Candles and candles are decorative elements, but stubborn wax stains are not. Here are X solutions to show you how you can easily remove candle wax using simple tricks.
Removing wax stains with homemade solutions
Romantic candlelight dinners, happy birthdays and Christmas parties sometimes have one thing in common: candles. However, if the candles are blown out too forcefully or the wax begins to drip uncontrollably, it often results in stubborn wax stains on your clothes, tablecloth, or even carpet. But there is no need to panic. The tablecloth should not be thrown away, nor should the furniture be moved to hide the wax stain on the carpet. Affected textiles can usually be cleaned.
1 – Remove wax stains: let cool
Always let the wax cool first. This way you won’t do any more damage. Because if you try to remove the wax right away, you will only spread it more and by spreading it like this, it will penetrate more into the fabrics, which would be the exact opposite of the desired effect. So wait before starting the first manipulations.
The cold helps remove wax stains. Cold makes candle wax hard. You can simply put tablecloths, cloth napkins and clothes in the freezer overnight. The next day, the frozen wax crumbles relatively easily. If there are still wax residues in the fabric, it is sufficient to wash the textiles at 60 ° C – if the fabric allows it – in a washing machine. For larger textiles or rugs that won’t fit in the freezer, try cooling the wax stain considerably with ice blocks or ice cubes.
2 – Remove wax stains with a knife
Roughly remove the wax. Once the candle wax is sufficiently dry and hard, the top layer of wax can be removed. To do this, you can use the cold technique or you can scrape gently with a sharp knife, being careful not to damage your support.
3 – Remove wax stains: use blotting paper
If the stain’s wax layer is only thin or you’ve already removed most of it, the remains can be easily removed with blotting paper. To do this, place a sheet of paper under the wax stain and one on top. Gently iron over it with an iron at medium heat and without steam to warm the wax. The blotting paper should absorb the liquid wax.
You can then discard the paper. If you don’t have blotting paper on hand, paper towels or similar absorbent materials will also work. If you still see traces of wax, wash the fabric at 60°C – again, if the textile allows it. With colored wax, opt for the cool solution instead. Because by liquefying, the colored wax can transform the color of your fabric. In this case, it is better to use the cold solution.
4 – Remove wax stains: with a hair dryer
You can also easily remove wax stains with a hair dryer. The hair dryer method is particularly recommended for delicate fabrics or curtains. Simply place blotting paper, paper towels or a towel over the wax stain. Use the hot air from the hair dryer to melt the wax. The wax is absorbed by the paper and “sucked” out of the fabric, so little or no residue remains.
5 – Remove wax stains: cold mixer and hair dryer
In the case of smooth leather, wrap a few ice packs or a freezer bag with ice cubes in a cloth and place them on the wax residue for a few minutes. Then the candle wax can be carefully peeled off with your fingers. If it is suede, a little more effort is needed: cool the affected area again and remove the wax roughly, then carefully heat the remaining residue with a hair dryer and rub it with absorbent powder – chalk dust or magnesium powder for example. Finally, simply vacuum up the powder.
6 – Remove wax stains on the skin with oil
Do you epilate with wax? It may happen that residue remains on the skin. Removing them with your fingers can be painful and not very effective. Fortunately, there is a much easier way to remove wax residue: oil. This method works with all types of wax, whether it’s hair removal wax or spilled candle wax. It doesn’t matter what oil you use. The oil penetrates under the wax and makes the skin slippery, so the wax can then be easily removed. Hair removal kits often contain a treatment oil to remove wax residue. You can also purchase a special wax removal formula. These contain ingredients that loosen the wax from the skin. But it also works with baby oil, massage oil or even cooking olive oil.