Laundry Tips With Jules: Conquering School Supply Stains

Julie Landwehr

Expert Contributor | Appliance Connection

Washington Neighbors Feb 2026

Shiny pens, perfectly sharpened pencils, pristine notebooks, and more are waiting in backpacks for the remainder of the school year. In a few short hours, the buses will be rolling, back to school Christmas photos will be shared, and boys and girls will be whisked off to school to complete the year.

Then the buses return that afternoon, dropping kids off with paint and markers all over their shirts, glue on their pants, and dirt rubbed into their backpacks. What is a parent to do?

It’s easy to clean many stains, smears, and smudges kids bring home with them. Check out these tips and keep your kids in tip top shape for school.

Cleaning School Supply Stains

Crayon: Waxy crayon residue washes out easily. Coat the area with liquid detergent or Dawn dish soap, which is always my go to. Rub into the material with a soft bristled toothbrush or one of our non metal scrub sponges, and let the clothes rest overnight. Then launder as usual.

White Glue: Scrape as much glue off the clothing as possible. Don’t rub, as the glue may sink in more deeply. Run cold water through from the opposite side of the fabric to flush out as much glue as possible. If the stain is old, scrape off any dry, crusty glue, then soak with Dawn dish soap or detergent in cold water for at least 30 minutes, though longer is better. Wash in warm water with detergent. If a stain remains, repeat soaking and rewash.

Ink: With a paper towel or terry cloth, apply rubbing alcohol to the stain. Dab the stain with a clean, dry cloth until the ink is gone. Rinse thoroughly, rub in some Dawn dish soap or liquid detergent, and wash in the hottest water acceptable for the garment.

Marker: To get permanent marker out of fabric, lay clothes stain side down on clean paper towels. Gently apply rubbing alcohol to the area around the stain, then apply it directly. Continue dabbing the stain with alcohol, changing the paper towels frequently so they absorb as much ink as possible. When the stain is gone, rinse thoroughly and machine wash.