My parents purchased my daughter a large chalkboard a few years ago, but she rarely used it until now. Since she started first grade the chalkboard has been working overtime as a scratch pad, canvas, and billboard. The problem is that she doesn’t always erase her lists and masterpieces in a timely manner. Rather, she simply draws or writes over her existing marks. The chalk dust accumulates, sits for days and can be a pain to remove.
This week I decided to deep clean the board in order to return it to its original shine. I started off by rubbing it with a clean eraser. Unfortunately, that method didn’t remove all of the marks, so I tried using a lint-free chamois. When that didn’t work I figured I needed to use a commercial cleaner. Endust sprayed on a cloth, then applied to the board seemed to do the trick. I liked the way the chalk lifted without leaving behind a bunch of streaks and uneven spots.
A friend of mine suggested I use Dusteze Chalkboard Eraser Vacuum Cleaner in order to rid my erasers of built-up chalk. Apparently, you can extend the life of your erasers and subsequently your chalkboard if you use the vacuum cleaner on a regular basis.
Personally, I plan to stick with the Endust method, though you could opt for homemade cleaners if you don’t want to purchase commercial alternatives, such as Zig Chalkboard Cleaner, Prang Hygieia Chalkboard Cleaner and Amrep Misty Chalkboard Cleaner. For example, some people swear that used dry sheets work like a charm to lift chalk from boards. Ditto for dry dusting cloths.
You can also make a chalkboard cleaning solution from water, vinegar and a little lemon oil. If you choose to go with this method, just remember to wait until the board is completely dry before writing on it. Drawing on a wet chalkboard will cause the chalk to adhere to the surface and make it very difficult to remove.