No, You Cannot Has Nice Things
April 23, 2008
So...does anybody happen to have any tips for removing orange crayon from a brand-new camera's optical viewfinder and live-preview screen thing?
Just wondering.
(KILLMURDERHEADSMACK!)
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Too Funny! Try "Goof Off"
I want to say try olive oil. I shouldn't hurt the camera. Good luck :)
Check out this site. I freakin' LOVE these things, they work on EVERYTHING, even when they're dry!!
http://www.ultramicrofibers.com/instructions.html
Wow. I thought those things only ever happened to me. Try Pledge Multi- Purpose Wipes, safe for electronics, glass etc. You might need to use your fingernail (covered by the wipe) to scrape at it a bit. Good luck.
Um yeah, we can't have anything nice in our house either. Life with a toddler.
I'd start with just rubbing it with a flannel receiving blanket. I've taken of crayon with flannel on other objects.
Good Luck!
Darn you, Elmo's World. My TV has similar decorations around its frame. Niiiiiice. If you're red and furry.
I agree; a soft cloth should work. If not, try computer monitor cleaner, like iClear.
Oddly enough, baby oil. Just put a little bit on a paper towel or soft cloth and wipe away. Something about the baby oil softens the wax in the crayon and makes it easier to wipe away. I hope this helps!! Poor new camera!
How about vinegar? It cleans crayons off of walls... it might work for the camera.
Oh no he didn't. What do you do in this situation? Do you yell? Calmly explain that crayon belongs on paper, not on expensive electronic equipment? Or just have a drink and be thankful that at least you didn't pay for it?
Gah! At first I thought that was a huge crack (which is what our camera has, naturally).
Oy vey.
Try an iron on the lowest setting with a papertowel (or two) in between to absorb the wax. I've done it hundreds of times!
I have the answer! Dryer sheets work great for getting crayon off hard surfaces!!!!!
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser?
Okay. For about a month now, I've been toying with the notion of asking you what camera you use, as I love your pics!! Now, I know! See - procrastination DOES pay!!
Try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser?? it worked on the fridge and tile kitchen floor in our house. :)
As mentioned previously, I'd try an oil of your choice. Works well for getting crayon of non-porous surfaces.
Your experience is exactly why I dread getting anything nice until all my children are older - maybe when they move out???
Oh, FUCK.
I agree with the person who said just rub it off with a cloth. I've noticed when my kids color on our table, if I catch it before it's been there a week, it will rub right off. Beyond that, Magic Eraser works wonders, although I'm not sure if you'd want to use it on your fancypants A300.
Oh my.
File this under "Guilt." Bring it up later when he's a teenager and wants to spend Mother's Day with his friends.
It is a pretty drawing...
water, a little soap and wash cloth?!
Yes... Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser. I'd be surprised if it didn't do the trick!
microfibre all the way.... just dampened with a little water should do the trick!
Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser! Removes crayon from everything I've tried it on....
Goo Gone. I can't believe you have a two-year-old and haven't discovered it!
I am sitting here and feeling so bummed for you...why would your husband do such a thing?! juuuust kidding, wish I had some suggestion to help
I would recommend avoiding any oils or solvents, as they are a bitch to get off the screen and could damage your hardware.
My advice: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and a teeny bit of plain old water (just enough to dampen) will save your life - and your shiny new toy.
You can thank me later - say by letting me buy us a pitcher of non-alcoholic beer to share at BlogHer. Pregnant and suffering together!
try the soft cloth no liquid first. Then move up to goof off or some other kind of orange oil (neighbor just used it to get pens off of walls). I personally have found the baby wipes (Costco brand) are magnificant at getting crayon, pen, highligher off of pretty much everything. When in doubt (or when he gets ahold of a sharpie--rubbing alcohol).
Now--you may only keep your camera up in high places so he can't do that one again!
That was your PSA for the day, go have some wine, you deserve it!
Goo Gone or maybe Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
Use one of those eyeglass cloths (the soft blue ones) or some tissue paper.
You could also try taking said toddler and tying them upside down from the ceiling by their feet until they turn 18. Just a thought!?
I don't know - but that makes me want to cry - and it isn't even my pretty, pretty new toy!
Good luck and please update as to what worked. (I still have a 3 year old hanging around the house - who knows what kind of mischief he could still cause!)
i agree with the goo gone theory and it smells good too. its the bestest!!
I'd avoid the Magic Eraser because it's abrasive and could scratch the display. I'd first try cleaning it with whatever you use on your monitor. And I truly hope the "iron and paper towels" suggestion was a joke because ironing your camera? GAH!!
Then I'd possibly discard all crayons in the nearest receptacle.
I agree with the Goo Gone theory. A little goes a very long way, and it works well on crayon and sticker residue. Orange oil based, I think.
I just died a little bit for you. I'm insanely jealous of your new camera (and your bee-photographing skillz), but I'm afraid to shell out for a nice camera because, um. I likes to drop thingz.
A new camera....?
Or Goo-Gone
This happened to our video camera. A slightly damp magic eraser took it right off. All hail the magic eraser!
Um, yeah. I think I'll be keeping that DSLR of mine in the bag until my kid hits puberty. Or maybe until she goes to college.
I lost a pair of eye glasses to my kid last fall. They're like ninjas, those toddlers.
Plain old rubbing alcohol on a qtip. try not to use an abrasive cloth cause it will scratch the hell out of that screen. They do make screen protectors, they are worth the money. I have a 2 and 5 year old and my camera has been through the crayons, paint, and playdo.
Alcohol and soft cotton, like a nicely used tshirt. Don't use goof off - that damages plastic.
Your preshush, your preshush.
If you don't mind the toxicity, lighter fluid or WD40 will do it.
Oh no!! I would just be beyond livid. No advice for getting it off, but I would be careful if you decide to try the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser because as some previous commenters mentioned it can really make a mess of certain surfaces if you scrub too hard.
EWWW!! I have used the Magic Eraser to remove crayon from kitchen cabinets very effectively. Not sure if it would work on electronics.
Wow! I figure everyone's already covered the removal hints, but after you get it off, maybe get some PDA screen protectors and slap one on (pain to cut into the right size tho and not too possible for the optical viewfinder). Not that I've ever gotten crayon on my lcd screen thingie, but I do sometimes throw my camera in my bag with my junk and it seems to work pretty well. :)
oh nooooo. gah.
Baby wipes. The answer is always "baby wipes".
I hope you post what your solution was. I'm dying to know which one of these suggestions worked.
LOL! Irony has to count for something here. I can't stop laughing about this, although I am SO sorry it happened to you. Yeah, I would go the baby wipe way to try, and then proceed to Goo Gone once your patience and wipe inventory is exhausted. Ban the crayon!
Seriously. WD-40. Spray it on a paper towel and then wipe the screen. It will work.
Ah no! not the camera!