Burning candles is great for adding warmth and beauty to any home. Unfortunately, the melted wax has a habit of dripping and can seem nearly impossible to get out once it dries. With some simple tips, you'll learn how to remove candle wax from just about anything it falls on in your home.
Linens
Many a tablecloth has been pronounced ruined by candle wax, especially when dark-colored candles drip onto white linens. It doesn't have to be that way, however. An iron is pretty much all you need to effectively remove the stubbornest wax from your tablecloth or bedsheets.
Put a layer of newspaper, a paper towel or a paper grocery bag underneath the stained item and another similar layer on top of the wax. Heat your iron to an appropriate temperature for the material, and press the hot iron on the top layer of paper. The wax will melt, and the paper will absorb it. Repeat until the wax is gone. Follow with a spot treatment, then wash and dry. Your linens should be as good as new.
Wood and hard surfaces
Avoid scratching your furniture or other hard surface by scraping the wax gently with a credit card, blunt knife or plastic spatula. Any leftover residue can be rubbed out using a creamy furniture polish and a cloth on wood or a commercial cleaner and paper towel on tile or laminate.
Carpet or upholstery
If you have wax on your carpet or soft furniture item, the best method is to freeze the wax using an ice pack. When it gets as hard as possible, shatter the wax and vacuum up the pieces or remove them by hand. Any remaining dye should be treatable with commercial carpet or upholstery cleaner appropriate to the surface you're cleaning.
Candle holders
Any well-used candle holder can get a buildup of old wax stuck firmly to the bottom. Get rid of that stubborn layer of wax by sticking the holder in the freezer until it is hard and brittle. Use a dull knife to chip the wax out in pieces and scrape it off the sides. Glass or ceramic holders can then be cleaned with liquid detergent and hot water, or use a polish for silver or other metal candle holders.
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