My niece visited when she was three. She was quiet for maybe four minutes — which any parent knows is the danger zone. I found her in the hallway with a blue crayon, halfway through what appeared to be an abstract mural stretching from the baseboard to about waist height. She was very proud of it. I was not.

What followed was a series of increasingly panicked experiments. Here is what worked, what took off the paint, and what I wished I had known before I started scrubbing.

Start With the Gentlest Option

Before you reach for any liquid, try a dry microfiber cloth or a clean pencil eraser. Yes, a regular pink pencil eraser. Rub it over the crayon marks using light pressure. The friction breaks down the wax and the eraser picks it up. This removes most of the crayon without touching your paint at all.

For large areas, a magic eraser dampened with water also works — but test it in an inconspicuous spot first. Magic erasers are micro-abrasive and can dull glossy or satin paint finishes.

Heat — The Wax’s Weakness

Set your hair dryer to medium heat and aim it at the crayon marks for about 30 seconds. The wax softens. Immediately wipe with a paper towel. The crayon should come off in one clean swipe. If any color remains, follow up with the eraser or magic eraser.

This is my go-to method now. It takes a little patience but leaves the paint completely untouched.

WD-40 — Sounds Weird, Works Great

Spray a small amount of WD-40 onto a cloth — never directly onto the wall — and wipe the crayon marks. The oils in WD-40 dissolve wax. After the crayon is gone, clean the area with warm soapy water to remove the oily residue. Do not skip that last step or you will have a greasy spot that attracts dust.

What Will Damage Your Paint

Do not use acetone or nail polish remover. Do not use rubbing alcohol on a scrubbing pad. Do not use any abrasive cleaner like Comet or baking soda paste. All of these will strip the paint, not just the crayon. I learned about the rubbing alcohol the hard way — there is a slightly duller patch on my hallway wall that reminds me every time I walk past.