Help! a Crayon Went Through the Dryer!

Updated on March 10, 2008
B.D. asks from Overland Park, KS
26 answers

I took out my laundry this morning and found the entire load covered in orange crayon. (This is why I should have checked the pockets of my two year old!!!)
Has anyone had this happen? Is there anything I can do to get the crayon out? It is literally on every single piece of clothing in the load.

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much for all the advice! I really appreciate the moms who took the time to reply and let me know what has helped them! I started with what seemed easiest and cheapest (baking soda in the laundry), but it didn't work. (I think orange must be a very strong dye color). I've also tried the Nars-Rapha (spelling?) bar, which has gotten alot out, but is pretty labor intensive, and the M-30, which worked about the same as the Nars-Rapha. Next stop WD-40! Also, and extra thanks to the mom who reminded me that it's just clothing. I needed that perspective!

Featured Answers

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K.P.

answers from Kansas City on

My mom always got wax out of my clothes by laying newspaper on the spot and ironing over it with a really hot iron. I dont know how it would work after being through the washer. Hope this helps.

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M.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Been there done that! My daughter left a red crayon in her pocket. I used WISK. I used a toothbrush and hit everyspot that I could find. It was a little time consuming, but well worth it. Every spot came out.

Good luck.

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M.R.

answers from Kansas City on

I recently spilled candle wax on a black skirt....a LOT of it & thought it was ruined. But my daughter suggested putting paper towels under the spot & paper towels over the spot & pressing it with a hot iron. I used several paper towels each time & just kept doing it until all the spots were out. It ALL came out & I just threw it in the laundry & not a hint of anything ever having been on it. Worth a try! Good luck!

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K.A.

answers from Kansas City on

I have!! It was red crayon for me,lol. I went to Wal-Mart and got some stuff, can't remember the name off the top of my head but it was orange and worked fairly well. Good Luck!

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C.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Been there, done that! I despaired as EVERYTHING was stained. I kept washing some of the items over and over such as socks and it came out. Some clothes I tossed, others I just turned into painting clothes. As for the dryer, it's done no harm to other clothes to dry them in there following the disaster!

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E.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I always heard that an iron and some wax paper would lift the crayon up. Good luck

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C.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I have not personally had this problem yet (knock on wood) but my sister in law has. She used some stuff called M-30 that you can find a Dollar General. It is a pasty kind of stain remover, not a spray on. For her, it was a load of brand new clothes and she said that it all came out without any problems. Hers was a red crayon as well. Good luck!

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S.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I had this happen with a blue crayon. I tried using goo gone, I think. It was orange scented. I had to soak it for several minutes, then I put it through the wash again. I think I did it twice, and my son's karate gi still has little faded blue marks on it. It did work a little bit though.

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C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Same technique for getting candle wax out of linens works great: use your iron set on low and iron the crayon bits with a paper towel in between the iron and the cloth to absorb the wax; keep moving so you have fresh paper towel on each waxy spot.

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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

Rewash everything with a cup of baking soda in the wash. My son sent a dark blue crayon through and this got it all off. Good luck!

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S.D.

answers from Topeka on

I heard this but have never used this technique,wax paper on top of the crayon or candle wax then use your hot iron to press over it it'll lift up the crayoin or wax onto the wax paper.

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M.M.

answers from Springfield on

I had this happen to me only it was a red crayon! I took everything that had crayon on it (some items didn't) and put them in the washer and let them soak in hot water for a while, then washed them in hot water with soap and it came out.

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A.F.

answers from Springfield on

The only thing I have heard that really works is called Sol-u-mel. you can buy it on the web. if you would like to contact me I would love to let you know more about the company that makes it and what they have to offer.

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K.S.

answers from St. Louis on

The orange stuff mentioned before is De-Solv-It. I too got it at Wal Mart. Haven't had to deal with washed crayons yet (my son is only 16 months) but my husband is notorious for washing chap stick and I have washed a few lipstiks myself. Worked great on that so I'd give it a shot.

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M.R.

answers from Wichita on

When I was preparing to have my senior pictures taken 30 years ago I was washing all of my "outfits" for the pictures and when I went to pull then out of the dryer.......everything was covered with purple crayon.....................I was totally distraught and called my mother immediately...........I'm not real sure how she knew but she told me to go to the store and buy a full bottle of ERA laundry detergent. She told me to empty the bottle into the washing maching and soak the clothes all day...................I have to imagine washing all of the soap out took awhile but all of the crayong came out! Good Luck!

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J.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I never was able to find anything to get the crayon off the clothes, I do have products through my business I run that probably would take it out due to it taking blood and such out of my clothes. As far as the dryer itself, I have had to deal with getting that out of the dryer, I don't remember for sure what I used to get it out now, once again I do believe I do have some products through my business that would get it out. At that time I was staying with my aunt when I first started college, so I'm sure if you wanted I could check with her to see what she had me use.

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R.Q.

answers from Springfield on

That's funny b/c I have a load that just got all funked up from an orange crayon as well.My husband has a can of 3M Adhesive Remover that I use to remove crayon. It comes in an aeresol can and it removes petroleum based stains. I would take it to a well venilated area to use it and then launder maybe twice to be sure the odor washes out completely. You should be able to find it at Lowe's or somewhere like that.

