How to Get Crayon Off the Wall: 5 Best Methods (Tested)
Walking into a room to find artwork on your painted walls is never a fun experience. But, with a little effort, you can get your walls back to new.
If your walls have a semi-gloss or satin sheen, you can remove crayon marks in minutes. For matte or flat paint sheens, exercise caution so you don’t stain the walls.
I drew on my wall and hand-tested the top ways to remove crayon marks. Here’s what worked.
Top Five Ways to Get Crayon off the Wall
We used these methods on a wall with a satin paint sheen. If you have a flat sheen on the wall (it looks matte, not shiny), test these methods in an inconspicuous place to ensure they don’t leave stains or lift your paint.
Best Thing to Get Crayon Off Walls: Magic Eraser
A Magic Eraser is the best tool for getting crayon off the wall. It took little effort and worked the fastest out of everything we tried.
For crayon removal, dampen the Magic Eraser and go over the marks in gentle circular motions. Wipe with a fresh towel afterward. Doing this will remove even the most stubborn spots.
Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that can lift crayon wax without affecting the paint on the wall.
For this method, you’ll need to mix baking soda and water in a small bowl until a paste forms. Then, dip a toothbrush in the mixture and scrub in gentle circular motions. Finally, wipe the wall clean with a damp microfiber cloth.
Water and Dish Soap
Dawn dish soap can get crayon off the wall. It’s gentle on most paint finishes and easy to use.
To clean the crayon marks, wet a soft microfiber cloth, add dish soap, and rub until the cloth is sudsy. Be careful not to oversaturate the wall. You can rinse the soap with another cloth dipped in water and then dry the area with a towel.
Vinegar and Water
The acidity of white distilled vinegar can break down crayon wax for easy removal.
Fill a spray bottle with half-white distilled vinegar and half water. Spray on the crayon marks and use a microfiber cloth or soft sponge to wash it off.
Glass Cleaner
Ammonia-based glass cleaners like Windex can remove crayon marks if one of the gentler methods doesn’t work for you.
Spray the glass cleaner on the marks, let it sit for up to a minute, and then scrub with a clean cloth.
Will Mayonnaise Remove Crayon Marks from a Wall?
While mayonnaise can break down some crayon wax, it didn’t perform nearly as well as the Magic Eraser.
If you want to try it yourself, only use it on a wall with semi-gloss or satin paint. (The oil in mayonnaise can stain flat paint finishes.)
- Coat the crayon marks with a thick layer of mayonnaise
- Allow it to sit for 1-2 minutes
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth
- Dry with a fresh towel
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ
Can you use WD-40 to get crayon off the wall?
You can use WD-40 to get crayon off the wall, but there are more gentle options to try first, like a Magic Eraser, dish soap, and baking soda. If you want to try WD-40, spray it on a paper towel and wipe the wall. If that doesn’t work, spray it on the wall, allow it to sit for a minute, and then wipe it clean.
What’s the best way to remove crayon from flat paint?
Use a dampened (not soaking wet) Magic Eraser to get crayon off the flat paint. If you don’t press hard, the sponge can remove the crayon without removing the paint.
How to get crayon off the wall before painting?
Remove crayon before painting by washing the area with dish soap and water and removing leftover crayon marks with a Magic Eraser. If you don’t have a Magic Eraser, create a baking soda paste and use that instead.
Will toothpaste get crayon off the wall?
White baking soda-based toothpaste can remove crayon marks in the same way a baking soda paste will. You can use it to scrub crayon and other marks from your walls.
Final Thoughts
Removing crayon from the wall isn’t difficult. A Magic Eraser can take crayon marks off without damaging the paint underneath. Be extra careful if you have flat paint – pressing too hard can cause damage.
The other methods we tested all worked to varying degrees. For example, dish soap, baking soda paste, vinegar, and Windex can remove crayon but may require more scrubbing. Mayonnaise, however, did not work as well.