Candles are a wonderful piece of furniture. They can both decorate your home and leave nondescript marks on tablecloths or clothes. Do not despair, with the right approach, you can easily remove traces of wax from any surface. Wax is removed most effectively by heating or cooling. We will consider these methods below.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Hair Dryer
Step 1. This method is suitable for removing wax marks from hard surfaces and is not suitable for removing wax from clothes, as the melted wax will absorb even more into the fabric and the stain will only increase
Step 2. Direct hot air at the wax
Hold until it softens, but at the same time, do not let it spread.
Step 3. Dry with a piece of cloth or paper towel
It is best to use napkins or unnecessary rags that you will not mind throwing away.
Step 4. Remains of traces can be easily removed with detergent
Do not use a hard sponge on fragile surfaces. The sponge can leave marks and scratches. Step 5. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
If there are still traces of wax on the surface, repeat the procedure again.
Method 2 of 3: Iron
Step 1. Set the iron to medium temperature
This method is similar to the method using a hair dryer, however, in this case, the melted wax is not wiped off with a rag, but absorbed by it. Therefore, this method is especially suitable for removing wax from clothing or other fabric items.
It will not be superfluous to remind you of caution when using the iron. Do not touch the soleplate of the iron, just spray a little water to make sure the iron is hot. Also, never leave the iron on, especially with the soleplate down
Step 2. Cover the wax spot with a tissue
In this case, the napkin should be larger than the stain. Place a regular towel on top of the napkin.
Step 3. Run the iron on the towel several times
Move the iron back and forth constantly so as not to burn the towel. The wax will gradually melt and be absorbed into the paper towel. Step 4. Remove the towel from time to time and see the result.
If you notice that the paper towel is already saturated with wax, you should replace it. Continue until all the wax is absorbed into the wipes.
If you don’t change the napkins on time, the wax will begin to absorb into the towel
Step 5. Turn off the iron
When all the wax has been removed, you can turn off the iron and discard the used tissues. The entire wax removal process usually takes just over ten minutes. However, if the stain was from a tinted candle, a small stain of color may remain on the fabric.
Step 6. To get rid of the color stain, you can use a carpet cleaner
Choose the correct detergent for your material. Apply it to the stain and wipe gently with a damp cloth.
Method 3 of 3: Compressed Air Cooling
Step 1. Use a can of compressed air
This method uses cooling of the wax, so that it can be easily scraped off. This method is perfect for hard surfaces. It can also be used on delicate fabrics like silk and viscose.
Compressed air cans are available from office supply stores or hardware stores. They can also be found in computer stores as they are often used to clean computers
Step 2. Direct the air from the can at the wax
A jet of cold air will cool the wax, causing it to harden and become more brittle. Step 3. Peel off the wax.
It can also be scraped off with any hard object. The cooled wax should peel off easily from the surface. Repeat the process as needed.
Do not scrape off the wax with a knife or other metal object. Metal can scratch the surface and leave marks on it
Step 4. Brush off the remaining wax
After removing the wax, a grease stain may remain on the surface, which can be easily removed with a detergent and a damp cloth. Step 5. If you do not have a can of compressed air, you can use ice for cooling.
The ice will cool the wax faster than compressed air, but it will melt itself quickly at room temperature, leaving a small puddle. Step 6. Take an ice cube in a rag and touch it to the wax.
Cured wax is very fragile and can be removed easily.