Help Cleaning My Walls

Updated on July 12, 2009
L.K. asks from San Antonio, TX
17 answers

Hi. Can any of you moms with little VanGoghs like mine tell me how to get red crayon off of my white walls? I tried Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on a spot and it removes too much (like the paint). I would appreciate any tried and true solutions.
Thanks in advance,
L.

1 mom found this helpful

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A.M.

answers from Austin on

Toothpaste. Just smear a little on the wall, and then wipe it off with a damp rag. You might need to scrub gently.

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M.D.

answers from Houston on

I've had good luck with huggies baby wipes taking crayon off of walls, wooden tables and my daughter's high chair. I tried walmart's brand and they didn't work as well.

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T.V.

answers from Houston on

If you live in an apartment or a home with contractor applied paint, you're probably going to need to repaint. The contractor paint is a low grade (usually) flat, which means everything that goes on/touches the walls leaves a little something. Only way to fix it is to buy a good semi-gloss or satin and repaint. Valspar by Lowes is a great brand, rated very high with consumer reports, I use it myself and like it a lot.

Best wishes!

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B.W.

answers from San Antonio on

If your walls are textured, there is nothing that will really get rid of red crayon. If you scrub hard enough, you will take off the paint and texture. You can try baking soda as a mile abrasive, but you will probably have to paint over it with Kilz and then with the regular wall paint.

You need to teach your little darling not to paint on the wall. One way is to give them the rag with water & baking soda and scrub to see that it is very hard to clean. I've found that if you make them clean up their own messes, they make fewer messes.

Bwaller

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S.T.

answers from Houston on

Yeah, it took the paint off the table.

There's a bottle of yellow cleaning liquid (awesome?) at Dollar Tree. My mom used it to clean the permanent marker off my doors! I've tried all sorts of things to get it off. I would recommend trying that.

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E.I.

answers from San Antonio on

I don't use the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser anymore, it's too strong, I use the target brand, works just as well but does not damage surfaces, I just used it to take ball point pen marks off my kitchen wall paper, no damage to the wall paper. I use it often to clean the occasion "opps mommy" crayon marks on my green walls.

Good Luck.

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B.J.

answers from San Antonio on

Pledge, the dust cleaner, has cleaned many fantastic pieces of art right off. Although lately, I have kept up the artwork and this seems to keep them happy and I have not had any new artwork. Guess they thought the wall was too bare. :)

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W.L.

answers from Houston on

My suggestion is to try Soft Scrub. Use an old wet rag that has been squeezed good, then use small amount (maybe the size of a quarter) and start scrubbing.
I've used Soft Scrub for crayon on various surfaces, but can't honestly remember if I've used it on paint.
Personally, I wouldn't try anything that is oil based like Goo Gone because the paint and sheetrock will soak it up.
One other suggestion is to try TSP (tri-sodium phosphate). You can find it at most "real" paint stores (maybe not Home Depot or Lowes). It's very mild, comes in powder form. Just mix with water and use as a cleaner. TSP is also very good for general cleaning with grease splatter, dirty fingers and hands, etc.
Isn't raising kids so much fun!! Good luck!!

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K.A.

answers from Houston on

I've heard that WD-40 works on crayon. I'd try it on an inconspicuous spot first though. Supposed to work great. The only other tip I've heard is to put a paper towel on the spot and hold a hair dryer on high over it. But I don't see how that would really work. Let us know what you figure out. Oh, and maybe if you go to Home Depot or Lowe's paint dept they can tell you.

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S.Q.

answers from Houston on

Try "Goo Gone". It gets rid of all kinds of things. Watch out for the odor because it is strong.

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J.V.

answers from Austin on

You might have luck with Avon's Skin So Soft Bath Oil... I know it will take it off skin gently.. not sure about walls.. Also might try Goo Gone....

Good luck.

J.

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K.F.

answers from Austin on

Have you tried using a baby wipe and a little elbow grease? It is amazing what that can get off. Also, if you do get permanent markered (which I did multiple times) try rubbing a little bit of sunscreen on it, then use the baby wipe!

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D.S.

answers from Killeen on

WD-40 will take crayon off the walls. If your walls are painted with a flat paint, the paint will come off as well. A semi-gloss paint will not rub off the walls. I hope this helps.

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K.K.

answers from Killeen on

If the Magic Eraser is removing the paint then there isn't anything you can do without removing pain along the way.

You must have flat pain on your walls. This is vary porous and will wash off with pressure applied and marks work into the pores. If it were semigloss or glossy (the gloss acts as a coating to the pores preventing any penetration) you would not have any issue removing the mark without removing the paint.

My suggestion is to get a bit of the color of you wall (not too terribly expensive) and repaint the area (AFTER you have removed as much as you can by washing).

I am sorry.

Good Luck... ;-)

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M.H.

answers from Houston on

My two year old recently has discovered the joys of drawing!!! I have one spot, on one wall, that if you know to really look at it, it has a blue tint to it. I, too, tried using majic erasure, soap, 409...I finally got it as clean as it would get, short of painting.
I dont have advice so much for the removal of crayon as to some terrific advice about crayons.
Ditch those cheapy, no name brand crayons. Dont use the ones they give you in the restaurants. Fork over a few extra cents and get Crayola Crayon Washables. Those crayons wipe right of with plain old soap and water (as not to remove paint and leave behind residue)

My family and I are currently renting (why I dont care too much about my blue tinted wall ;) However, I always thought that it would be cute if you have a kid that scribbles on the wall, re-paint the wall with the exception of a square and frame it. (even if its down low) Others might say that its a bad idea...I think it sounds pretty unique!! and think of the comments you would get from visitors!?!

Margaret :)

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C.S.

answers from Houston on

I've found that the eraser of a normal #2 pencil works great. Takes a little elbow grease, but gets it off. Good luck.

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N.C.

answers from Austin on

Goo Gone, worked for me. Just spray it on give it a min and just wipe away :)

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