How to Remove Wax Stains

By Matt Oden | Comments | Oil and Wax Stains → Wax

However, that warm and romantic ambience can be ruined the moment candle wax drips onto the floor, your shirt, or the furniture. Knowing how to remove wax stains can help you take the appropriate steps when they are needed.

Removing Wax Stains From Non-washable fibers

If you spilled wax onto wool, silk, acetate, rayon, rope, or burlap and need to know how to remove wax stains you should take the following steps.

1. Place ice against the stain to freeze it and harden the wax.
2. Carefully remove any of the excess wax using a spoon or knife then place an absorbent pad under the stain
3. Flush the stain with a stain remover
4. Allow it to dry

If any of the wax stain remains, you can remove it by repeating the process.

Removing Wax Stains From washable Fibers

If you need to know how to remove wax stains from washable fibers such as spandex, nylon, cotton, acrylic fabric, linen, polyester, or washable wool, follow these steps:

1. Carefully scrape away any of the excess wax
2. Take the stained area and place it between two pieces of white blotting paper
3. Using a low, warm setting, iron the paper
4. As the paper absorbs the wax stain, replace it with more paper.
5. Be cautious as you iron so as to avoid spreading the stain.
6. Allow the fabric to dry
7. Flush any remaining traces of the wax with an absorbent pad and a stain remover.

Should any of the dye remain from the wax, sponge the affected area with one part rubbing alcohol and two parts water. Do not do this on acrylic fabric.

Once this is done, rinse well and allow the area to dry.

Removing Wax Stains from Hard Surfaces

If you are removing wax from alabaster, brass, cane, glass, concrete, flagstone, bamboo, aluminum, ivory, stainless steel, tin, sandstone, slate, porcelain, Plexiglas, gold, granite, iron, grout, bluestone, ceramic tile, copper, enamel, paint, marble, or sandstone, do the following:

1. You should take ice and freeze the remaining wax.
2. Scrape the remaining wax from the surface but be careful not to scratch the surface
3. Make a mixture of dish washing detergent and water and dip a sponge into it
4. Using the sponge, wipe away any of the remaining stain
5. Allow the stain to dry

Removing Wax Stains From Cork, Vinyl Tile, Asphalt, or Linoleum

If you are removing wax stains from cork, vinyl tile, asphalt, or linoleum you should follow these steps:

1. First you should take ice and freeze the wax until it hardens
2. After this, you should carefully use a spoon or knife to remove the excess without scratching the surface
3. After this take the corner of a clean cloth and dip it onto rubbing alcohol.
4. Apply the clean cloth to the stain and wipe it away.
5. Wipe the stain dry
6. Polish the surface as usual.

If you have a wax stain on your wool or synthetic carpet there are a few different steps to follow.

First you should place ice on the affected wax to freeze it. If you attempt to remove any hot wax while it is still in the liquid form it will only smear it and spread the stain.

Once the wax is frozen you should carefully remove any excess wax from the surface using a knife or spoon.

In order to prevent damage to the carpet, use a light stain treatment to lift the stain. Take an absorbent pad and blot the area until the stain is removed.

Repeat this process until the stain has been removed entirely. If any part of the dye remains on the carpet you can dilute it with a mixture of one part rubbing alcohol and two parts water, after which you should apply the mixture to the affected area.

Continue to blot the affected area well with each application and then allow the area to dry.