If you have children, you know a few moments of peace and quiet are reason enough to be suspicious. You find your kids engaged in a color crafting session and can’t help but admire their creativity. But now the fun’s over, and you notice crayon streaks all over your wood furniture. Don’t panic. Instead, follow these simple and effective methods on how to remove crayon from wood furniture.
Put Down the Surface Cleaner
I know what you’re thinking—there’s a mess, and obviously you need a spray bottle to get in the action and wipe off those streaks. But that’s exactly what you don’t want to do. Common household cleaners are filled with toxic chemicals, and they can be detrimental to your custom wood furniture. You don’t want to ruin it in a split second. Instead, try the methods below.
Use Dish Soap or Detergent
One gentler method to get rid of crayon streaks on your wood furniture is to use dish soap or detergent. Fill a bowl with warm water, and mix in a small amount of soap or detergent. Next, you’ll want to dip a soft towel or toothbrush in the solution. Once your towel or toothbrush is nice and watery, apply it to the marks and streaks by moving in a circular motion. Do this for as long as necessary to remove the streaks.
Try Mayonnaise or Toothpaste
If the soap and water method didn’t work, there’s a softer alternative: mayo and toothpaste. We know what you’re thinking—mayonnaise? Toothpaste? But they’re good alternatives to household cleaners because they won’t cause any more damage to the furniture. Begin by spreading a thin layer of mayo or toothpaste—whichever you want to try first—on the crayon marks. Let it sit for several minutes, and then wipe it off with a soft, damp cloth.
Baking Soda
An alternative to soap or mayo is baking soda. You can use baking soda to try and remove the crayon marks from your wood furniture, but use this as a last resort, as the baking soda can be harmful to wood with polished finishes. Grab a soft cloth and apply hot water so that it’s damp, not soaking wet. Next, apply a bit of baking soda to the damp cloth, and use your fingers to apply it directly to the wood.
Crayons and wood furniture don’t mix well. However, accidents are truly inevitable, especially with little ones around. If you find yourself in these circumstances, try out these three tricks to safely remove crayon from wood furniture.