Husband bought himself a high-def, widescreen, flat monitor for his birthday, after months and months of tracking sales prices. He really, really wanted it. And I have to admit, the picture is awesome.
And then our 18 month old climbed up onto the desk with a crayon.
A washable crayon, thank goodness. I gently swiped the crayon off with alcohol. So now the obvious stuff is gone, but what do I do about the smudges? DH hasn't noticed yet, but it's only a matter of time... I don't think he'll be mad, but he did suggest that maybe the crayons should be locked away until needed. I hate to stem creativity (thee is allways paper available, too), but I'm not looking forward to the "I told you so," either. Help!
How do I get the smudges off the monitor!
Happy day! I cannot believe it didn't occur to me to ask the manufacturer. Wow. Anyway, I shouldn't have jumped straight to rubbing alcohol to get the crayon off (I did it because that's what I usually use. that, or Windex, but I knew not to use that on the monitor...) I was super lucky that all it left were some water-spot type smudges, which a plain old microfiber cloth (from the eyeglasses dept at Wal-Mart) took right off. Whew. I don't know for a fact that some of the anti-glare coating didn't get damaged, but it's not visible if it did. I will not use alcohol on it again, I can tell you.
I'm amused - not offended, just amused - that everyone assumes a climber is a boy. Meet my daughter.
The crayons are kept in a box accessible to our four-year-old. She can open them, the baby can't. It is her creativity I do not wish to hamper. Guess who finally learned to share?
Where was I? Teaching the older child how to write and to solve mazes. Which is why she got the crayons out in the first place.
The desk is built-in, with locked drawers. It won't fall over. The monitor cable is anchored tightly to the wall. There is no slack. It is not going to fall over. I wasn't aware that the circumstances of the event were necessary fo the question, though I do appreciate everyone's concerns.
yikes, that's a tough one. The monitor is very sensitive and you are only supposed to use a damp cloth to wipe them, no chemicals. Try some really warm water on a soft dish cloth and see it that helps. Then take a dry cloth and keep wiping the smudge, it may come up with the dry cloth.
Good Luck... you are so busted, lol.
First I would contact the manufactorer to see what is "safe" product wise. Others were suggesting Vinegar-you already used alcohol but none of us here actually are aware of the potential further damage you could do-then how mad would the hubs be? Anyways call them and find out. One thing I have found to take crayon out is Goo-Gone but its an oil-based formula I think and wouldn't recommend it without checking first.
Ignore those other posters here slamming you for NOT being there. As a mother of twins it is entirely impossible to be with your child every single second around the clock-its just impossible. My daughter broke her arm and you know what I was upstairs folding laundry. Her sister pushed her off the couch and they had done this on several occassions even though instructed by mom NOT TO DO SO with nothing ever happening before but this ONE time she landed just right and it broke the elbow when she landed. It was accidental-that is why they are called "accidents". I guess other mom's children have never had a single scrape, cut, bruise or god forbid they fall on a pine comb but its okay then because WHERE WERE THEY AT WHEN THIS HAPPENED?? Oh right there then that makes it all okay right? Maybe I had to use the bathroom -Oh I guess I am supposed to take my child with me in there too right? No no thanks-i'll pass on that one. Sorry to be so sarcastic but some people.............
I had to laugh out loud when I read this, it brought back a memory of when our little girl was about a year and half, watching Finding Nemo while I cooked dinner, I look up and our whole flat screen TV was yellow.... She tells me "Nemo wanted to color with me", haha!!
But I have LCD cleaner I got at Bed Bath and Beyond, it took it right off, with No smudges.... Good Luck, and I promise you, you will laugh about it pretty soon :-)
Hi there~
We've been here many a time with our 2yo. Even though we pick up her crayons religiously she always manages to find one somewhere. I don't have eyes in the back of my head and occasionally have to turn away from my kiddo to prepare lunch or pick up another toy or whatnot. These things happen.
We use Endust for Electronics Screen Cleaner. It says right on the container that it is specially formulated for LCD and Plasma screens. Not sure if you have an LCD or Plasma but the Endust I just mentioned works well for both and it dries streak free.
Good luck and hope this helps. :-)
I would try a damp wash cloth or the product MommyP suggested. And don't let these other moms get to you. Someone always finds a way to bash a mom when they are asking a question. Like they are with their kids 24/7. God forbid you have to use the restroom and leave your child unattended for a couple minutes. I do agree to put the art supplies up though.
You need to talk to the manufacturer. It could be you've cleaned off some anti glare coating along with the crayon.
I'd be more worried about child accidentally knocking the monitor over on himself. Climbing toddlers are nerve wracking because they are just exploring but they don't realize the dangers they can put themselves in. You have to be extra vigilant about watching them.
At that age, my son got a hold of a Sharpie marker and proceeded to create a mural on the wall behind a reclining chair that was his hidey hole. First, I took a picture. Then I cleaned it. I hair sprayed it. I striped it. Took the paint off the wall - the Sharpie STILL was there. You don't even want to know how many coats of paint it took to cover it completely (> 7). Toddlers! You've got to love them but they challenge you in ways we never dreamed of.
Why not phone the store where the screen was purchased and tell them what happened? I know that on our boat, the screens for radar and such are VERY sensitive as well, and they have a special solution we use to keep them clean, so perhaps there is a solution you can buy from the store?
hugs,
A.
They make a special cleaner for flat screen monitors and TVs. You can buy it just about anywhere. Ours came with a special cloth too.
On the issue of the crayons, trust me...put them up. Have a designated area where he's allowed to color. It's not stifling creativity, it's teaching him boundaries. It's not appropriate to color on anything other than paper. No matter how well behaved your son is, it's just too tempting to color on the table, the walls, the monitor, the floor, the carpet, every door in the house, etc. I'm speaking from experience here. I made the mistake of leaving my girls alone with crayons while I went to the bathroom. In a matter of minutes they (ages 3 & 15 mos) had decided that the table looked prettier purple, the white trim would match better if it were blue, and my bathroom door was a great place to draw smiley faces. Luckily, it was all washable, but now the crayons are put up until we have art time.
man babies can get into the weirdest places in no time flat! i would call both the crayon company and the high def company. see if they have a suggestion that is the same or compair the crayon suggestion to the t.v. maker. see if they agree or if it would hurt the tv more! good luck.
Call the manufacturer... they have "help lines" for these situations.
Also, there is no reason to have art supplies available at all times if supervision isn't also available at all times. 18 months is young to trust him to color only on paper... by himself....climbing on furniture. Yes, I'm being judgmental here... WHERE WERE YOU?
Put the crayons in a box. My son is 2.5 and when he wants to color or use stickers, he will grab his floor paper tablet and say "crayons please". It's not stifling, but he is just now understanding what crayons are for.
Be proactive b/c some things won't come off so easily and wax on a monitor screen may be one of them.
keeping your son & your home safe is not "stemming creativity"......!!
Call the mfgr & see what they recommend. Hopefully the situation can be salvaged!
