First, lightly brush or shake off as much chalk dust as possible before applying a stain remover. Next, wash in the hottest water your fabric will allow using chlorine bleach or color bleach, depending on the fabric. If the stain doesn’t come off, use rubbing alcohol and wash again.
Sidewalk chalk can bring back childhood memories but also ruin your clothes.
It’s one of those things that gets everywhere, no matter how careful the person may be, and you can end up with your favorite t-shirt or jeans covered in white chalk.
And if not treated, chalk stains can become permanent. When handling them, avoid bloating the fresh chalk stains with water as liquids can spread them.
Also, don’t put your washed clothes in the dryer before checking for stains, as dryer heat can set in the remaining stains and worsen the situation.
Without further ado, let’s learn how to get chalk and other stains out of your clothes in no time.
Does Chalk Stain Clothes?
Since it’s made of calcium carbonate, chalk can stain clothes, especially when mixed with water. It’s one of those things that gets everywhere, including clothes, carpet, upholstery, concrete, etc.
Even if the stains aren’t visible at first, they can set in over time, especially if left untreated.
Luckily, they’re not as hard to lift as you might think. With a little patience and elbow grease, you can remove these stubborn stains from almost any surface.
Can Chalk Be Washed Off?
Chalk can be easily washed off paved or poured surfaces, but you might encounter difficulties washing it off clothes, upholstery, and other fabrics, especially if they’re older stains.
Does Chalk Come Out of Clothes?
Everyone loves chalk as it’s a cheap and fun way to create colorful and temporary drawings on blackboards, sidewalks, etc.
And while it easily comes off blackboards and other outdoor surfaces, removing it from clothes is tricky unless you use the right removal techniques and products, such as rubbing alcohol, as explained in the next section.
How Do You Get Chalk Off Clothes: Quick Guide
The sooner you tackle any stains, including chalk stains, the higher your chances of success.
Therefore, as soon as you notice chalk on your clothes, scrape it off with a spoon or dull knife to prevent the stain from setting into the fabric’s fibers.
You will need a vacuum cleaner, white towel or paper tissues, rubbing alcohol, and liquid detergent.
Step 1
Lay out your clothing piece on a clean white towel. Then, dip another clean towel in rubbing alcohol, blot as much of the stain as possible, and rinse thoroughly.
Step 2
Rubbing alcohol can successfully remove the colorful chalk from various fabrics but make sure to test a small spot before going all in. Some fabrics might discolor when faced with rubbing alcohol, so keep that in mind.
Step 3
If rubbing alcohol has successfully removed most of the stain, but you can still see traces of it, add liquid detergent, stain remover, or dishwashing soap directly to the stain and let it sit for a while before washing your fabric.
Step 4
After 15 minutes, wash your clothing piece at the hottest temperature your fabric will allow. You can read the care label for instructions.
Step 5
Let your washed clothes air-dry until you’re certain the chalk stain has vanished. Remember that the dryer heat can set the stain and make it harder to remove.
If you still notice the stain after washing and drying, repeat the steps above until it’s completely gone. You can dry your clothing piece in the dryer after the next washing process.
Extra Tips and Tricks
If you’re dealing with colored chalk, you can use a small amount of Smirnoff vodka to remove it. Make sure to test the product in a hidden patch first.
If you don’t see any discoloration, proceed with the cleaning. Soak the stain with the vodka, then launder according to the care label of your clothing piece.
If you’re handling a blackboard or sidewalk chalk, you can use baking soda to clean it up. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the chalk stain, let it sit for a while, brush off the residue, and wash in the washer as usual.
How Do You Get Chalk Out of Clothes Without Washing?
Simply bloat the chalk stain with rubbing alcohol using a clean white cloth. We suggest using white cloth as some dyes can cause bleeding in your clothes.
Moreover, don’t rub the stain. Instead, blot gently so the chalk doesn’t get deep into your fabric. Keep blotting until no more color transfers from your clothes to the cleaning cloth.
Rubbing alcohol dissolves chalk, so the chalk stains will quickly transfer as you blot. You can also try liquid laundry detergent or white vinegar, as they’re equally effective at removing stains.
Once you’re done, rinse the affected area with cold water and air dry.
How to Get Rid of Chalkboard Paint Out of Clothes: 3 Easy Steps
Luckily, water-based paint like chalkboard, acrylic, and latex isn’t as difficult to clean as oil-based paint.
So, if you spilled chalkboard paint on your t-shirt, don’t fret. The following steps can help you remove it in no time.
1. Hand Wash the Paint
Leave the paint dry, then scrape the surface residue using a spoon or dull knife. Remove as much paint as possible before you rinse the clothing.
Shake the clothing item outside to let any loose paint fall off, so you don’t push it back into the fabric. Next, rinse the stains from the back under lukewarm water.
Continue rinsing until the color fades. That way, you will remove the first layer of the paint and prepare your clothing piece for the actual cleaning process.
2. Make A Cleaning Solution
Mix 1 cup of lukewarm water and a few drops of dishwashing soap. Then, stir with a spoon until foaming. Get a non-colored sponge (they’re typically yellow) and dip it in the solution.
Gently dab the chalkboard paint with the dampened sponge. Continue dabbing until the stain vanishes. Avoid rubbing as this can push the paint deeper into the fibers of your clothing.
3. Rinse Your Clothing Piece
Rinse your clothing piece and sponge under water. Make sure there’s no soap left in your clothing. And if there’s paint remaining, keep repeating the process until there’s nothing left.
Does Hair Chalk Stain Clothes?
Once you have colored a strand of hair with hair chalk, rub it with a paper towel until the color stops transferring. Then, brush your hair a few times until it’s smooth.
That way, you will remove the excess color and prevent staining your clothes. But if you stain your clothes, don’t worry as it’s easily removable.
How to Remove Hair Chalk from Clothes?
First, gently brush or shake off the chalk residue from your clothing. Then, pre-treat the affected area with a laundry stain remover. Finally, launder the piece of clothing under the hottest temperature depending on the care tag.
Always read the care tag on your garments before taking any washing/drying steps. Otherwise, you can ruin the material.
You can use chlorine bleach or color bleach if the fabric allows. Make sure the chalk stain is completely removed before putting your garment into the dryer, as dryer heat sets stains deeper into the fibers of the clothing.
If the stains persist, dab the affected area with rubbing alcohol or vinegar, and wash the garment again as usual in the washer. If the stain persists, add bleach with laundry detergent to the washer.
FAQs on Does Chalk Come Out of Clothes
Does chalk come out of jeans?
Chalk comes out of jeans if handled properly. First, put paper tissue or towel under the stain and dampen another paper tissue or clean cloth with rubbing alcohol. Blot the chalk stain from the back, then wash as usual in the washer.
Does chalk pastel come out of clothes?
Chalk pastel comes out of clothes in the washer with laundry detergent and bleach. If the stain persists, soak your garment in a bucket with equal amounts of lukewarm water and vinegar. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing and washing again.
Does chalk marker stain clothes?
Chalk marker stains clothes, but you can easily remove it with 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap. Using a sponge or cloth, saturate the stain with the solution and blot with another dry cloth. Repeat until the stain vanishes.
