Archive for the ‘removing candle wax from furniture’ tag
How to get rid of candle wax
Candles are nice to have around, and they come in handy during storms and other times when there is no power, but dripped candle wax is a pain to try to remove. It hardens and sets into fabrics, carpets, tables, tablecloths and dishes. If the candles are colored, the coloring (dye) stains. But with time and patience, candle wax can be removed.
Is there a way to prevent candle wax problems? Yes – a few preventative measures will help to avoid these problems:
Cheap candles always have different additives in them. These additives causes stains that are worse than if you bought better candles. The best candles should be nothing but paraffin wax, scent, color, and steric acid. Steric acid helps the candle burn away so that there is little to no candle wax dripping.
There are candles that are called “dripless” candles. But if they are placed near a draft (heater, vents, fans, open windows) – they will drip.
Always use a candle holder for your candles. Be sure to use one that is large enough to hold any dripped wax that may spillover. And don’t move a candle if you have just put it out – wait until the wax has solidified again to prevent any mishaps.
But things happen and candles do drip. Once the hot wax drips from the candle, it often dries quite suddenly upon hitting another surface.
If the hot wax has landed on clothing – you won’t get the wax out by laundering. As a matter of fact, if you do try to remove it by laundering you will find that the wax will break up and end up all over the inside of your washer! And picking at the wax can often damage the fabric. There are those that believe that if they stick the article of clothing in the freezer to freeze the wax it will be easier. But you will still need to use a butter knife to pick at the frozen wax – and that can damage the fibers.
The best way to remove wax without making a bigger mess and still doing it safely and easily would be to use heat to remove the wax and the stain. Place several paper towels on the ironing board and turn your iron on a low/warm setting. While the iron is heating, place the stained fabric on the paper towels; top with another paper towel (over the stained area) and gently glide the iron over the surface of the stain (and over the paper towel of course!). You should only have to pass the iron two to three times for the heat to melt the wax. The melted wax transfers onto the paper towel and when lifted off the fabric the wax is on the paper towel instead of the fabric.
This will work regardless of the size of the wax stain. Just be sure to use the lowest possible heat setting if your fabric is delicate – you don’t want to damage the material. But this is a good hassle-free way of removing wax from fabrics and clothing and also good for removing the stains from your cloth tablecloths. Some tablecloths that have candle wax stains will hold up to the use of mineral spirits. Just test a small spot on the material to make sure it won’t damage the fibers. Place on the stain and let sit for 15 minutes, launder as usual using bleach.
If you have a problem with candle wax that has dripped on your carpeting, you cannot use the method with the paper towels and the iron. If you have Berber rugs you will end up with burn marks. Also if your carpeting is nylon, the heat will melt the fibers. You can try using cloth or a paper bag over the stain and ironing very lightly, being careful because the bag will catch on fire. You will need to keep the iron moving. Brown paper bags work well. You can use the steam from your iron as well without letting the iron touch the carpeting at all. Place a paper towel over the stain so that it transfers onto the paper towel.
If you happen to spill wax on your countertops, place ice cubes on the wax and let it freeze – it will chip right off.
You can clean candle wax out of your glass votive containers. Just place the votive containers in the freezer and allow to freeze. Use a butter knife and pop the wax right out; wash in hot soapy water and re-use again and again. You can also do it with heat – place the glass votive containers in your microwave to melt the wax – place the containers upside down on a paper plate or paper towels to allow the melted wax to drain out – be sure to melt the wax slowly. Another hint – spray your glass votive containers with a vegetable cooking spray or pour a small amount of water in the bottom before inserting a fresh votive candle and the melted candles will slide out easily. You will also get good results if you place a little liquid dish detergent in the bottom of the glass.
Removing wax from dishes and glass is the same as removing from your glass votive candle holders. Heat the area using your blow dryer to melt the wax and wipe it away. Even your fabric dryer sheets can be used.
If you have candle wax on your wooden tables, heat with a hair dryer and wipe off.
