"Helping Your Sweatpants Go From Colorful to Clean: How to Erase Crayon Stains"
Include a panic-inducing art project in your laundry routine and things can take a turn for the worse. Crayon stains on sweatpants can be difficult to tackle but with right strategy, they can be vanquished! Learn how to get crayon stains out of your favorite pair of sweats with this guide.
Updated 21 Jun 2023
By Mateuzs Kowalski
What You'll Need
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Laundry detergent
How to Remove Crayon Stains from Sweatpants
- Start by pre-treating the stain. Combine two tablespoons of vinegar with one teaspoon of dish soap and mix until you create a paste-like mixture. Then, rub pre-treatment onto the crayon stain.
- Let the paste sit for 10 minutes before wiping it off with a damp cloth. If any of the crayon remains, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the area in a circular motion.
- After you've removed as much of the crayon as possible, it's time to launder your sweatpants. Put them in the washing machine on the hottest water setting that's safe for the fabric. Add two cups of white vinegar to the machine and then add a normal dose of detergent. The vinegar helps to break down the crayon stains.
- Once the cycle is finished, inspect the sweatpants for any remaining crayon. If more spot cleaning is needed, repeat the pre-treatment steps before putting the sweatpants back in wash again.
- Finally, allow the sweatpants to air dry or throw them in the dryer on a low-heat setting. This will help set the stain.
Additional Tips
- If the crayon stain has already gone through dryer, use a paintbrush to loosen any flakes or crust left behind before beginning the stain removal process.
- If regular dish soap won't do the trick, try using baby shampoo or oxygen-based bleach.
- Be mindful of which fabrics can withstand the heat of washing machine and dryer. Always double check labels for specific instructions.