You love your kids, but they sure can make a mess. Sometimes, it’s not a big deal. When things break, tip over, or spill on the table, cleaning up is usually pretty painless. Other times, however, you might come home to a more stressful surprise. Most kids enjoy expressing their creativity in various ways, like dancing, singing, and drawing. As much as you might adore your child’s artwork, it’s less adorable when it’s all over your walls.
If your children do end up scrawling all over your painted walls, don’t panic. It’s not the end of the world. In fact, cleaning these messes might be easier than you think. And even if you struggle to remove these marks, there’s always a way to make things right. Here is some advice for those parents with little overzealous artists.
Prevent it From Happening in the First Place
Before we delve into removing crayon, pen, and markers from your walls, you might want to get ahead of the problem by protecting your surfaces. Certain interior painting options are more durable, protective, and easier to clean than others. For instance, high-gloss paint is tough and easy to scrub, and paint that includes Teflon adds an additional layer of protection that’s stick-resistant.
Of course, unless you place glass doors over all your walls, nothing can completely prevent them from getting marked up if your kids decide to get naughty. But the paint you choose can make your life easier should anything happen. Aside from that home painting advice, try monitoring your kids and give them a place to draw and write freely so they’re not tempted to use your walls as a canvas.
If it Does Happen, Try Cleaning
If and when those marks make their way onto your walls, you can usually clean them with little fuss. This is especially true for crayons, pencil, and other non-permanent writing or drawing tools. Choose a cleaning solution that’s right for your painted surfaces. After all, you don’t want to damage your paint job as you clean. Do some research on which chemicals and tools are safe to use on whichever type of paint you’ll be washing.
One safe option is to combine baking soda and water into a paste. Some professional painters might recommend toothpaste (containing baking soda) for a similar concoction. Using a cloth or sponge, gently rub the area in question with the solution and see if it’s working.
When most of the marks have been removed, you may want to go over it one more time with soap and water and let the area dry. If possible, it’s best to test out your cleaning method in an unseen area first. This way, if you do end up damaging your paint job, it won’t be as immediately noticeable.
If Cleaning Doesn’t Cut it, Touch Up with Paint
Of course, not all writing utensils are created equal. Permanent markers like sharpies pose a more difficult challenge. It is possible to remove these marks using clever methods, especially if the ink is relatively fresh. However, if you simply can’t get it off, it might be time to hire a painter or do some touch-up work yourself.
That said, painting over permanent marker isn’t always easy either. You may need more than one coat to fully cover the marks. Your painting service might use or recommend that you start with an oil-based primer, which is the best option for covering permanent marker. With the right primer and paint, a couple of coats, and some patience, you’ll be able to cover up those marks. Just make sure you match the color of the new paint with the existing paint so everything blends well.
Need Help?
It’s normal to panic a little bit if your kids grace your walls with their art. Fortunately, All American Painting Plus is here to help you with all your house painting needs, including this one in particular. Our team will make sure your interiors look as good as new, no matter what happens to them. To learn more about all that we do, give us a call at (703)-620-5563!
