Will a Magic Eraser Remove Crayon from Walls? Here’s How

Magic erasers are some of the best tools for various messes, but they don’t work for everything. Their abrasive melamine foam can be too much for some surfaces. However, they can be perfect for cleaning crayon marks and other drawings if you know how to use them.

A magic eraser will remove crayon from walls if you wet the foam and gently scrub the crayon marks. Don’t use magic erasers on newly painted walls or those with wallpaper. The abrasive magic eraser could scuff the walls, which means you’ll have to repair them.

In this post, I’ll explain the step-by-step process of removing crayon from walls with a magic eraser, what you need to know beforehand, and what walls you shouldn’t use magic erasers on.

How to Remove Crayon from Walls With a Magic Eraser

To remove crayon from walls with a magic eraser, follow this method:

1. Wet the magic eraser to prevent it from crumbling or scratching the walls. Magic erasers are much more effective when they’re wet. Failure to soak the magic eraser with water will make it too dry to use. It’ll scratch the walls and weaken the eraser to the point of being unusable.
2. Test a small patch of the wall with the melamine foam before working on the rest of it. Mr. Clean recommends scrubbing a tiny patch of the wall, preferably something that’s out of sight. While magic erasers are fine to use on most walls, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
3. Scrub the crayon marks on the wall with the magic eraser. Circular motions are the preferred method for most applications. However, you can scrub up and down, as long as you don’t push on the magic eraser too hard. Too much pressure makes it less effective.
4. Rinse the foam to get rid of the debris from the crayon. Magic erasers get saturated with debris quite quickly. Run the product under water for a few seconds, squeeze it, and make sure there aren’t any marks, mold spores, and other debris on the foam.
5. Repeat the process until the walls are cleaned and there are no marks left on them. It might take a couple of magic erasers if there’s a lot of crayon marks on the walls. The only downside of using melamine foam on walls is that the foam isn’t the strongest material (but it’s well worth it).

The Mr. Clean Durafoam Magic Eraser is the best magic eraser on the market. It’s from the company that brought melamine foam to the forefront of the cleaning industry. One pad lasts up to four times longer than the competition. You don’t need any cleaning chemicals with this product.

While magic erasers work well on walls, they might not remove crayon marks from fabric. Magic erasers can clean fabric, but waxy crayons get a little too deep. You might also have trouble removing oil from fabric and other porous surfaces with a magic eraser.

Can Magic Eraser Be Used on Painted Walls?

Magic eraser can’t be used on painted walls because it’ll remove the paint. Some walls are made with stronger paint, so you could test a small area with a magic eraser. However, it’s not advised to use magic erasers on old paint or wallpaper.

Family Handyman suggests not using magic erasers on any painted walls. I fully agree with this claim because it’s not worth damaging the paint or wallpaper. You could use a sponge with an all-purpose cleaning solution for less abrasive results.

Using melamine foam on the wrong surface can make the magic eraser fall apart. Stone walls, brick walls, and similar surfaces are great for magic erasers. These erasers remove the top layer without damaging the material.

Magic erasers work by removing a thin layer that’s usually unnoticable. They will remove the layer of crayon before scratching the wall in most cases. However, painted walls strip apart much easier than durable, non-painted materials.

What to Know Before Using Magic Erasers on Walls and Floors

Before using magic erasers on walls, floors, and ceilings, it’s important to know what you should avoid. These abrasive foam pads can worsen the damage, so you don’t want to be better off without them. There’s no use in worsening the scuff marks with a magic eraser on these surfaces.

Here’s what you should know about removing crayon from walls with a magic eraser:

• You can remove mold, crayon marks, and many other things from walls with melamine foam. Once you get the hang of using magic erasers on walls, you’ll more than likely want to use them all over the place. They can remove lots of debris, but make sure it’s listed on the product’s description.
• Never use a magic eraser on old, torn walls. The abrasive material can shred the paint, wood, and other materials that make up the walls. While magic erasers are great for most walls, it’s not worth damaging older structures.
• Soft, repetitive motions are much more effective than harsh pressure with these cleaning products. Pressing too hard will damage the foam and increase the chances of scraping the wall. You only need light scrubs to remove waxy crayon marks from walls with a magic eraser.
• Weigh of the pros and cons of name-brand Magic Erasers versus generic brands. Mr. Clean makes the most effective, strongest magic erasers on the market. However, you can choose off-brand magic erasers (also known as melamin foam) to get them in bulk.
• Don’t use harsh cleaning products with magic erasers. Too many harsh chemicals will weaken the melamine foam and make it impossible to use. The foam will crumble and deteriorate very quickly. Instead, only use water for most cleaning applications.

Final Thoughts

Magic erasers are abrasive and highly efficient. Don’t use them on walls with new or chipping paint, or those with wallpaper. Always use gently scrubbing motions when cleaning a wall with magic erasers. Once the crayon is removed, check the walls for small scratches from the melamine foam.