Candle wax spills look bad. The major concern while removing the candle wax is not to damage the surface. This guide explains how to remove candle wax from various surfaces.
Walls
Things You Will Need
- Hairdryer
- Plastic ruler
- A clean cloth
- Water
- Vinegar
Procedure
Use a low-medium setting on your hairdryer to melt the wax. Extra heat can damage wall paint or texture.
- Heat the wax with a hair dryer to soften it.
- Wipe the softened wax as much as possible with a clean cloth or paper towel.
- Prepare a cleaning solution by adding 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water. Spray the solution on the walls to remove the wax.
- Wipe the wax with a clean cloth. Do not use any abrasive or pointed object to scrape wax because it can damage the walls.
Unpainted Wood Wall
- Harden the wax using an ice pack or ice cubes (in a sealable plastic bag) for 1 minute.
- Scrape solid wax using an old credit card or blunt plastic scrapper.
- For finished wood walls: add 1 part hot water and 2 parts distilled white vinegar in a bowl. Dip a microfiber cloth and squeeze it until damp. Wipe the residual wax and clean it with a clean, dry cloth.
- For unfinished wood walls: Scrub the wax with water and baking soda paste with an old toothbrush while applying gentle pressure. Work with the grain of the wood and finish the cleaning process by wiping the spot with vinegar and water solution. Dry with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
Wallpaper
It can be tricky based on the type of wallpaper you have. We recommend you work gently to avoid fading/discoloration and test the cleaner on a hidden spot.
- Harden the wax using an ice pack and scrape it with an old credit card or a blunt plastic scraper. This method is effective in removing wax from vinyl-washable wallpapers.
- Only perform this step if all the wax doesn’t come off. Place 4-5 paper towels over the wax stain. Press the towels for 15-20 seconds with an iron on medium settings to transfer the wax to paper towels. Replace the paper towels and repeat the process until all the wax comes off.
Wooden Floors
Things Required
- Ice pack
- Credit card/plastic ruler
- Wood floor cleaner
- Wooden floor wax
Procedure
- Harden the wax with a hair dryer. Avoid using a hair dryer to remove melt on wooden floors.
- Scrape off frozen wax with a plastic ruler or credit card; don’t use anything that can damage the floor.
- Use your floor cleaner to remove any leftover wax.
- Polish the floor with your regular wooden wax to restore the shine.
Carpet
Check the cleaner on a hidden spot before cleaning the stain; we don’t want you to discolor your carpet. Always use mild cleaners to clean a carpet.
Things You Will Need
- Iron/hairdryer
- Paper towel/brown paper bag
- Ice pack
- Any dull knife/butter knife
- Carpet cleaner/rubbing alcohol
- Vacuum cleaner
Procedure
- Freeze the wax using an ice pack. You can also place ice cubes in a plastic bag over the wax. Skip this step if the wax is dry.
- Scrape the wax using a butter knife or any dull object that can remove the wax. Skip the next step if all wax is removed in this step.
- Place a paper towel or brown paper bag over the wax and heat it using medium settings on a hairdryer or an iron. This melts the remaining ice and transfers the wax to the paper towel. Repeat this step if needed.
- Clean the waxed area with rubbing alcohol or a commercial cleaner to remove the remaining wax and stains. See the instructions on the product to see how it is used.
- Vacuum the carpet once it is dry.
Upholstery
Removing candle wax from upholstery is similar to removing wax from carpets.
- Place an ice pack on the candle wax to harden it.
- Use a butter knife to remove the frozen wax from your upholstery.
- Place a paper towel or brown bag on the wax stain.
- Iron the stain to melt the wax over the paper towel.
- When wax transfers to the paper, change it.
- Blot the stained area with rubbing alcohol or with any good commercial cleaner.
- Vacuum in the end to remove any leftover residues.
Fabric
- Remove large wax pieces using a butter knife or a blunt object that won’t damage the fabric.
- Place paper bags above and below the waxed spot.
- Iron with medium settings to transfer the wax to paper bags. Replace the bags and repeat if needed.
Glass
- Scrape wax from glass using a butter knife or a plastic scrapper that won’t scratch glass.
- Use a hair dryer to soften the wax; remove the softened wax with paper towels.
Candle Wax Spills Protection
- Keep candles at least 15-20 centimeters away from the walls.
- Always use a drip tray with candles. Drip trays are much easier to clean than walls, floors, carpets, or upholstery.
- Cup the flame before blowing it to prevent splattering.
- Check that candle is in a solid state before moving it.
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