Outdoor activities are never better than in summer, but there are those days when it's too hot to remain in the sun. Little ones must come in and, in turn, have to find more stationary forms of entertainment. For many families, this means the craft box comes out. Crayons, markers, pens, and paint open up exciting avenues for creativity, but can leave a mess on your floor. Follow these tips to keep your household both clean and creative!
1) Get Crayon Off Your Floors!
Linoleum:
rub some mayonnaise on it and let it sit for several minutes. Wipe it away and you're done!
Tile/Finished Hardwood/Vinyl:
All-purpose spray and wipe away!
Carpet:
Start by scraping off any large clumps of crayon wax with a dull knife. From there, place an ice cube in a plastic bag and run it over the spot to freeze any remaining wax. Place a clean cloth over the area and gently press a WARM iron tip against the cloth. This should cause most of the wax to transfer onto the cloth. If any of the stain remains you can sponge the stain and clean it with a bit of dry-cleaning solvent.
2) Get Ink Off Your Floors!
Hardwood:
Squirt some whiting toothpaste (with baking soda is preferable) on the area and scrub it with a toothbrush. Let the toothpaste sit on the spot for a few minutes, then wipe it up.
Tile/Vinyl/Linoleum:
Apply some all-purpose spray to the area and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe it away with a clean cloth and see if there is any remaining ink. If there is, you can cover the area with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol and rinse with water.
Carpet:
Spray some hairspray onto the stain to soften the ink. From there you can BLOT (don't rub) the ink with a clean cloth. Finish cleaning with a vacuum.
3) Get Marker Off Your Floors!
Carpet:
Rub some rubbing alcohol into the stain and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Blot the marker stain away with a clean cloth, then repeat as needed until the stain is gone.
Hardwood:
See tip for getting ink off of floors.
Vinyl/Linoleum:
Saturate a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently rub the area with the cloth. Finish by dabbing the area with a damp sponge and let it dry.
4) Get Paint Off Your Floors!
Hardwood/Vinyl/Linoleum:
Scrape off as much of the paint as you can, than rub the area vigorously with a rag covered in rubbing alcohol.
Carpet:
If the paint is still wet you can simply blot the area with a moist paper towel. If, however, the stain has had time to dry you should apply a solution of warm water and dish detergent to the area and let it soak for a bit. Scrape away the paint once it has softened and repeat as needed.
Tile:
Scrape away whatever paint you can gently and then wipe any remaining residue with a damp cloth.