Lift Crayon And Marker Off Tables With One Handy Baby Product

Kids are messy tornadoes that don't really care how expensive your kitchen or coffee table is. If they're playing with arts and crafts, they will make your whole house their canvas, including the tabletop underneath their sheet of paper. Sometimes the artistic spirit just takes them away, you know? Luckily, if you have baby wipes handy, you can remove crayon or marker scribbles before they have a chance to do any permanent damage.

Even parents with the sharpest eagle eyes can't stop their kids from a rogue scribble or two. Little ones are fast; before you know it, you have a lopsided smiley face drawn onto your beautiful kitchen table. But before you lament the damage — or take out cleaning products that will make you work twice as hard to remove it — try a baby wipe first. If you have toddlers, you probably have those handy anyway. Here is how to do it.

If your kid went rogue with their markers or crayons, don't stress. The impulsive move might have ruined yet another piece of furniture before, but the baby wipe hack will help you get it looking spotless again. All you have to do is use the baby wipe like a paper towel. You want to make sure the wipe is sufficiently wet and loaded with product rather than semi-dry as they sometimes tend to be. Before you apply it to the table, take a second to do a spot test in an inconspicuous area, such as under the lip. That way, you can ensure the formula won't damage the material. While baby wipes are usually formulated for sensitive skin, you don't want to accidentally end up with a worse stain.

Once you know the wipe is safe to use, simply begin to wipe at the stain. It might take a few passes, but the scribbles will start to lift. If it's an especially stubborn stain, take another sheet to apply more cleaning product.

Are you curious how a baby wipe that cleans skin also helps to clean away impromptu art projects on furniture? It's simple — a wipe is a gentle cleaning product. It's formulated to lift messes. That's why it also works to raise coffee stains on your rugs or clean dust off plants. These simple sheets are usually made with gentle cleansers that specifically attract oil, which is why they lift stubborn messes that soap and water can't. Since crayons and markers are made with paraffin wax, the baby wipe's formula surrounds the oil compounds and helps lift them from the surface.

Plus, since they are formulated for sensitive skin, baby wipes rarely contain alcohol. This makes them safer for furniture since alcohol can dry out materials like wood. When the ethanol evaporates, it takes all the moisture with it, potentially damaging the piece. It can also create dull, dingy spots on laminate surfaces if left on too long, so it's best to use products like baby wipes to stay on the safe side.