Amid all the holiday decorating and dining, the last thing you want to think about is stains. But trust me, they will happen. So before you get caught up in the excitement of the holidays, here's everything you'll need to know to remove the one stain I get asked about most: candle wax.
Everything You Need to Remove Wax Stains
Weiman Wax Away
BISSELL Stain Pretreat for Carpet & Upholstery
Guardsman Stain & Odor Eliminator for Fabric
12-Count Bounty Quick-Size Paper Towels
How to Get Candle Wax Out of Clothing
For wax dribbles on tablecloths or washable clothing, let the wax harden and gently scrape off as much of it as you can with a dull knife. If the wax is still soft, freeze the item to harden the wax, and then scrape off the excess wax. If the wax is colored, sponge the stain with a solvent-based cleaning fluid, like Guardsman, to remove as much of the dye as possible. Place clean paper towels on top of and under the stain and press the area with a warm dry iron. Rotate and replace the towels as they absorb the melted wax. Rub liquid laundry detergent into any remaining stain and wash the fabric in warm or hot water. Add chlorine or all-fabric bleach, if possible.
How to Get Candle Wax Out of Carpet
If the wax is still soft, freeze it by applying an ice cube wrapped in a small plastic bag, and then scrape off the excess wax. Sponge with a carpet and upholstery spot remover, like Bissell's Tough Stain Pretreat for Carpet and Upholstery. Cover the stain with a clean white cloth and press, using the tip of a warm iron to transfer the wax to the cloth. Repeat, using a clean portion of the cloth until all the wax is transferred from the carpet to the cloth. If a color stain remains, sponge the stain again with the carpet and upholstery spot remover. Blot dry.
How to Get Candle Wax Off of Wood Furniture
If the candle on your coffee table has sprung a leak, let any wax that's settled onto the wood harden so it will be easier to remove without damaging the finish. With a plastic spatula or credit card, gently scrape up the brittle wax. Weiman's Wax Away also does a good job zapping wax from surfaces. Once the wax is removed, buff the area with a clean cloth and furniture polish to blend and camouflage the repair.
How to Remove Candle Wax That's Stuck Inside a Candleholder
One of the easiest — and fastest! — ways to get rid of wax residue is to run steaming-hot tap water over the holder, scooping out whatever's inside with your fingers or a paper towel. Then simply pop it in the dishwasher and let the machine do the rest. If it's not dishwasher-safe, here are a couple of other tricks that have worked for me. Place your candleholder in the freezer for about 30 minutes. This will make the wax bits brittle and easy to nudge off with a dull knife or even just your fingernail. Or, trying warming leftover wax with a hairdryer set to low heat: As the wax softens and becomes pliable, you'll be able to peel it off.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
