You come home and see that your little Picasso has made your furniture upholstery their new canvas. Yes, we are talking about the crayon disaster happening to your upholstery fabrics. Well, there is no need to scold the budding artist, but you need to take care of these crayon marks to restore the Sofa Uupholstery to the way it was. However, doing so is easier said than done but we are here to help you. So, if you, too, want to know how to get crayon out of upholstery, keep on reading today’s post. You will know how to deal with crayon stains effectively.
Why Are Crayon Stains On Upholstery Hard To Remove?
Crayon stains have been a headache for parents across the world ever since they were invented. These stains are tricky than your average stains because of two things in them; wax and pigment. The wax in crayons allows them to move over any surface easily. However, when the same crayon is used over upholstery, it seeps into the fabrics and then becomes solid while attracting more dirt. The stain gets bolder with the pigment in the crayon, making it visible on the upholstery. So, when you treat for crayon stains on upholstery, you need to treat for both wax and pigment.
Materials Needed For Getting Crayon Out Of Upholstery
Preparation is the key to any successful crayon stain removal job. For starters, you will need the right tools and materials. These materials are as follows.
- A blunt knife
- Ice Pack
- A Cleaning Solvent
- Dish Soap
- WD-40 For Wax Stains
- Baking Soda
- White Vinegar
- Clean Paper Towels or Clothes
Easy Steps To Get Crayon Out Of Upholstery
Follow these steps to the letter if you wish to remove crayon stains out of your upholstery fabrics.
Scrape the Crayon From The Top
First, check to see how much of the crayon is easily removable from the top before you use a cleaner to remove the rest. Take your blunt knife or a spoon to scrape off the hardened crayon carefully from the top. Do this gently otherwise, you might damage the fabric underneath, especially in the case of fabrics like suede or silk. If the crayon still feels soft, place the ice pack over the stain for a few minutes. This will harden it and make it easy to remove.
Removing Crayon Wax With Freeze Method
Once you have successfully removed the hardened crayon from the top, there might still be some wax left over in the fabric. Place some ice cubes or an ice pack over the furniture upholstery. This will freeze the crayon wax and make it soft. Once it’s soft enough, use your fingers to break it up and remove as much as you can. Vacuum away any leftover pieces of crayon wax.
Heat Up The Upholstery (For Non-Delicate Fabrics Only)
Upholstery fabrics like polyester and cotton, which can withstand heat, need heat to melt off any residual wax and lift it off. For this follow these small steps for easily lifting wax out of fabric.
- Place a clean cloth or a paper towel over the crayon stain.
- Use an iron set on a low-heat setting and press it on the paper gently.
- The warmth of the iron will melt the crayon wax, allowing it to seep into the paper or fabric positioned above.
- Repeat the process until no more wax can be lifted from the upholstery. Refrain from using this method on luxury upholstery fabrics.
Treating The Crayon Pigment Stain On Upholstery
After you have successfully removed all the wax from the upholstery, it’s time to treat the pigment stain. There are 3 methods to effectively remove the pigment stains. We have listed down 3 unique methods for this which are as follows.
Use Of Dish Soap
- Take some dish soap and mix it in warm water to create a soapy solution.
- Dip a cloth in this solution and blot the pigment stain. Do not over-saturate the upholstery.
- Use a dry, clean cloth to lift off the wet stain by blotting it.
- Rinse the fabric again with clean water and blot the area so as not to leave any soapy residue.
- Let it air dry under the fan or naturally.
Use The WD-40 For Stain Removal
WD-40 is the standard pigment removal product in the market, especially for wax-based substances. This is how to implement this method.
- Spray the WD-40 onto the crayon stain directly and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Now, take a clean and dry cloth and blot the stain to lift pigment and wax.
- Use the soap solution to clean the WD-40 residue.
- Let the wet upholstery air dry under the fan.
The Vinegar and Baking Soda Cleaner
For those of you who prefer the use of natural ingredients, this is the best stain-removal method.
- Take the baking soda powder. Sprinkle it over the crayon stain and let it sit for 15 minutes. Baking soda will lift any pigment from the fabric.
- Mix water and white vinegar to apply over the baking soda.
- Now blot this area gently with a clean cloth in small circles.
- Rinse the upholstery once more with clean water and blot it dry with a clean cloth.
Prevention From Future Crayon Stains
Your kid is never going to stop his creativity, and nor should they. So, the protection for upholstery falls over you. Take some preventive measures like the following.
- You need to designate an area in the house for your kid to express his creativity. Keep the crayons away from the furniture.
- Wrap the furniture upholstery with slipcovers, especially when it’s time for kids to play.
- Keep the crayons in a box and secure, this is so your kid doesn’t grab hold of them without supervision.
- Do regular vacuuming and cleaning of your upholstery to prevent any stains from solidifying and being hard to clean.
Conclusion
Having crayons on upholstery doesn’t have to be the end of the world. You just need to have the patience and right knowledge of how to get crayon out of upholstery. We have listed down the methods step by step to remove both the crayon wax and pigment stains. Follow this guide, and you will be able to restore your furniture upholstery to being fresh.
