6 Common Crafting Clean-Up Conundrums Solved

Crafts are a great way to de-stress, but one mistake can turn into a nightmare. Who hasn’t spilled a whole bucket of sequins or stuck fabric from a Halloween costume to their favorite pair of jeans? If this has happened to you, the “craft mistakes” on this page will help you.

1. Glitter : Glitter is the natural enemy of crafters who like to clean. This is not surprising, as glitter sticks to everything and lingers long after it has been cleaned. Always use the hose attachment of your vacuum cleaner, as glitter can get caught in the brush portion of the vacuum cleaner and leave the entire house covered in glitter.

Lint rollers, masking tape, art tape and mailing bags are also great ways to remove glitter from surfaces and clothing. Likewise, playdough and putty can be used to pick up glitter from crafts, leaving some glittered playdough for children to enjoy. This kills two birds with one stone.

1. Glue If you spill glue on fabric such as clothing or furniture, use WD-40. Yes! WD-40 can be used to fix squeaky hinges and remove glue and adhesives from fabric; apply WD-40 to the fabric, wipe off the stain, then rinse the fabric with cold water and a little mild soap to remove any WD-40 residue. Then wash as usual.

If glue spills are on a hard surface, try this removal method from Good Housekeeping.

First, gently scrape it off with a putty knife. Next, scrub with a nylon mesh scrubber and hot water. If it still doesn’t come off, use a non-acetone nail polish remover (try it on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t damage the surface), or try a commercial stain remover specifically designed to remove glue.

3 .WD-40 for crayons is also very effective for removing crayons from tables, floors and walls. To use, spray a small amount onto a rag and wipe off the crayon. Then rinse the rag, apply a small amount of soap and wipe off the remaining WD-40 again.

4. Markers Rubbing alcohol is ideal for all ink stains, including markers. Stains on clothing, table tops and skin can also be removed with a cotton ball soaked in isopropyl alcohol.

5. Paint spills If paint spills are on clothing, rubbing alcohol works well. For more serious stains, try a product called Motsenbocker’s Lift-off Paint & Varnish Remover. This product is safe to use on materials such as wood, metal, stone and fiberglass. Magic Eraser is also ideal for removing paint stains from floors and craft desks.

6. Craft Room Clutter Keeping your craft room clean can be a challenge for even the best organizers. Check out our best organizing tips, tricks and redecorating ideas. Plus, get inspired by one blogger’s very beautiful craft room. You might also consider adding a cleaning caddy to your craft room supplies. Fill the shower caddy with products you want to use immediately, such as rubbing alcohol, a lint roller, WD-40, mild soap, magic eraser, etc. That way, the next time an accident occurs, you’ll be ready to take action.