Cleaning tips for when the kids colour way out of the lines and onto the painted walls.

It seems a white wall looks like an over-sized canvas to a child. Our resourceful research editor, Mary Levitski, shows you how to erase crayon from painted walls.
 

Cleaning steps
1 To soften the waxy markings, blow-dry them on medium heat, holding a hair dryer about a foot from the wall. This will take approximately one minute. Once the wax has softened, use a credit card to gently scrape as much of it from the wall as you can. If the wax doesn’t come off easily, heat it further until it becomes more pliable.

2 Wipe the remaining wax off with a soft sponge dipped in cold water. Scrub in a circular motion until the wall is clean. To prevent the soiled water from dripping down and forming streaks, hold a rag against the wall beneath the area you’re working on. Wipe dry immediately with a clean cloth.

3 If any crayon residue remains, mix equal parts baking soda and water to create a paste. Rub the mixture into the stain in a circular motion using a sponge. Wash it off with a clean, wet sponge and dry immediately.
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Extra tip

Walls get a lot of wear and tear from kids. To fill little dings and dents, rub a white bar of soap into them. Works for small nail holes, too!

Stylish solution
To stay a step ahead of your little Picasso, consider repainting your walls with a washable paint in a satin finish, which is more durable than a flat one. We love Valspar’s Ultra White 7006-24 (from Lowe’s).
 

Racy eraser
If you’re in a mad dash to clean up the mess, try using one of these disposable melamine foam sponges. Just wet and wipe!

Go-to
Most people reach for Mr. Clean, the pioneer of eraser sponges. Mr. Clean Original Magic Eraser Sponge, Canadian Tire, $3 per pack of 2.

Value pack
Perfect for a busy household, this budget version comes in a package of six. HDX Easy Eraser Sponge, The Home Depot, $5 per pack of 6.

Two-in-one
Clean with the white side and wipe the wall dry with the blue. Maison Maid Double Easy Eraser Sponge, Dollarama, $1 per pack of 2.