Notebook 1

From The Housewife's Notebook:

Hint #1 Never give your small child bath crayons to play with in the bathtub.

Hint #2 Tired of the look of your current bathroom? Want to jazz it up without the trouble and expense of a complete remodel? Try bath crayons! In just seconds these little wonders will make that boring white tub grout unrecognizable! And unlike house paints that need to be touched up every few decades, these colors are INDELIBLE. They are guaranteed not to rinse, wash, scrub or sandblast off. Select from your choice of Algae Green, Mildew Blue or Bacterial-Swamp Red, or mix-and-match for a fun Fiesta Slime effect!

Bleh. Lemme know if you want in on my Class Action suit. "Bathtub safe" my round white moon...

Comments

[Kate W.]

Yikes! Have you tried the Mr.Clean Magic Eraser? It is great! It has gotten things spotless for me. Unfortunately, I have a Picasso that likes walls, doors, dining room tables... etc. Good Luck!

[Elizabeth]

Clorox bleach pen will get the grout back to white!

[Jessica]

You forgot 'Livin' In The Petrie Dish Yellow' - how nice it is that my three year old can leave artwork that we can enjoy for the rest of our lives......
And I was so blithe about it. 'O, honey, relax, these are BATHTUB crayons!!'

[Erica]

I've had excellent luck geting rid of two-week-old bathtub crayon marks by using the Clorox Bath Wand, but we don't have grout. We've got a floor-to-ceiling textured tub, which presents its own set of dilemmas.

[wix]

try undiluted simple green, and if that fails, break out the clorox (but not on the same day!). you might also try a paste of oxy-clean. let us know if you find something that works!

[Jessica]

Magic erasers really are magic, I second that suggestion. And wish I had tile with grout, instead of nasty fiberglass (I think) pre-fab showers and tubs. Bleagh.

[KellyH]

Yup, Clorox Bath Wand and the Magic Eraser. Can't beat 'em.

[Cat, Galloping]

I actually tried these when I was, er, in high school I think. My guess is that it's still there, at least in the grout, but I can't say for sure because my parents have moved since then. They never said they moved because of the bath crayon experiment, but I have my suspicions.

[Jessica]

I had the same exact problem a few months ago. I made a paste of baking soda and equal parts bleach and water. I brushed it on with an old toothbrush and used the mr. Clean Magic Eraser to scrub it off. It took a bit of elbow grease, but it worked.

[jen]

Ooh, I wondered if those really worked. Thanks so much, y'all, for finding out for me so I don't have to worry about my own tile.

[Karen, Suburban Mommy Disguise]

Exact same issue...I suggest you skip the Colored Fun foam! as well.

Clorox Pen in the grout lines...Mr. Clean Magic eraser for the rest. I can't tell you what a freakishly good time my husband and I had the first time we tried those babies. We wiped out every wall smear in the house.

Bonus! They actually get those textured fridge handles and surfaces clean!

[Kat]

Eeeks, thanks for the heads up. I'm still dealing with the not-so-washable Washable Crayons from Crayola.

~kat

[kate]

Another vote for Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Those things are AWESOME.

[Ellie]

Yeah, we tried these. Once. The fiberglass came out dingy grey, and please make sure you've washed the towels immediately or they'll have their own marks. Holy crap, why do they sell those things?

[Denise]

Thank goodness I don't have tile and grout, my daughter loves the crayons and fun foam, life wouldn't be the same without them!!

Magic Eraser is wonderful, so is the clorox bath wand... it's a cleaning dream and makes everything sparkling!

Of course, I do have some problem spots, the bottom of my tub is textured... it's my own private hell, but I have discovered a way to clean even that! You know those wonderful body gloves you buy to exfoliate your skin??? Yep a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands and those little gems over top. It's great, you can use your fingers and get right into those trouble areas.

I guess you guys don't want the recipe I found for home made bath crayons...

Good luck!!!

