lightened, launder as usual with detergent in the warmest recommended water temperature. This will help loosen any remaining wax.
8. You can also try soaking for 1 hour in a solution of 1 quart warm water, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap. This can help break down wax residue.
9. Air dry the clothing and check if the crayon stain has disappeared completely. Repeat the washing process if needed.

For Wool

1. Lay the wool fabric stain-side down on a clean white cloth or paper towels.
2. Apply a small amount of hairspray onto the backside of the stain. Wait 1 minute.
3. Use a butter knife to gently scrape off the crayon from the backside as the hairspray dissolves it.
4. Once removed, flush the area with cool water to rinse out the hairspray.
5. Mix a solution of 1 quart lukewarm water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap. Submerge the clothing and soak for 15 minutes, gently swirling every 5 minutes.
6. Remove from the solution and rinse under cool water until the vinegar smell dissipates.
7. Lay flat or hang to air dry. Check if the stain has lifted. Repeat the soaking process if needed.

For Delicate Fabrics like Silk, Chiffon, Satin

1. Place the delicate fabric stain-down on top of a clean white towel.
2. Use a butter knife to gently scrape off any excess solidified crayon. Take care not to snag the fabric.
3. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol directly onto the stain. Let it soak in for 2-3 minutes.
4. Blot the excess alcohol with a white cloth. Check to see if the stain has lifted at all.
5. If needed, make a solution of 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon mild laundry detergent, and 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol. Use a clean toothbrush to gently brush the mixture onto the stain.
6. Rinse with cool water until all soap residues have been removed.
7. Air dry the clothing flat. Check if the stain has lightened or disappeared. You may need to repeat the rubbing alcohol treatment.
8. For extra stubborn stains, take the garment to be professionally dry cleaned. Inform them of the crayon stain.

Using an Iron

An iron can also be effective at melting and lifting crayon from fabric. Follow these steps:

1. Place the stained area of clothing face down on an ironing board.
2. Set the iron to the highest heat setting recommended for the fabric.
3. Place a clean white cloth or brown paper bag over the back of the stain.
4. Run the hot iron over the cloth for 30 seconds at a time, checking in between. The iron heat will transfer through and melt the crayon.
5. Once melted, quickly wipe away any wax that seeps through onto the cloth with a paper towel or scraper.
6. Repeat the process until no more wax transfers onto the cloth. The ironing motion will have loosened and absorbed most of the stained wax.
7. Flip over the fabric and iron on the front side to further draw out any remaining wax.
8. Launder as usual once finished. Check for any lingering stain residues.

Tips for Avoiding Future Crayon Stains

Once you have removed that pesky crayon stain, you will want to take measures to prevent new ones from forming. Here are some handy tips:

• Supervise young kids when they color and provide only washable crayons or markers. Monitor clothing around coloring time.
• Store crayons in a secure box away from heat sources. Do not leave crayons unattended in pockets where they can melt.
• Wash any new clothing before wearing to avoid stains from manufacturing chemicals and dyes.
• Pretreat any iffy stains by rubbing with bar soap or spraying with prewash stain remover before laundering.
• Wash clothes inside out so agitation happens on the inner fabric first. Use the warmest recommended water setting.
• Avoid letting stains set in for too long. Treat them ASAP for easier removal.
• For heavy stains on washable fabrics, try soaking in an oxygenated bleach solution before washing as normal.
• Turn garments with decorate elements like sequins, buttons, etc. inside out before ironing or washing to prevent heat damage.

Following these simple habits will help keep clothes free of troublesome crayon stains!

Common Questions about Removing Crayon from Clothes

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about getting melted crayon out of fabric:

1. Does hairspray really help remove crayon from clothes?

Yes, hairspray is remarkably effective at dissolving crayon stains, especially on wool and other delicate fabrics. The alcohol in hairspray breaks down the wax, allowing it to be blotted away gently. Be sure to rinse out the hairspray thoroughly after treatment.

2. Can you just use an iron to get crayon out of clothes?

You can attempt to use a hot iron alone to melt crayon from fabric, but it likely won’t remove the stain entirely. The melting and blotting process helps lift most of the wax out. For best results, follow up with a detergent wash cycle after ironing.

3. What temperature water should you wash crayon-stained clothes in?

Always use the hottest water recommended for the fabric type. Heat helps dissolve and release the wax from fibers. Take care with delicates like wool—use cooler water to avoid shrinkage. Adding vinegar to the wash can boost staining removal.

4. Does baking soda and vinegar work to remove melted crayon?

Yes, a baking soda and vinegar solution can help lift crayon once it has penetrated fabric. The chemical reaction of the two ingredients helps break down wax. Apply a paste of baking soda and vinegar and let it bubble on the stain for 5-10 minutes before washing as usual.

5. What cleaning solutions can damage clothing when removing crayon?

Avoid using flammable solutions like lighter fluid or gasoline to remove crayon. They can deteriorate fabrics. Acetone and nail polish remover can also weaken threads. For tough wax stains, stick to gentle cleaners like laundry detergent, dish soap, and vinegar.

Conclusion

Removing melted crayon stains from clothing takes patience but is absolutely possible with the right techniques. Whether it’s cotton, wool, polyester or delicate fabrics, you can likely salvage the garment by scraping, washing, ironing and repeating stain removal steps as needed. The key is to not let the stain set so it’s easier to dissolve and remove the wax. With the methods provided, you now have a handy guide to eliminating pesky crayon stains for good!