Learning how to remove crayon from plastic is essential, especially if you have kids at home. The children’s artistic urges will not only end up on their canvas and drawing books but also any surface that can endure the drawings, such as plastics.
Mostly, the children will stain the plastic toys, but this should be your least of worries. With the right tools and products, you won’t strain to remove crayon stains from your plastic surfaces because there are various ways you can apply techniques to remove crayons.
But let’s go through the tips and precautions first.
Tips and Precautions
Before you commence your DIY project, it is essential to understand some cleaning tips and precautions. Plastics are delicate surfaces, and one wrong move may cause damage.
Test the cleaner in an inconspicuous area before applying it to the whole stained area. Testing helps determine if the cleaner will damage the surface.
Some cleaners need patience, so put effort, embrace patience and follow the procedures to achieve the desired results.
Wear protective gear such as kitchen rubber gloves and masks. Close contact with some cleaners will cause skin irritation/burns and breathing complications.
Rinse the plastic surface thoroughly after you are done cleaning. Most cleaning products are harmful chemicals, whereas the most crayon-stained surfaces are children’s plastic toys, and children will put almost anything in their mouths. Thorough cleaning prevents harmful chemicals from getting into their body.
How to Remove Crayon from Plastic
To remove crayon from plastic, mix water and baking soda in a dish to form a thick paste. Apply the paste on the crayon-stained area and rub using the scouring side of the sponge until the stain removes. Then, rinse with clean water to have a sparkling clean surface.
The cleaning methods will require products and tools you already have at home or can easily acquire from the nearby hardware or convenience store.
Let’s go through them.
How to Remove Crayon from Plastic with All-Purpose Cleaner
All-purpose cleaner is a common household product since we use them to clean various surfaces such as kitchen, furniture, floors, carpets and bathroom.
Because you have an all-purpose cleaner at home, try using it before thinking of any other method.
Remember, an all-purpose cleaner will effectively work on small and fresh crayon stains.
You can use all-purpose cleaners such as Windex or Formula 409 to remove crayon stains from plastic.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Paper towels
- All-purpose cleaner
- Water
- Gloves
The Steps
Step 1: Begin with safety. Wear your gloves to protect your skin from irritation or burns.
Step 2: Pick an all-purpose cleaner and spray it on the crayon-stained plastic surface.
Step 3: Let the all-purpose cleaner sit on the crayon stains for 5-10 minutes to allow the cleaner to dissolve the stains.
Step 4: Wipe the surface with a clean paper towel. Pick some paper towels depending on the size of the surface and wipe away the all-purpose cleaner and stains.
Step 5: If, despite following the procedure, you don’t remove all the crayon stains, repeat the process and give it a strong wipe with paper towels to remove all the crayon stains.
Step 6: Rinse with clean water and allow to dry.
How to Remove Crayon from Plastic with Liquid Dish Soap
All-purpose cleaners may not remove resilient crayon stains. In this case, apply liquid dish soap.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Water
- Liquid dish soap
- Container
- Stirring stick
- Towel/sponge
- Gloves
The Steps
Step 1: Make a cleaning solution. Pour warm water into a container, add a few drops of liquid dish soap, and stir thoroughly to form a soapy, warm water cleaning solution. Diluting the liquid dish soap is important because it reduces its concentration. Higher concentration may damage the plastic surface.
Step 2: Dampen the cleaning towel or sponge. Pick a towel/sponge and pour just enough cleaning solution, and allow it to soak for a few minutes. You can as well soak the towel/sponge in the cleaning solution for a few minutes.
Step 3: Do the cleaning. Pick the damp towel/sponge and soak the crayon stains to allow the cleaning solution to weaken the crayon stains. After soaking, rub the surface with medium pressure in circular motions to remove the crayon stains.
Step 4: Repeat the process if you spot crayon stains even after rubbing with a cleaning towel/sponge. Once you have removed all the stains, rinse the plastic surface with clean water and allow it to dry.
How to Remove Crayon from Plastic with Baking Soda
Baking soda is a common commodity in our household. However, the DIY community has proven that it has some cleaning properties on numerous occasions.
You can use baking soda to clean various surfaces, including plastic. But, it is essential to note that baking soda is abrasive; therefore, avoid using it on delicate plastic surfaces.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Water
- Baking soda
- Paper towels
- Clorox wipes
- Rags
- Gloves
- Dish
The Steps
Step 1: Create the cleaning solvent. Moisten a clean rag with water and add enough baking soda to the damp cleaning rag to form a thick paste.
Step 2: Scrub the crayon stains off. Scrub the crayon stains on the plastic surface in circular motions with the paste-filled rag. Continue scrubbing until you remove all the stains. Re-dampen the cleaning rag and add more baking soda if necessary.
Step 3: Clear the surface and repeat. Wipe the surface with a clean rag and check if all the stains are gone. If not, repeat the process. You can also use Clorox wipes to remove all the stains.
Step 4: Once clean, wipe the surface with a clean rag. You can also rinse with clean water.
Alternative
Mix baking soda and water in a dish to form a thick paste, maybe to the level of toothpaste consistency. Apply the paste on the stained plastic surface and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before wiping it off with a paper towel. Then, wipe down with a damp rag and allow it to dry.
How to Remove Crayon with Goo Gone
Children can get crayons in unexpected places, such as walls or plastic surfaces. I urge you to make Goo Gone your partner in these stressful moments. Goo gone is inexpensive and easy to apply, making it a better option to clear crayons off plastic surfaces at home.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Water
- Soft cloth/Paper towel
- Gloves
- Goo Gone
The Steps
Step 1: Grab a Goo Gone and spray the gel on the crayon-stained area.