[BeckiK]

Oh yeah, I totally want in! I hated those things! Scottie loved them. Notice "Loved."

[julia]

Ooh! Glad you warned!

[Kristine]

I could never decide if it was worth the half hour or so of peace and quiet I got when I gave my daughter the bath crayons. Of course, I don't have grout so my clean up time was a little less. Still a pain though.

[Diana]

Well, good to know. That's one unopened, "Saved from all the gluttony of Christmas for a bored day" present that will go straight to the trash without being opened.
Thanks.

[Eli]

So glad to get the warning. I have almost bought those crayons a number of times and some little voice inside of me always says no. Now I won't even hesitate.

Thank you so much for the corn and chicken soup recipe...YUMMY! It is delicious!

[Mollie]

I think I tried to make my own "soap crayons" from a recipe in a book called "Fun Kids" or something, circa 1977. My memory is that the pigment was extremely weak, and streaking soap onto everything was neither artistically satisfying nor fun to abate later.

I'm a real scrooge when it comes to stuff like that with my own kids. Happily, Nico is none the wiser, as he sits in his unadorned bath, playing with his homemade wooden boat, his "submarine" (actually the Vac-u-vin™), or his, um, genitalia. Poor deprived son of a bitch.

[Sherry]

Re Crayola Washable Crayons:

When I was a kid, I thought that the fact they my felt pens were washable meant that I could wash them under a tap, with the lids off.

Boy was I wrong.

[Mandy]

Our friends brought their daughters and some of those crayons with them when they came in December, swearing to me "oh it comes right off." yeah....in March.

Another handy use for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser? Getting gunk off of white tennis shoes.

[Tonya]

Another vote for the clorox bleach pen- it is bleach that is in gel form, so it clings nicely to the grout. We don't have the crayons, but we do have the fingerpaint. Similar results to be had, unfortunately.

[Liz]

On the topic of housewifery, but off the topic of bathtubs, I made your chicken and corn soup last night for my Tuesday lunch group (Soup Group -- we take turns making soup) and it was excellent!!! It got rave reviews. Thanks for the recipe.

Liz

[Chi Zit]

I'm with the Magic Eraser folks. Although, be warned: THE MAGIC ERASURE ERASES ITSELF.

Seriously. I scrubbed down one wall that had Crayola's name all over it - the Magic Eraser was whittled into tiny bits by the end.

Loved this:

"Bleh. Lemme know if you want in on my Class Action suit. "Bathtub safe" my round white moon..."

[pharmgirl]

OMG. I just bought some of those. Well...back to Target you go, my lovelies!

[Planet Mom]

I hear you. Fortunately, we don't have the grout issue to contend with, but those blasted tub crayons really wreaked some major havoc in our household, too. Believe me, I feel your pain. Perhaps I should have taken note of the wry little smile my sister-in-law wore as she presented them as a gift last Christmas. That is SO not funny.

Of course, it was the very first time our decorating crew, Seek and Destroy, had laid their crafty little mitts on them, eager to demonstrate their artsy flair. Naturally, I was beyond impressed with the picture of energy and vibrance they had splashed mural-style all over our tub/shower combo. I even had the presence of mind to snap a bunch of damned-awfully-cute photos to preserve the Kodak moment forever. (If and when my wretched computer ever returns from the infirmary, I could e-mail you some of those digital wonders--let me know if you're interested).

How was I to know their masterpiece would later refuse to leave the gallery anyway? Live and learn, I guess. After scrubbing with voluminous amounts of Tilex for an hour or so (long enough that the smelly stuff made my head spin), I emerged victorious. Not one speck of those blasted colors remained.

In closing, I will offer but two words of wisdom: Never again.

[Planet Mom]

I hear you. Fortunately, we don't have the grout issue to contend with, but those blasted tub crayons really wreaked some major havoc in our household, too. Believe me, I feel your pain. Perhaps I should have taken note of the wry little smile my sister-in-law wore as she presented them as a gift last Christmas. That is SO not funny.

