Crayon, Marker, and Glitter Stains on Kids' Clothes: What Houston Parents Need to Know

It happens every summer in Houston. The kids are home, the craft supplies come out, and by August you're staring at a shirt covered in permanent marker, a dress dotted with glitter glue, and shorts with crayon streaks from a car trip coloring session. Before you resign yourself to designating these as “play clothes,” there’s a lot you can do — and when DIY falls short, River Oaks Cleaners is here to help.

Crayon Stains: The Waxy Troublemaker

Crayon is wax-based, which means it doesn’t dissolve in water — it needs to be gently scraped and then lifted with a solvent.

At-Home First Response

1. Scrape off the excess with a dull knife or credit card. Don’t rub — you’ll drive the wax deeper into the fibers.
2. Place the stained area face-down on a stack of paper towels.
3. Apply WD-40 or dry-cleaning solvent to the back of the stain. Let it sit 2–3 minutes.
4. Work dish soap (Dawn works well) into the stain from the back, then rinse with warm water.
5. Repeat if needed before laundering in the warmest water safe for the fabric.

Missed it in the dryer? Heat-set crayon is much harder to remove. Bring it to us before attempting additional home treatments — we’ve seen many shirts recovered that seemed hopeless.

Washable Marker vs. Permanent Marker: Know the Difference

Not all markers are created equal, and the removal approach differs significantly.

“Washable” Markers

Despite the name, washable markers can still leave a faint ghost stain if not treated correctly. Pre-treat with liquid laundry detergent or a stain stick, work it in gently, and launder normally. For light fabrics, a soak in OxiClean before washing can help.

Permanent Marker (Sharpie, etc.)

These are alcohol-based and need an alcohol-based solvent to break them down:

1. Dab rubbing alcohol (70%+) onto the stain using a cotton ball. Don’t rub — dab and blot, moving to a clean part of the cotton ball each time.
2. Place the fabric over a white cloth to absorb the ink as it releases.
3. Rinse thoroughly, then launder.

This works reasonably well on cotton. For polyester blends, synthetic fabrics, or expensive items like school blazers, bring them in — alcohol can damage some finishes and dyes if used incorrectly.

Glitter and Glitter Glue: The Stain That Keeps On Giving

Regular glitter is mostly an adhesive problem — the glue holding it to fabric. Glitter glue is stickier and more stubborn.

For Loose Glitter

1. Let it dry completely if it’s wet. Attempting removal while wet spreads it.
2. Shake or brush off loose glitter outdoors.
3. Soak in warm water with dish soap for 15 minutes, then gently agitate.
4. Rinse and repeat as needed before laundering.

For Glitter Glue

Glitter glue is essentially craft glue mixed with glitter. Let it fully dry, then:

1. Peel off what you can once dry.
2. Apply white vinegar to soften any remaining residue.
3. Treat with dish soap and warm water, then launder.

Some glitter glue formulas include fabric dyes that can permanently tint fibers. If the glitter glue is bright pink, red, or neon, bring the item to us quickly — the dye component may need professional treatment.

Acrylic Paint, Tempera, and Watercolor

Summer art classes and at-home projects often mean paint on clothes too.

• Watercolor paint: Usually water-soluble. Rinse immediately with cold water, then launder.
• Acrylic paint (wet): Rinse with cold water immediately and launder. Do not let it dry on the fabric.
• Acrylic paint (dry): One of the hardest stains to remove once set. Bring it to us — dried acrylic requires a specialized solvent.
• Tempera paint: Similar to watercolor; responds well to rinsing while fresh.

When to Bring It to River Oaks Cleaners

Some situations call for professional care:

• The stain has been through the dryer (heat sets many stains permanently)
• The garment is a school uniform, blazer, or dress shirt
• You’ve tried home removal and the stain is still visible
• The fabric is silk, wool, rayon, or a delicate blend
• The item is labeled dry-clean only

We serve all of Houston with free pickup and delivery — we can pick up the stained item directly from your home, treat it professionally, and return it fresh. Schedule a pickup at riveroakscleaners.com or drop in at any of our nine Houston locations.

Quick Reference Stain Cheat Sheet

One More Back-to-School Tip

If your child’s school uniforms from last year have summer stains, now is the time to get them professionally cleaned before the new school year starts. It’s far cheaper to restore last year’s uniforms than to replace them — and uniform inventory in Houston tends to run thin by mid-August.

River Oaks Cleaners has been serving Houston families for over 35 years. We offer free pickup and delivery across the greater Houston area. Visit us at riveroakscleaners.com.