The toothpaste & hairdryer crayon buster

You will need

• White non-gel toothpaste (e.g. Colgate Regular) · Woolies/Coles, ~$2
• Old soft toothbrush · Any old one from the bathroom drawer
• Hairdryer · Any household hairdryer
• Magic Eraser (melamine sponge) · Bunnings or Woolies, ~$5 for a twin pack
• Damp microfibre cloth · Bunnings ~$3, or any soft cloth from home
• Small bowl of warm water

Step 1

Warm up the wax first

Hold a hairdryer on medium heat about 5 cm from the crayon marks for 20–30 seconds. The wax in crayons softens with gentle heat, making it much easier to lift off the wall without smearing. Don't overheat — just warm to the touch is plenty.

Step 2

Toothpaste scrub for crayon

Squeeze a small blob of white non-gel toothpaste onto the old toothbrush and gently scrub the crayon marks in a small circular motion. The mild abrasive in toothpaste lifts the wax without damaging standard painted walls. Wipe away residue with a damp cloth as you go.

Step 3

Magic Eraser for texta/marker

Dampen the Magic Eraser slightly with water and rub gently over any texta or marker lines using light, even pressure. These melamine sponges are surprisingly powerful on marker ink — go easy so you don't dull the paint sheen. Work in small sections and rinse the eraser regularly.

Step 4

Wipe clean and check

Once the marks are gone, wipe the whole area with a clean damp microfibre cloth to remove any toothpaste or residue. Step back and check in good light — repeat either method on any stubborn spots. Let the wall dry fully before deciding if a touch-up paint is needed.

The stop point

If the marks have soaked deeply into raw or unprimed bare plaster, or if the paint starts peeling or pilling as you scrub → stop and call a painter to repaint that section rather than risk making it worse.

Mendy calls tradies for you. Your first booking is free, then $3.50 a booking.

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