Of course, it was the very first time our decorating crew, Seek and Destroy, had laid their crafty little mitts on them, eager to demonstrate their artsy flair. Naturally, I was beyond impressed with the picture of energy and vibrance they had splashed mural-style all over our tub/shower combo. I even had the presence of mind to snap a bunch of damned-awfully-cute photos to preserve the Kodak moment forever. (If and when my wretched computer ever returns from the infirmary, I could e-mail you some of those digital wonders--let me know if you're interested).

How was I to know their masterpiece would later refuse to leave the gallery anyway? Live and learn, I guess. After scrubbing with voluminous amounts of Tilex for an hour or so (long enough that the smelly stuff made my head spin), I emerged victorious. Not one speck of those blasted colors remained.

In closing, I will offer but two words of wisdom: Never again.

[Planet Mom]

I hear you. Fortunately, we don't have the grout issue to contend with, but those blasted tub crayons really wreaked some major havoc in our household, too. Believe me, I feel your pain. Perhaps I should have taken note of the wry little smile my sister-in-law wore as she presented them as a gift last Christmas. That is SO not funny.

Of course, it was the very first time our decorating crew, Seek and Destroy, had laid their crafty little mitts on them, eager to demonstrate their artsy flair. Naturally, I was beyond impressed with the picture of energy and vibrance they had splashed mural-style all over our tub/shower combo. I even had the presence of mind to snap a bunch of damned-awfully-cute photos to preserve the Kodak moment forever. (If and when my wretched computer ever returns from the infirmary, I could e-mail you some of those digital wonders--let me know if you're interested).

How was I to know their masterpiece would later refuse to leave the gallery anyway? Live and learn, I guess. After scrubbing with voluminous amounts of Tilex for an hour or so (long enough that the smelly stuff made my head spin), I emerged victorious. Not one speck of those blasted colors remained.

In closing, I will offer but two words of wisdom: Never again.

[Planet Mom]

I hear you. Fortunately, we don't have the grout issue to contend with, but those blasted tub crayons really wreaked some major havoc in our household, too. Believe me, I feel your pain. Perhaps I should have taken note of the wry little smile my sister-in-law wore as she presented them as a gift last Christmas. That is SO not funny.

Of course, it was the very first time our decorating crew, Seek and Destroy, had laid their crafty little mitts on them, eager to demonstrate their artsy flair. Naturally, I was beyond impressed with the picture of energy and vibrance they had splashed mural-style all over our tub/shower combo. I even had the presence of mind to snap a bunch of damned-awfully-cute photos to preserve the Kodak moment forever. (If and when my wretched computer ever returns from the infirmary, I could e-mail you some of those digital wonders--let me know if you're interested).

How was I to know their masterpiece would later refuse to leave the gallery anyway? Live and learn, I guess. After scrubbing with voluminous amounts of Tilex for an hour or so (long enough that the smelly stuff made my head spin), I emerged victorious. Not one speck of those blasted colors remained.

In closing, I will offer but two words of wisdom: Never again.

[Planet Mom]

Sorry for the multiple posts. No one ever said I was technologically gifted.

[Chris]

SHAVING CREAM! That is, if you have a fiberglass tub surround, the answer is SHAVING CREAM! After encountering this problem, I tried the Magic Eraser, which looked like it would work after months of scrubbing. Some vague memory of shaving cream as a cleaning agent came to mind as I finished a shower one day, and I put a handful over the crayon. Specifically, Gillette Foamy Regular shaving cream. The next day, without any scrubbing whatsoever, the crayon was absolutely gone. The shaving cream was still there, it was still perfectly white, somehow the color of the crayon just magically disappeared. I wiped the cream away and the fiberglass looked better than ever (seemed kind of shinier). It worked so well, I plan to keep using the crayons for what I intended (learning Spanish, as in "lather, hablaron--you were speaking, rinse, repeat").