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C.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Here's what www.crayola.com had to say about getting crayons out of fabrics. Good Luck!
How to remove Crayons (Regular) from fabrics-fresh stains/heat-set stains(melted):

Cleaning Materials
Laundry detergent
Liquid dishwashing detergent
WD-40® (car part lubricant)
Bleach for colored clothing (Clorox 2® or Biz®)
Paper towels
Amodex® ink & stain remover

Stain Removal Tips
Procedure using WD40:

If you need more info on the topic you can go to the Support tab on the site and it will walk you through it. Again, good luck! And let me know if it works....

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T.W.

answers from Wichita on

I think EVERYONE has gone through this at one time or another. The iron set on low, using papertowels to soak up the crayons is painstakingly slow, but it does work!

You can also try this tip from debt-proof living:

"After a pack of crayons went through the dryer and melted on all of my sons clothes, I tried Fels-Naptha laundry bar soap (available at supermarkets or <A href='http://www.SoapsGoneBuy.com&#39;&gt;Soaps Gone Buy</a>) as a last resort. I wet the bar and then rubbed it on the dampened clothing. I first used my fingernail to scrape and the melted crayon came right off. For bigger spots, I switched to a fingernail brush and the crayon spots came right off!I washed again and there were no traces of crayon at all!"

If you still have stains in the dryer, here is a tip from cheapskate monthly:

"What a mess if you ever get gum or crayons melted inside the dryer. Here’s what to do: Get some old towels, pop them in the dryer and run on hot for a few minutes to soften the wax/gum. Now make a paste of Cascade automatic dishwasher detergent and hot water. With a damp cloth use this paste to scrub off the gum/wax. Go over the entire inside of the dryer, then make sure you rinse it off well. Run a load of old towels just to make sure it’s all gone."

I bought some fels-naptha and it has taken out stains that were DECADES old in my hubby's clothes!

T.
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M.R.

answers from Springfield on

that happened to my mom, and she sprayed a little RESOLVE carpet cleaner, dabbed it in, and let it sit over night, and then washed it, and it came right out. Try that. Resolve is also really good on all stains. Good luck

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M.W.

answers from Kansas City on

The exact same thing happened to me several months ago. I was told to go to the crayola web stie. I did what crayola suggested and it worked like a charm. Our laundry was saved.

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D.P.

answers from Kansas City on

I know crayola use to put out a brochure. Nowadays, you can probably go to their website and get the best advise. Good Luck!

D.

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P.Z.

answers from St. Louis on

Iron the spots between brown paper bags(grocery bags) until all the wax is removed. Then if some of the color remains use a stain remover, this usually works well. The stain remover that comes with Dryelle (spelling?) works great. I'm a mom of 4 young adults 3 boys and 1 girl
ages 21,20,19 boys,17 girl lots of experience! lol!!
good luck sure hope it works for you
P.

Oh, and as for the question in your a "little about me section".
NO

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P.P.

answers from Topeka on

You might try a search for the Crayola site. I am sure this is a problem that they have run upon many times before. Personally, I forgot to take a lipstick out of my uniform pocket and had to get an emergency reissue of uniforms while seeking a solution. The administration was not amused.

As to the sleep issue. You are day dreaming if you think that you will EVER sleep well at night after having children. At the elementary school level, you will be up at night baking cookies or cupcakes they forgot to tell you about until the night before they were needed. Middle school is not that much different. You will find that you are up at night finishing costumes for school plays or researching some obscure subject to help them along. High schoolers cause sleep deprivation as you deal with your babies growing up and away from you. Social and emotional issues will keep you pondering late into the night. When they go away to college, well.......... you are excused from the baking and research, but have to deal with your own separation issues and convincing the young adults that they are there on your money. The intent is to study, not party, and how many credit card promoters have given them a t-shirt to sign up?

After college, they choose a mate that you just KNOW is all wrong for them, so you are up all night praying that it all works out. Then there are the grandchildren, cuter, of course than anyone elses, but you just KNOW that your kids just have NO idea about how to raise children. If they are happy and doing well, you worry that something will happen to spoil it. If they are unhappy and opt for divorce, you will not sleep, just trying to find ways not to say "I told you so"

Oh, yes, and during the last 2-3 phases you are worrying about your children, you also add the issues of aging parents and their care.

Been there, done all that and have worn out the T-shirt. Happily, I am older (66) and see the futility of worry. The 'kids' are now between the ages of 27-47. Most of the grandchildren are in their teens.

Just when you think that sleep will be returning to your life, there are your own health issues and aches and pains to deal with.

It is all worth it. It is the circle of life for parents, and I would not trade one sleepless night for all of the gold in the world...............I take lovely afternoon naps :)

D.H.

answers from Kansas City on

My youngest snuck home some crayons from the Corner Cafe and hid them in her coat pocket (she knows she is not supposed to take them from resturaunts). I was washing coats and jackets and low and behold had purple, red, yellow and blue crayon all over our winter coats and jackets. Yeah! WD40 did the trick. I sprayed it all over in the garage on newspaper and let them sit, then put them in the wash in the hotest water possible and washed them with just soap. Then washed them again two more times, the third time used fabric softener. Crayola recommends WD40 also. I now keep a supply in the house, just in case. Good Luck and remember it is only clothes.

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