Ways to Get Crayon Off Wood

How to Get Crayon Off Wood (13 EASY Ways)

It’s no secret that kids have wild imaginations.

And if you’re a parent like me, you’ve been there before. You walk inside after a long day of work only to find that your child has covered your kitchen cabinets with crayon. It’s a mess.

But there’s hope!

In this post, I’ll show you some of the easiest ways to remove crayon from wood so you can get back to being a parent!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Some of the best ways to get crayon off wood include using dish detergent, a magic eraser, mayonnaise, baking soda, toothpaste, and even WD-40.

1. Dish Detergent

Dish detergent is an excellent way to remove a stain on a wood floor, wall, or furniture pieces.

The detergent is gentle, so it won’t break down the material like harsher chemicals. Dish detergent works well because it breaks up grease, a main component built into crayons.

Get a bowl of warm water and add dish detergent to the liquid. You want a mixture of half water and half liquid dish soap. Then, take a cloth and dip it into the mix.

Once the soft cloth is wet, start rubbing the stain. It should only take a few seconds for the inconspicuous area to lift from the wood.

After the stain is gone, use a microfiber cloth to wipe away excess and let the wood dry.

Liquid dish soap is one of the best (and easiest!) ways to remove crayon marks from wood.

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda is another excellent way to remove regular crayons from wood. It’s also a product that most people have right in their home, so you won’t need to head out to the store to purchase something new to remove the stained area.

First, get a damp cloth. Add baking soda to the surface of the wet portion of the rag. Take this combination and work in a circular motion to remove the crayon stains. This technique should work on finished wood and unfinished.

As soon as the color lifts, remove the baking soda rag. Be careful though. If baking soda is left on the wood for too long, can cause irreparable damage to the color.

If the stain persists after a few moments of scrubbing, try a different technique to remove crayon wax.

3. Mayonnaise

What!? Mayonnaise?? Yep!

Mayonnaise is another popular item when it comes to a way to remove regular crayons from wood.

It might seem like an impractical choice, but it’s highly effective. Mayonnaise has many oil components which dissolves the oil already in crayon marks.

First, put some mayonnaise on top of the stain. Spread it out until a thin layer exists on top of the marks. Then, take a cloth and buff out the material. You will need to repeat the process a few times to remove all signs of the crayons.

Ensure you only use this technique on wood that is sealed. If you don’t, the oils in the mayonnaise could soak into the wood.

4. Petroleum Jelly

Many lubricants work as a way to remove crayon marks from wood, and petroleum jelly is one of the best.

You might already have this item in a first-aid kit. If you don’t, it’s available at most grocery stores.

Find a cleaning cloth that will work gently on the stained area. Take a dime-sized amount of the jelly and add it to the rag. Then, wipe the stain. The jelly will attract the crayon grease out the wood and into the cloth.

Once the stain is out, take a dry cloth and wipe off any excess. Let it dry before attempting to do anything with the clean wood surface.

5. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can be an excellent solution.

This product can be found in most cleaning supply inventories, and it’s available right inside most grocery stores and convenience stores. You can get a pack of them for relatively cheap.

Take a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and soak it in warm water. Then, test it on a small patch of wood to see what it does to the surface. If it strips away the finish, don’t utilize the tool. If nothing happens, you can proceed with the next step.

Rub the stain with the eraser, ensuring the tool is pressed up against the wax. Hold it for a few seconds before starting, then work the sponge in little circular motions. Continue pressing and moving the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser until the entire stain is gone from the wood.

Crayon on Wall

6. White Toothpaste

White toothpaste is another tool most people have on hand. It’s critical that it’s white toothpaste as dyed versions won’t work in the same way.

White toothpaste has specific cleaning agents inside that work to get rid of the oils on the wall thanks to the crayons. It’s also affordable and readily available in most homes.

First, put a layer of toothpaste on top of the crayon marks. Take a soft cloth and utilize it to spread the toothpaste around over the marks.

