Crayola products are always my first choice when picking out art supplies for my boys. When they started a large project that involved a lot of gluing I picked up the Elmer’s Glue Sticks since they were available in a multi pack at my local office supply store. The glue was good and worked great but the small white caps always seemed to get lost or misplaced. I remembered picking up some of the Crayola Washable Glue Sticks when the “back to school” sales were gearing down but couldn’t remember where I put them. Knowing that they boys were only half way done with their project I decided to pick up a few packs of these glue sticks so I wouldn’t have to worry about missing caps, dried up glue sticks and wasted money.

Wal-Mart and Target usually have the best prices for the individual sticks but if you are looking to pick up a dozen of them, check your local office supply store first and save some money buying them in bulk. As long as the packages are still sealed or the caps are on tight you shouldn’t have a problem with the glue drying out however if you do open one of them then and the top part is dry – here is a quick fix. Twist the base to expose about an eighth of an inch of the glue stick then take a sharp serrated knife and slice off the top. If the rest of the stick is still dry, return it to the place you purchased it from for an exchange. Make sure you wash the knife promptly to avoid having to pick at the pieces of glue.

The Crayola Glue Stick

What’s non-toxic, washable and blue? The Crayola Washable Glue Stick of course! The best feature of this glue stick is that it goes on blue but dries clear. This makes it easy for kids to see areas that they have already applied glue to as well as parts that still need attention. The size of the stick - about three and a half inches long by three quarter inches wide – makes it easy for kids to use and the wide base serves several purposes. The first is a stand up base that keeps the glue stick close at hand and it can be slipped on the back part of the glue stick when in use. Second, it makes it almost impossible to lose. Lastly, it keeps the glue stick in plain view and close at hand when kids are doing projects. The boys have never had any trouble leaving the cap off for about a half hour and having the end get tacky or drying out.

The nifty little window on the side of the stick allows you to see exactly how much glue is left on the stick. Until this was added to glue sticks you had to sit there and crank the base to push up the stick to see how much life it had left. The window is only about a half inch long so you won’t know you are close to running out until the white plastic base is visible in the window. It would have been easier to just make the whole side panel clear so you would know exactly how much was left at all times – not just when you are close to running out. If you want to keep close tabs on the amount of blue left you can slice through the plastic film that covers the outside of the glue stick, trim off the section where the window is and re-tape the label back on.

The stick itself is easy to use and provides a nice strong bond for use on papers, with glitter or sparkles, thin sheets of cut out foam, cardboard and construction paper. These sticks are great for making collages, school projects or general everyday uses. I really prefer these over bottled glue since it isn’t as messy and clean up is a snap. If you are wondering about the “washable” factor I can say that I’ve never had a problem getting the glue off of clothing, kids or the table. Follow the instructions for washing clothing [printed on the back of the cardboard packaging] and you shouldn’t have any trouble. To remove the glue from tables wipe the surface with a slightly damp sponge as soon as possible. If it dries you might have to use a little bit of elbow grease combined with a kitchen scrubber. To remove from kids – use a mild hand soap and warm water.

You can find these in the school supply section of most major stores [K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target etc]. These come packaged on cardboard cards and are usually near the crayons and pencils on a hangtag. Prices range from $1.19 to $.149 depending on where you purchase them. If you are going to purchase more than a few of them at a time they are also available in larger bulk packs of 12 at office supply stores or directly from the Crayola online store.

Things To Know

If you get a build up of glue around the outside of the stick don’t grab a paper towel and try to wipe it off if its already dried and turned clear. All you will end up with is a huge mess [trust me on this]. Try peeling off the dried glue with a butter knife but retract the glue stick first so you don’t end up with glue everywhere. You can always check the side of the stick to see how much glue is left [through the small window] so you can decided if it is worth the effort to try and peel off the glue or pitch it in the trash. Making sure that the cap is put back on properly is something to try and enforce with the kids since this will almost eliminate having to clean the outside of the stick.

The Bottom Line

These have been a real lifesaver for my boys. They really like the wide base that doubles as a glue stick stand which means no more lost caps. If you have a child that loves to create things and are currently using a liquid type glue you might want to check out the Crayola Washable Glue Stick for a quicker clean up time and more control over where the glue goes. The suggested age for this glue stick is five and older, however with parental supervision kids under the age of five could easily use this. It’s non-toxic, washable and easy to use – and it’s the only slue stick out there with it’s own upright stand! It might cost a few cents more than other brands but it is well worth it in my opinion.


As always, thanks for the read!

^V^ Freak ^V^

© 2003 Freak369


Other Crayola product reviews …

Crayola Create a Kid

Crayola Click Em On Washable Markers

Crayola Twistables





Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): See Review
Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: Whole Family