Crayons+Dryer=Big Mess

So late last night I was going to throw in the last load of laundry into the dryer before bed when I realized we had BIG problems. I was unloading the dryer and found a big blue spot on a random sock. No panic yet as thinking maybe someone marked on it by accident but I started to get a bit more alarmed as I pulled out one of S's dresses covered in blue and green. I started to hyperventilate wondering what on earth had happened and then I saw IT. A big red crayon melted to the side of the dryer. Not noting any red at this point on clothes had me worried. The more clothes I pulled out the more colors started to emerge on the mostly light very heavily loaded load of laundry. Blue socks, green spots on shirts, and red spots on more shorts, dress shirts and slacks. Seriously at this point it was midnight and I was ready to snatch the kids out of bed and demand who on earth put crayons in their pockets before I washed their clothes! So I sat in tears cleaning out the swirly colors melted in the dryer and then surveying the rest of the clothes. I was beyond upset. We had just gone to the lovely cash only system to pay down some of W's school loans and I knew there was no replacing any of this stuff for a long while. Not to mention my favorite shorts were in there. So I got to googling thinking there was no way anything was going to take all this mess out. Some had mentioned WD-40 on the spots but I had used that before and it left an awful smell on the clothes (still think their secret ingredient is fish oil) and I had lots and lots of clothes with lots and lots of spots. Anyway I came across nothing short of a miracle. Life is good again and most of the clothes appear to be saved (not to mention whichever kid decided to load up their pockets with what appeared to be an entire box of crayons). Going to send the clothes through another round with the miracle potion before I dry just in case. So if you ever find yourself sitting alone in the laundry room in tears with clothes covered in crayon or god only knows what else give this a try. How on earth did we live without google?
Big old mess crayon remover recipe
-2 capfuls of highly concentrated laundry detergent any kind
-1 cup Oxyclean powder
-1/2 cup Borax (found near the bleach in the laundry isle)
-1 cup shout (I used spray and wash)
-1 cup vinegar
Mix it all together in the washer and then throw clothes in hottest water you have. I let it sit for about 2 hours turning it on to cycle every 30 minutes or so then washed on the longest cycle possible.
After all is said and done it looks like I have completely saved 80% of the clothes. Thinking one more round of the miracle concoction and it may be even better. Seriously on some things you can't see a bit of crayon and my whites are whiter than they have ever been.

So off to start another round of laundry and definitely checking all the pockets first and now I know why you should never mix your clothes with the kids clothes!

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