Removing Sidewalk Chalk From Clothes

Sidewalk chalk is made for writing on brick or concrete, but sometimes, it will end up on your kid̵7;s clothing. Don̵7;t panic if you find your son̵7;s brand-new jeans decked out with a colorful array of chalk lines. Remove sidewalk chalk from clothing with products you likely already have at home.

  1. Rubbing Alcohol

    • Commonly used in first aid, rubbing alcohol has a place in the laundry room, too. It can be used to effectively remove sidewalk chalk from clothing. Place a stack of paper towels on the counter, table or other hard surface. Place the clothing -- stained side down -- onto the paper towels. Moisten a rag with rubbing alcohol and use it to blot the back side of the chalk stain until chalk is no longer being lifted from the fabric. Flip the clothing back over and apply dish soap to any remaining stains. Rub it in, let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes and then wash the clothing as usual.

    Pre-wash Stain Removal Product

    • Depending on the amount of sidewalk chalk on the clothing, a simple washing with a pre-wash stain removal product -- spray or stick -- might be enough to do the trick. Apply the stain removal product generously to the chalk stain. Let the stain remover sit on the spot for about five minutes and then wash the clothing in the hottest water safe for the fabric.

    Vinegar

    • White vinegar will get rid of sidewalk chalk stains on clothing. Mix together equal parts warm water and white vinegar into a bucket. Place the clothing in the bucket and swish it around to rinse away the chalk. Once the chalk is gone, rinse the clothing with clean water and then launder as usual.

    Oxygen Bleach

    • Oxygen bleach is a color-safe alternative to chlorine bleach. It̵7;s also gentler, so it is less likely to deteriorate fabric when applied directly to the garment. To make a sidewalk chalk stain remover, mix oxygen bleach and warm water together to form a thin paste. Rub the paste onto the sidewalk chalk spots and then launder the garment.

    Other Tips

    • Use chlorine bleach for machine washing if the clothing is white and it̵7;s safe for the fabric or use oxygen bleach for colored or more delicate fabrics. Refer to the label on the bleach for specific measurements. Always use the hottest water safe for the fabric when laundering clothing stained with sidewalk chalk. Hot water will help to lift the stain from the garment. Shake the garment before attempting stain removal to get as much of the chalk off as possible or use sticky tape to lift the loose chalk from the fabric. Avoid rubbing the stains, as this may only spread the chalk into the fabric.

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