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Creativity knows no bounds. And neither do your kids. When you combine your child’s creative and imaginative mind with the complete lack of consequences in children’s universe, you’re in it for a real cleaning adventure. My theory, based on years of experience, postulates that children live in an alternative dimension where their actions have no ramifications. Children are the ultimate followers of “carpe diem” and as such they act intuitively about everything. Whatever they do right now has no real repercussions in the future. Now, I know that children don’t really live in an alternative dimension (it’s just a joke, calm down) – it’s just how a child’s mind works. Thinking about the results of our actions is an adult’s trait. When a full-grown individual wants to draw and sees a wall, they don’t automatically think, “Hm… this is the perfect canvas…” When a child sees a wall and has a crayon in hand, they don’t need to have a mental discussion with themselves about whether or not they should draw on the wall – they just start drawing and forget about it when they’re done. Don’t worry, in time your child will develop the idea that actions have consequences but you can’t possibly expect that from a toddler. And so we are locked in this perpetual cycle of cleaning crayons from walls until our little Van Gogh comes in terms with reality and realizes that drawing on paper is much better than drawing on walls. I’m delighted to tell you, though, that there are rather easy ways to deal with crayons on your walls, furniture and even carpets.
Cleaning Crayon From Walls
Unlike ink, crayons leave a distinct oily trace on a surface so naturally if you try to remove it using conventional methods you are going spread the stain and make things much worse than they used to be. If you want to remove the artistic masterpiece of your little one from the wall, you have to be smart about it. Like for any other job, you will require the proper tools. Don’t worry, you probably won’t have to make a run to the hardware store as you should have everything at hand. The first thing you need is a hair dryer. The hair dryer helps loosen the crayon, making it infinitely easier to remove. You will also need a disposable cloth which you will use in the end for the finishing touch. For the tricky part (and the real work) you will either need a knife with a thin blade, or better yet a razor. The blade is used to remove most of the crayon from the wall when you loosen it with the hair dryer. You also need water in combination with the cloth and if things get ugly, you may even need to involve baking soda. That’s about it.
When you’ve gathered your tools, it’s time for cleaning. Approach your child’s “canvas” armed with the hair dryer and hold it about a span from the wall. Then switch it on medium and hold it for about a minute or so (maybe a bit more). This should help loosen the crayon and make it easier to remove. Next, dispose of most of the crayon with the blade and then wipe off the rest with a wet cloth. In most cases this would be enough, but in some special instances there will be residue left, which is when you need to involve the baking soda into the mixture.
Cleaning Crayon From Carpets
The same basic techniques as removing crayon from the wall are applied for cleaning the carpet, although heat will do us no good here, at least not in the beginning. First we will need some ice in a bag. Then we will introduce heat via an iron and finally we will get rid of the residue with WD-40.
Take some ice and put it in a bag. Then put the bag on the crayon stain and let it sit for 2 minutes. Then, once again chip away from the crayon with a thin blade. Get a towel you can easily dispose of without feeling guilty for it. Apply it on the stain and put the hot iron on top of the towel so it can absorb most of the leftovers. Treat the residue with the WD-40 and it should all be fine.
Cleaning Crayon From Furniture
Well, we’ve reached the end of times – the expensive leather sofa you love so much has been stained by the infamous red crayon. This is it – game over! Or is it? Don’t worry, even something as serious as cleaning crayon from your furniture can be easily done with a bit ingenuity, and this time the solution comes from an unlikely source – Fuller’s Earth. This magical substance is excellent in soaking up oils and is consequently a great weapon against crayon. Even with the help of magic it’s going to be a bit tricky.
There is no time to lose, so let’s do this! Scrape off as much of the crayon as you can without scratching the leather. Make a solution of Fuller’s Earth and water (1:2 ratio) and carefully apply it to the surface with the cloth. Repeat if necessary and then apply leather conditioner so mask the residue (if there is any). Keep in mind (and this important!) to always try cleaning a hidden area first. This way you can see the effects of your cleaning endeavor without causing any obvious and long-lasting damage. You’re trying everything at your own risk.
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Author Bio Box:
July loves to write about cleaning issues. She is currently the manager of http://www.cleantoperfection.co.uk/deep-cleaning-sw8-vauxhall/ and has a lot of knowledge to share.