House painting in Danville is no easy job, especially if you have to hide flaws in the surface. Nothing is more frustrating than removing crayons from the walls when you’ve got little children in the house. Kids are just kids trying to explore their creative side. Unfortunately, a spotless wall is a sure target for them to turn it into a canvass.

If your children have left artwork on your walls, you may wonder if you can you paint over them. Unfortunately, crayons have a wax-resist effect. Painting alone won’t magically make the crayons disappear because when the paint is dry the wax displaces the paint and will appear again. Yes, even if you apply several layers of paint, it won’t cover the crayon.

But don’t lose hope. Luckily, there are ways to remove crayon marks on the surface when you are house painting in Danville. Surprisingly, the materials are easy to obtain and many of them are found just inside your home.

WD-40
It is true that WD-40 is an automotive lubricant often called “the miracle fluid” because it has so many uses including removing any kinds of stains. Spray a small amount of WD-40 on a clean cloth. Next, wipe the crayon marks with the cloth. Or spray the WD-40 directly on the crayon marks. For stubborn crayon marks or older stains, it may take more effort to remove them.

There’s also another WD-40 product called the WD-40 No-Mess Pen. The product doesn’t leave messy residue and can be washed off after the crayon is gone. Just be careful when rubbing it off because the marks may damage the paint’s surface.

Baking soda
A damp cloth or rag dipped in a small amount of baking soda is another option. Gently scrub the crayon. The marks will come off almost instantly.

Toothpaste
Get regular toothpaste, not a gel type, and a rag. Squeeze toothpaste directly onto the wall. Gently scrub the wall and then rinse it when the crayon marks are gone.

Pencil erasers
You can also try pencil erasers to remove crayon marks. Be sure to clean any residue left after erasing.

Steel wool
Aside from cleaning pots and pans, steel wool is also a good item to remove crayon marks. Rather than scrubbing in circles, skim the surface with the steel wool. Use straight strokes in one direction. Your walls will be clean in no time. Be sure to use gentle strokes to avoid scraping the paint on the walls

Vinegar
Pour undiluted vinegar in a bowl and soak an old, unused toothbrush in it. Use the toothbrush to scrub the crayon marks. The vinegar will cut through the majority of the oil used to make the wax.

After removing the crayon stains and washing the surface, let it dry. Then check to see if waxy or oily marks are left.

Some oil-based stains will require new paint; crayon stains, despite being oil-based, may not need it. Try any of the cleaning methods and chances are the stains will be removed.

But in case you still find waxy or oily marks, here are some ways on how to remove them:

1. Apply a good quality primer over the remaining oily marks. For surfaces covered with latex paints, use a latex primer. Use an oil-based primer for walls with oil-based paints.
2. Allow the primer to completely dry, but at least for four hours. Check the area periodically to see if oily marks are visible through the primer. If you can see the mark, another coat of primer is needed. Be sure to let it dry before checking again.
3. When the primer is dry and you no longer see oily marks, you can begin to repaint.

If you accidentally scraped one of the outer layers paint while removing the stain:

1. Lightly scrape or sand to remove loose paint. Then prepare the surface as usual.
2. Apply drywall compound with a putty knife over the areas that have been scraped. A thin coat of spackling paste can also be used. Allow either to dry.
3. After the drywall compound or spackling paste is dry, sand it until it is smooth. Make sure to sand the areas completely and remove residue before you apply primer, drywall texture, paint.
4. Apply a primer, if necessary. This will ensure the paint sticks to the surface properly.
5. After the primer has dried, you may add a fresh coat of paint.

If you notice your child has left crayon drawings on the wall, don’t get angry. Instead, take a picture so you can appreciate their creativity, and then consider these helpful tips the next time you need house painting in Danville.