Once it’s over the whole thing, find a damp cloth. Utilize this rag to get rid of the toothpaste and the leftover marks. Repeat if necessary. Then, use a damp cloth to get rid of any leftover toothpaste. Leaving excess on for too long could damage the wood color beyond repair.

7. WD-40

WD-40 is another tool that can be used to get crayon marks off wood, and it’s highly effective. In a car, it works to dissolve rust and corrosion to help nuts and bolts move. It also works if you can’t get crayon marks off with a chemical-free liquid.

Before using WD-40, perform a patch test on the wood to see what happens. If it strips the color, you may not want to take advantage of this product for removal needs. If nothing happens, keep going.

Spread WD-40 over the marks and let it sit for about ten minutes. Then, clear away any leftover residue. The chemicals should have no problem eating away at the wax.

8. Vinegar

Vinegar has an acetic composition which is ideal for removing wax. It’s powerful enough to break down the crayon, though it may also destroy finished wood. Ensure you patch test before using vinegar on wood.

If the wood passes the patch test, take a wet rag and add a little vinegar to the tip. Rub the vinegar on the wood until the crayon is gone.

Once it’s gone, take a dry cloth and wipe away excess. Let everything air out before using the wood again.

Check out the video below for more help!

9. Lemon Oil and Olive Oil

Lemon oil and olive oil both have acid capable of breaking down crayon wax on wood. They also work together to lubricate the area to help the crayon come off easier.

Add lemon essential oil to a soft cloth. Take the cloth and rub it over the crayon. This might work by itself, but chances are there will still be leftover crayon markings.

To go further, add a drop of olive oil to the lemon on the rag. The addition of olive oil will help the crayon markings come off much easier.

10. Adhesive Remover

Adhesive remover works, but it should not be your first choice when it comes to removal options for crayon marks. It is, however, a quick solution if you need to get the wax off in a few moments.

Text the spray first on a patch of wood to see what happens. If all goes well, you can move on to the next step.

Spray the adhesive all over the area and rub it will a slightly damp cloth. Press firmly, but not too hard, to ensure the wax comes off.

Once it’s all gone, wipe away any excess with a dry cloth. Let the wood dry before doing anything else.

11. Window Cleaner

Window cleaner is another excellent chemical agent that will remove wax crayon marks from your wood without too much effort. It’s cheap, easy to use, and probably already in your cleaning supplies at home. Windex is a wonderful tool.

First, patch test the Windex on a piece of wood. If there is no chemical reaction to the spray, you are ready to keep moving forward.

Spray Windex all over the crayon markings until they are covered. Then, let the spray sit on top for 1-2 minutes. Take a damp cloth and wipe until the crayon is gone. Repeat if necessary.

Once the markings disappear, take a dry cloth and wipe away residue. Let the wood rest before doing anything more.

12. Hair Dryer

Crayons are wax, and wax melts at a high temperature. If you’re not working with much damage, a hairdryer can come in handy to rid of the art.

Plug in a hairdryer and hold it a few inches away from the wall. Wait until the wax melts, then turn off the hairdryer. Use a wet rag and a little detergent to wipe off the melted leftovers.

These methods can help you feel more comfortable giving crayons to your chaotic little artists. If the art is on your wood – you can clean it up.

FAQs

How to get crayon off painted wood?

For painted wood, you can use many of the same methods, but you’ll need to be more careful so you don’t remove the paint at the same time. For example, a magic eraser should do the trick, just don’t rub too hard or for too long.

How to get crayon off furniture?

When it comes to furniture, removing crayon can be done with dishwashing detergent and warm water. The heat from the water should slowly melt the wax crayon and allow you to remove it with ease. Just give it some time to work!

Final Thoughts on How to Remove Crayon off Wood

There are many different options to remove crayon from wood. From toothpaste and mayonnaise to WD-40, there are plenty of choices and tools you likely already have on hand.

While crayon can be somewhat difficult to remove, using some of these solutions can make your job much easier! Good luck!