Appliance Repair | What to Do About Crayon or Ink in the Dryer

Mar 3

Opening your dryer and finding melted crayon or ink surrounding your warm fluffy clothes is both alarming and frustrating. First, take a deep breath and give yourself (or your crayon-loving kid) a break. You can fix this and be able to freely use your dryer again soon.

We have some simple steps that can resolve your inky or crayon coated dryer issue so you can get back on your weekly laundry routine (sarcastic yeah!).

How to Get Ink Out of the Dryer

Here are some things you can try to remove ink from your dryer. Start at the top and continue down the list until you reach the step that works.

Run the empty dryer on the hot setting for at least 15 minutes

Unplug the dryer to prevent electrical.

While the inside of the dryer is still hot, use an old towel to see if you can remove the ink. If this doesn’t work, go to the next step.

Mix a few squirts of dish soap with some warm water. Dampen the towel with the liquid or use a spray bottle to apply the liquid to the ink-stained area. Wipe the area with the old towel to remove the liquid, and the stains.

Try a melamine “eraser” sponge to remove the stains. They have proven to be very effective for removing stains.

Spray the stains with a fabric stain remover, let it sit for about 30 seconds, then wipe with an old towel.

If these steps fail to remove the stain you might be tempted to use a stronger household cleaner to get the job done. One of the first ones that comes to mind is bleach. Bleach is a corrosive chemical so use it with caution.

If you decide to go this route, soak some old white towels with diluted bleach and run them through a full cycle in the dryer. Once the full cycle is complete the inside of your dryer should be dry, but just check to make sure. If it is dry, use a clean white towel dampened with water to completely clean the inside of the dryer drum (to remove any bleach residue)—otherwise, the next load of laundry may stain.

If the ink still won’t come out, make a cleaning paste with powdered laundry detergent and water. Spread it over the ink stains, let it sit for a minute, and wipe it off using small circular motions. If this doesn’t work, call an appliance professional for advice.

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How to Get Crayon Out of the Dryer

Here are some things you can try to remove ink or crayon from your dryer. Start at the top and continue down the list until you reach the step that works.

Run the empty dryer on the hot setting for at least 15 minutes

Unplug the dryer to prevent electrical.

While the inside of the dryer is still hot, try scraping off the softened wax with a rubber spatula. If this doesn’t work, go to the next step.

Mix a few squirts of dish soap with some warm water. Dampen a towel with the liquid or use a spray bottle to apply the liquid to the ink-stained area. Wipe the area with the old towel to remove the liquid, and crayon.

Try a melamine “eraser” sponge to remove the stains. They have proven to be very effective for removing stains.

Rub a gentle abrasive cleaner all over the dryer drum, such as a paste made with water and powdered laundry detergent. Scrub it with a sponge. Then wipe with a clean, damp cloth.

A Last Resort

If you have tried all of the steps above without success, then it might be time to try a few less conventional options. If all else has failed, you can try spraying some WD-40 or a degreaser on a microfiber cloth. Then wipe the crayon stains until they lift off. Finally, rinse the dryer drum extremely thoroughly with water, dish soap, and a clean cloth to remove any residue.

Wondering what to do about those ink or crayon-stained clothes? Here are some tips for removing ink from clothes and fabric and instructions on how to remove crayon that should put a smile on your face.

Oops—Crayon Goo in the Dryer Ventilation

Here’s how to get melted crayon out of the dryer vent:

Pull the dryer away from the wall and unplug it to prevent electrical shock. If you have a gas dryer, be sure not to disturb or damage the gas line.

Remove the metal tape or clamps that are holding the dryer duct/pipe onto the unit’s exhaust. Carefully pull the pipe away from the wall duct. Inspect the dryer exhaust, pipe, and wall duct for crayon residue so you know exactly where to clean.

Use a hairdryer to heat the crayon residue.

Before the wax cools again, use a silicone dish scraper or stiff spatula to scrape it off.

Heat everything up again with the hairdryer. Repeat the scraping process.

Heat everything a final time. Wipe off the dryer ventilation with a rough cleaning rag.

Related Topic: How to Clean a Dryer Vent

Dryer Cleaning Products to Avoid

Now that you know how to remove ink or crayon from the inside of your dryer, here are some cleaning products you should never use on the inside of your dryer because they are highly flammable in liquid and aerosol form:

Acetone (e.g., nail polish remover)
Rubbing alcohol
Hairspray
Other products that are labeled “flammable”

Additionally, always follow these safety guidelines:

Always unplug your dryer before cleaning it.
Avoid spraying aerosol products like WD-40 directly into the dryer. Don’t use these products at all if your dryer has a pilot light.
Always rinse your dryer drum thoroughly so leftover cleaning product doesn’t stain the next load of laundry.

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