Alex gets blamed for a lot of things, in this case I am willing to say once again my little monkey has caused some serious commotion. My last load I took out of the dryer had a nasty surprise for me...red crayon all over everything...I am so sad. My favorite whit shirt was in there, several of Kristen's under shirts, a pin striped dress of Kristen's that has an attached petticoat, and of course a lot of socks, including all of Kristen's dress socks ( ruffles and lace bobby socks that she wears to church) Is there ANY saving these clothes?
I know that if I had caught the crayon before it hit the dryer it would have been ok, because I look over all the clothes before I put them in the dryer because I can usually get stains out if they have not been dried.
I have used my oxyclean spray and I am soaking them with the oxyclean powder. I will be one sad mom if this load is ruined. Sure everyday socks can be replaced, but my shirt, Kristen's dress, her dress socks...replacing them would cost more than a weeks groceries...and I do not have that kind of money right now. Hind sight sure is 20/20...I knew when I put that load in that I should have washed her dress separately. I didn't exactly save any time now did I?
Suggestions?
Thanks, I have some things to try at least.
Yes, in my house things like this happen more than I would like, in this instance I can tell you exactly how I think it happened. Alex loves to color and recently has been talking about Santa and stockings and has been putting things in our socks and calling them stockings...my guess is a red crayon was stuck in a sock and I did not see it. This is the first time it has happened to a white load, I learned my lesson to check pockets early on, my oldest who is now 15 still to this day leaves things in his pockets but from kindergarten on up it could be anything from crayons to rocks. I ruined a load once that was thankfully mostly blue jeans, hot water saved some of them, but I recall being really mad. Hoping that I have not ruined another load.
This happened to my SIL last fall. Go to the crayola website. They have suggestions for getting crayon out of clothes, the washer and the dryer. She followed the recipe they gave and al her clothes were fine and her dryer was even cleaner too. Good Luck.
Boy, does your question bring back memories. I just read Kelly W's answer and I want to see what the Crayola web site says, too!
Meanwhile, here's a last-chance, last-ditch clothing rescue formula: Hot water (as hot as you can get it), non-chlorine bleach, and dishwasher detergent. Soak the garments in it for at least an hour, or maybe longer. Then wash as you usually do. Either it will take the offensive color out or it'll make your ruined garments even more ruined and you can cut them up for cleaning rags.
If misery loves company, you'll be glad to know you're part of a huge group of moms! :^)
Bleach won't remove waxy residue. You need something that has a solvent base. Crayola recommends WD-40 on their website. Because that's so toxic, I would try Citra-Solv first, made from orange peels and nontoxic. Whatever you do will require a fair amount of time and effort, but might save at least your favorite items. Good luck!
http://www.crayola.com/canwehelp/staintips/index.cfm?n_id=32
I had to let you know that my little darling dumped a whole box of those big toddler crayons into a dry load of white laundry when she was 2, and then bless her little heart, turned on the dryer. By the time I found out, there was crayola coating every surface of my dryer, and I had to pick it all off the drum with a butter knife.
You may just try washing the laundry several times using Oxyclean and cold water (so as not to set the stains any further). That will actually remove a lot of it, if it was a washable crayon. I did end up having to throw out a few items from my load of whites, but a lot of it came clean. I was surprised.
I have been where you are only my discovery was an orange crayon. WD-40 applied directly to the stain and many many washes later (all with WD-40) it all came out. Do not dry between washes... Just keep re-washing.
Good luck!!
LBC
Try soaking in bleach. Cannot hurt since they are ruined anyway.
Updated
Try soaking in bleach. Cannot hurt since they are ruined anyway.
You poor thing! Our DD started putting her hot wheels in her socks. Sigh...
I am so sorry for you...I don't have any helpful advice except to do what you're doing, but I just wanted to say sorry. Also, really, do these things happen? It seems so unreal that the red crayon ends up in the nice white laundry load...I always think these things only happen in commercials. Good luck...I hope you can save your clothes!!!
I have been using Melaleuca for many years and swear by them! Pre-Spot I get from them takes hair color out of clothes and carpet, takes that nasty chalk out of my husbands work clothes, so I would recommed that you give it a try, I love all their cleaning products, if you have questions email me at ____@____.com.
Their products are great for many things, the shampoo is a miracle for getting rid of headlice when kids come home with it and it's not harsh on their hair! So many benefits to natural products that don't add chemicals to our homes!
Try using tide with bleach and filling the washer and then letting it set for several hours. I had this happen with a lipstick and luckily most came out. I didn't find it until it had gone thru the dryer as well. Hope it works for you.
