How to Remove Candle Wax

We love to use candles in our homes for various occasions as candlelight creates a nice ambiance. However, when heated candle wax accidentally drips on any surface like carpet or furniture, it causes ugly stains on them. There is no doubt about the fact that removing candle wax is not that easy because usual cleaning options like scrubbing, scratching or washing does not help. However, it is not an impossible task either.

How to Remove Candle Wax Spills

Candle wax spills on a carpet is a common occurrence. Besides, wood furniture, glass, leather and fabric may also get stained with wax drips. A few effective solutions for wax removal are as follows:

Method #1
To begin with, heat the regular clothes iron at its lowest setting. Cover up the wax spot with a few paper towels. Apply the heat of the iron on it. This heat will melt the underlying solid wax which will then get absorbed into the paper towels. You have to change the saturated paper towels a number of times so that all the wax comes out of the carpet. You can also remove candle wax from clothing made of washable fabrics following the same technique. If any greasy stain remains on clothing, use a commercial product for stain removal.

Method #2
Sometimes you need to get candle wax out of the carpet without using any heat as the heat may cause damage to the fibers of the carpet. This may happen if the carpet is made of synthetic fibers. In that case, you can freeze the wax in order to remove it from carpet. There are special commercial products available that can effectively freeze candle wax. Alternately, place an ice cube on the spot. The hard and frozen wax should be picked up immediately with the help of a blunt spatula. If some small pieces of wax are still there, then vacuum the area. After the debris are cleaned, you may notice some dye stains of candle wax on the carpet surface. For this kind of carpet stain removal, prepare a carpet cleaning solution by mixing up one part of rubbing alcohol with two parts of water. Apply a few drops of the solution on the stain and blot out the spot with white paper towels. Once the stain is gone allow it to dry.

Method #3
To remove candle wax from leather or suede surface, you have to first apply ice cubes on the affected part of the leather. Take a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and place it on the spot. This helps in hardening up the wax. Thus scraping out the wax from the leather surface becomes much easier. If some residues of wax are left behind, then prepare a thick paste of fuller's Earth and water. Apply this paste on the stain and wait until it becomes dry. Then brush off the dried particles from the area using a soft bristled brush. If the stain is stubborn, you may have to repeat the application. After leather cleaning, you must apply a good quality leather conditioner.

Method #4
To remove candle wax from a wooden surface, as usual, you have to apply ice packed in plastic bag. Scraping out hard wax from wood is a bit tricky as any sharp object can cause gouging of the wood. A plastic credit card or ruler is a more effective tool for this job. Then wipe the wood surface with a soft, damp cloth. Use a chamois cloth to buff the wood. Finally, gently rub a furniture oil or cream on the treated area.

Method #5
Layers of wax often stick to the glass votive of candle holders. To remove candle wax from glass, put it inside the freezer for 8 - 10 hours. Now, use a blunt butter knife to loosen up a hardened layer of wax. While prying out the wax from the glass, just take care not to apply too much of force as it can cause cracks or scratches on the glass surface. In case, any residues of wax is still there, wash off the glass with hot, soapy solution.

Thus you can see that the best way to remove candle wax from any surface is by freezing the wax. In order to get best results from these techniques you must take prompt action if wax spills on the floor or on any other surface.