Laundry emergency! Help!

[zev_steinhardt]

Well, when you have three kids, this sort of thing is bound to happen sooner or later.

I was doing my laundry (whites, of course) this past week. I washed them in the machine, as usual, and put the clothes in the dryer. However, when I took my shirts, underwear, etc. out of the dryer, I found that there were dark blue spots on my clothing. Some were small, some larger. I also found a blue crayon wrapper on the floor outside of my dryer, which must have come out of the dryer as I was pulling my clothing out. So, it seems that I have a bunch of clothing with blue dots on it. I don’t care so much about the underwear (no one sees it except for my wife anyway), but the shirts are another story. Using non-chlorine bleach hasn’t helped any, nor has a few repeated washings.

Any suggestions?

Zev Steinhardt

[GingerOfTheNorth]

I don’t know if this will work after a few washings, but try. Soak the stained bits in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol for about a half hour, and use a scrub brush on them.

If there is still enough crayon in there, try ironing it between two THICK paper towels or towels you don’t mind having crayon on them.

I’m afraid I’m at a loss after that. Try googling “Crayon+stain+remove”.

[Mauvaise]

I seem to recall something about a paper bag and an iron. But I don’t remember if that was for crayons or candle wax.

I’m not exactly the most domestic of women.

[sunfish]

My handy-dandy copy of Consumer Reports’ How to Clean Practically Anything (4th ed.) makes the following suggestions for crayon removal:

Try stain removal agents in this order:

1. Nonflammable dry cleaning fluid, such as K2r.
2. Mild detergent - mix one teaspoon clear handwashing liquid per one cup of lukewarm water; rinse thoroughly to prevent re-soiling.
3. Call in the professionals.

Additional comments: Scrape off excess crayon before attempting stain removal. For washable clothing, pouring boiling water through the fabric from a height of 12 inches may help. When in doubt - for stains from crayons, tempera and the like - call 1-800-CRAYOLA.
I don’t know how well these will work since your clothes have already gone through extra washings. Good luck!

[swampbear]

You might want to try a grease cutting dishwashing liquid. (Ajax is particularly good for this.) Pour the liquid directly on the stains, rub it into the stain really good and let it set for a couple of hours, then rewash. I am your basic slob so I’ve had lots of practice with this. Don’t know about crayons, but it did work with ink. Hope it helps.

Oh and…

<snerk> underwear with blue dots on em <snerk> Hey, sometimes that inner eight year old boy has to come out.

[BiblioCat]

I guessed it was the old “crayon in the dryer” before I even opened the thread.
Sorry, but I think you’re SOL.

I’ve laundered crayons a couple of times (got a 7-year-old who puts everything in his pockets) and I’ve Googled it like crazy and tried the ironing with paper towel thing, tried the rubbing alcohol thing, tried the WD-40 thing and even taken stuff to the dry cleaners. NOTHING gets out crayon.

[MsWhatsit]

OK, here’s the dirt (no pun intended) from my copy of Home Comforts, which by the way I would highly recommend to anyone:

Crayon (few spots). Treat the same as for candle wax, or rub dampened stain with bar soap. Launder with hottest water safe for that fabric. Washer load of clothes can be washed in hot water, using a laundry soap (not detergent) plus 1 cup baking soda. If colored stain remains, launder again, using chlorine bleach, if safe for the fabrics. Otherwise, pretreat or soak in a product containing enzyme or an oxygen bleach using hottest water safe for fabric, then launder.

Candle wax. Harden with ice, then remove surface wax with a dull knife. Place wax stain between clean paper towels and press with a warm iron. Replace paper towels regularly to absorb more wax and to prevent transferring the stain. Place stain face down on clean paper towels. Sponge remaining stain with a prewash stain remover or dry-cleaning fluid; blot with paper towels. Let dry, then launder. Note: If any color remains, relaunder with a bleach that is safe for that fabric.

[tanookie]

I had an entire pocket full of crayons end up through the dryer once… sigh

I had luck with relaundering in hot water with detergent and some stuff I bought at the store to remove grease. Unfortunately I don’t remember what it was called. Try looking in the laundry soap aisle for something specifically to remove greasy stains.

Good Luck