How to Remove Pencil Marks from Painted Walls

Parents often allow their children to use pencils over ink pens because an occasional indiscretion against the walls is easier to clean than the staining properties of the ink. Most of us have experienced the occasional Picasso on the wall experience when raising children. While pencil marks are easier to remove than crayons or ink, it’s easy to damage the painted surface beneath if you’re not careful. If you have pencil art on the walls, but you’re not sure how to remove it without damaging the finish of the paint, we have a few solutions for your to try. Here are five methods for safely removing pencil marks from painted walls.

1. Baking soda cleanser

Local Cleaning Services confirms that a simple solution of baking soda is an effective method for removing pencil marks from painted walls. It’s a powerful cleaning substance that is known to remove stains gently and thoroughly. Pour out about a tablespoon of baking soda into a small bowl. Add warm water and stir until it is well mixed. Dip a soft clean dish towel or cleaning cloth into the solution. Gently rub the area on the wall that has the pencil marks. Use gentle pressure so you don’t peel the paint off the wall. You only need a small amount of the solution on the cloth. The less moisture, the better. Continue gently rubbing the mark until it is completely removed.

2. Toothpaste solution

White toothpaste is a powerful cleaner for removing pencil marks from painted walls. The ingredients in the toothpaste that cleans your teeth are also effective for removing pencil marks from painted surfaces. It’s simple to apply the toothpaste. Squeeze a small dollop from the tube onto a clean soft cloth. Gently rub the part of the wall with lead marks. Dip the other end of the cleaning cloth in clean water and gently rub the surface of the wall to remove any residue leftover from the toothpaste. The marks should come off completely without damaging the finish of the paint. It’s best to use toothpaste with a smooth texture with no colorings or grit. Gritty toothpaste may damage the delicate surface of the paint. Avoid rubbing it too hard as most kinds of toothpaste contain mild abrasives that may cause damage to the delicate surfaces of some paint.

3. Use a pencil eraser

Hunker explains that in most cases of pencil marking on the wall, it’s as easy to remove the lead marks from painted surfaces as it is from paper with a pencil eraser. The trick to effectively using an eraser on a painted surface is to use gentle pressure. Start working on one end of the pencil mark and move to the other end. You can use the kind of eraser on the tip of a pencil or a larger one for multiple pencil marks on the wall. You may also use an art gum eraser for delicate paint surfaces. It’s a softer eraser that is less likely to damage thin paint. You can also use a suede stone to remove pencil marks. It’s essential to avoid crisscrossing the pencil mark when rubbing it. You may drive the stain deeper into the paint. It’s best to continue working from one end to the other.

4. Magic Eraser

If the other methods do not remove the pencil marks from painted surfaces, you may need to resort to a more intense removal method. You can purchase various brands of Magic Erasers, such as the Mr. Clean version add an extra element of cleaning power. Arty Pod cautions the more heavy-duty approach means you will need to take extra care on latex or matte paint surfaces to avoid damaging or marring the finish. Dip the corner of a melamine foam eraser or a Magic eraser into the water just to wet the tip. Start at one end of the mark, gently rubbing with the tip of the eraser, taking care not to loosen the paint. Move from one end of the other to the pencil mark until the entire stain is lifted. You may wish to dab the area with a soft cloth to remove any leftover residue.

5. Mild detergent

Some stubborn pencil stains are easier to remove if you use a mild detergent to loosen them. Choose a detergent that is labeled as mild to avoid damaging the painted surface. Mix it with clean water to further dilute the detergent. You only need to use a small amount. Some mild detergents contain small amounts of solvent that loosens the carbon molecules and makes them easier to wipe away without removing the paint beneath. There is a technique that works well when taking this approach. Dip a soft clean cloth in the diluted detergent solution and start gently rubbing at the beginning of the pencil mark. Follow the line of the mark as it was applied to the wall. Gently rub in the direction of the mark and follow it from the beginning to the end with a gentle loosening motion. Dab the moisture away from the painted surface shortly after rubbing to avoid loosening the paint beneath. If the stain is not completely removed, you can also use a mild dry cleaning solvent. This is the last resort as solvents may be harsh and damage painted surfaces if you’re not extremely careful.

Final thoughts

Most pencil marks on painted walls are easy to remove with a simple pencil eraser. The key to taking off the mark without disturbing the paint is to work from one end of the mark to the other with gentle pressure. There are several ways to remove pencil marks from painted walls, and while most of them work without a lot of effort, some deep marks that gouge through the paint to the drywall beneath may require removal of the stain, a bit of plaster patching, sanding, and a touchup using the same paint.