How To Remove Crayon Stains from Carpet
The good news about crayon stains is that they usually occur as stray marks rather than the wide, liquid stains of paint and red wine. The bad news is that these marks are waxy, deeply pigmented and can seem difficult to remove. To effectively remove crayon stains from carpets and rugs, try the following affordable solutions. Keep in mind that carpets come in a wide variety of materials, and unusual carpet pigments or materials such as leather, suede or exotic synthetics may not react favorably with cleaning solutions. Wool and silk can also require specialized care, which is described in another article of the cleaning section.
First, scrape off and discard any extra wax that you can. Place a brown paper bag over the affected area. Rapidly move a hot iron back and forth over the area, switching to a new paper bag as needed. Remove as much crayon as you can in this manner. Unplug the iron and set aside in a safe location. Allow the affected area to cool. Apply rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball, or use a commercially available product like the Tide to Go pen. For particularly set-in stains, dry-cleaning solvent can also be used. When stain removal is complete, end with a light overall cleansing using a mild pH neutral dishwashing detergent diluted with water, and a final clear water rinse to completely remove remaining cleaning residue and stain solutions. Blot dry or use a wet/dry vacuum to remove excess moisture. For particularly low dense piles, you may be able to follow ironing with the use of a high quality plastic eraser. Lightly rub the crayon mark with the eraser, and vacuum up the residue. Unless the eraser or crayon has left greasy marks remaining on the carpet, you do not necessarily have to follow with any overall cleansing.
Caution: Never mix cleaning agents or chemicals, the result can be dangerous or deadly. Before cleaning, always test the agent on an inconspicuous location to determine its suitability and to make certain it does not damage the material. Wear appropriate clothing such as gloves and protective eyewear, and work in a well-ventilated area. Accidental inhalation or ingestion of cleaning agents can be hazardous and even fatal, particularly to pets and children.