Step 2: Let it sit on the surface for 2-5 minutes as the gel works on the stains.
Step 3: Once the waiting time has elapsed, wipe away the Goo Gone gel and wipe the crayon stain from the surface with a soft cloth or paper towel.
Step 4: Rinse the surface with warm, soapy water.
How to Remove Crayon from Plastic with Vinegar
Vinegar is a common DIY cleaning product that works effectively on almost every surface and stain, including plastic and crayon.
Vinegar contains acetic that dissolves the wax and pigment components in the crayon stains. I prefer vinegar because it is effective, cheap, and safe to use.
The Supplies You Will Need
- White vinegar
- Soft cloths
- Water
- Bowl
- Old toothbrush/scouring sponge
- Gloves
The Steps
Step 1: Test the solvent in an inconspicuous area before using it on the stained area. Testing helps gauge the detrimental effects of the solvent. Remember safety first.
Step 2: Prepare the solvent. Add pure white vinegar into a bowl
Step 3: Scrub the stained plastic surface. Immerse an old toothbrush in the vinegar and scrub the stains off the plastic surface. Scrub gently and, if necessary, shift to medium pressure to remove stubborn stains. If you don’t have an old toothbrush, use a scouring sponge to scrub the stains.
Step 4: Repeat the process if all the stains don’t lift off on the first attempt.
Step 5: Rinse the surface. After removing the crayon stains, rinse and wipe with a damp cloth and allow the surface to dry.
How to Remove Crayon from Plastic with Lighter Fluid
Lighter fluid dissolves and removes crayon stains without damaging the plastic surface. It contains Naphtha as the main ingredient, which works well on stains, especially grease.
Lighter fluids are used to refill cigarette lighters. Though they currently do not flood the market as they used to in the past, you can still find them in the stores. You can also acquire Naphtha from the home improvement stores or hardware nearby.
The Supplies You Will Need
- A scrub brush
- Cotton swabs
- Lighter fluid/Naphtha
- Paper towels
- Rubber gloves
The Steps
Step 1: Soak the affected area. Spray just enough amount of lighter fluid on the affected area. Ensure you have covered all the crayon stains.
Step 2: Let the fluid sit for a few minutes as it weakens the crayon stains. You will observe the stains dissolving into the fluid.
Step 3: Wipe/scrub the surface. Wipe away the stains and lighter fluid residue with a paper towel if you are working on a smooth plastic surface.
For a rough plastic surface, pour just enough lighter fluid onto the cotton swab/scrub brush and scrub until the crayon stains begin lifting off. Use a cotton swab for a small area and a scrub brush for a large plastic surface.
Step 4: Continue scrubbing as you add lighter fluid until all the stains fade off. Scrub gently to avoid damaging the plastic surface.
Step 5: After removing all the stains, set the surface in the open air. The Naphtha will evaporate, leaving your plastic surface sparkling clean.
How to Remove Melted Crayon from Plastic
Plastic does not absorb melted crayons. Instead, they remain on the surface, making them easy to do away with.
The Supplies You Will Need
- Sponge
- Ice
- Scraper
- Magic eraser
- Water
- Dishwashing detergent
The Steps
Step 1: Scrape the crayon off. Grab a plastic scraper to scrape off the melted crayons. Melted crayons often dry and harden on the surfaces, making them easier to scrape off. If you need to harden the crayon further, place an ice cube/cube on the melted crayons.
Use a stiff-bristled brush such as a toothbrush or scrub brush to scrub off the crayons if the stains are on a rough plastic surface.
Step 2: Clean the thin layer of crayon after scraping. Use a magic eraser to scrub carrying residues. Add water to the magic eraser and wring out excess water before scrubbing the surface.
Step 3: Clean the grease stains. If, despite scraping and scrubbing, you spot slight grease stain remains, mix water with a small amount of dishwashing detergent and use a sponge to scrub off the grease stains.
Step 4: Rinse and allow the plastic surface to dry.
Step 5: Repeat the process if all the melted crayons don’t lift off the first attempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a magic eraser remove crayon?
Magic eraser will remove crayon. Grab a magic eraser and scrub the affected area. As you scrub, you will notice the crayon marks lifting off. Continue scrubbing to remove all the crayon marks. You can also use magic erasers to remove scuffs from your wall.
However, be careful because magic erasers are abrasive and may damage the plastic surface. Gently scrub as you allow the distinctive nature of the cleaner to do the magic on the crayon stains.
Does WD-40 remove crayon?
WD-40 removes crayon. Apply WD-40 on the surface and let it rest for a few minutes. Wipe off the WD-40, and the crayon stains away. WD-40 is effective majorly when removing crayons off walls.
How do you remove wax crayons?
Step 1: Apply WD-40 to weaken the wax. Ensure the solvent is enough and covers the whole stained area.
Step 2: Use a butter knife or a scraper to remove the weakened wax.
Step 3: Pour a few drops of dry-cleaning solvent into a white cloth and rub the area to remove all the wax residues.
Step 4: Once clean, air dry the surface.
How do you get crayon out of a dryer?
Apply enough WD-40 to a cleaning sponge and dab the stained area until you remove all the crayon. Next, dampen a clean cloth in soapy water and wipe down the dryer drum. Finally, add more detergent to clean residues of WD-40.
Conclusion
Now you know how to remove crayon from plastic. Remember the process always to keep your plastic item and surfaces clean.
The good news is it is an easy, inexpensive and simple process provided you have the right tools, put in some effort, and embrace patience.