How to remove wax? Wax stains are difficult to remove as they become dry, set and terribly hard. Removing them is therefore not always easy but not impossible!
I’ll tell you right away, the most common way to remove wax stains is with an iron! Here are several other tips to dissolve the wax quickly.
The following tips can be used to remove beeswax and paraffin wax.
1. Heat and iron to remove wax
To dissolve a wax stain on any garment and fabric here is what to do:
- Lay a sheet of paper towel over the wax.
- Gently run the hot iron over the paper towel.
You will see, the absorbent paper will effectively absorb the wax stain that was stuck on the garment.
Heat in addition to being effective against wax can also be used for other things like here: Remove a sap stain.
2. Turpentine to remove wax
If you have just waxed a varnished wooden piece of furniture, a few products can be used:
- turpentine
- glycerin
- vegetable oil
Here is how to completely remove the wax stain from varnished wood:
- Scrape off the excess beeswax with the back of a spoon or other utensils (be careful not to damage the wood).
- Soak the wax stain with turpentine and leave to act for a few minutes.
You can also use glycerin and vegetable oil to dissolve and remove dried wax on varnished wooden furniture.
3. Boiling water to remove a wax stain
Hot water or better still boiling water is very effective in removing and dissolving wax on a fabric. So here’s how to pull off this boiling water trick:
- Scrape to remove as much wax as possible from the garment with a spoon.
- Fill the sink or the bottom of the bathtub with “very hot” water and soak the garment.
- Leave on for a few minutes to soften and dissolve the wax.
- Remove the remaining wax and finish with a hand wash of the garment.
4. White Spirit against a wax stain
White spirit is a product often used to clean the most stubborn stains! So why not use it to clean a wax stain on a tablecloth for example?
If you’ve just stained a tablecloth with colored wax here’s what to do:
- Remove (if possible) excess wax with the back of a spoon.
- Soak a cloth or cotton with white spirit and gently rub the wax stain.
- Once the wax is removed finish with a wash in the washing machine.
White spirit is a very good product for dissolving candle wax on fabric.
5. Baking soda remedy
There are several home remedies, but not all of them are very effective! Here is one that I have tested that works well for a colored wax stain.
- Remove excess wax with a spoon or knife.
- Sprinkle baking soda to completely cover the wax stain.
- Pour a little white vinegar on the stain and leave to act for 1 minute.
- Rub with a cloth in circular motions.
- Finish cleaning the tablecloth by machine.
6. Place the stained garment in the freezer
We now know that “hot” is effective to dissolve wax but did you know that the cold is also effective in carrying out this delicate task?
- Place the garment or tablecloth in a freezer bag and place it in the freezer.
- Leave in the cold for a few hours (until the garment is stiff).
- Remove the wax by folding and crumpling the garment where the wax is (the wax will come out easily).
You can also use an ice cube to cool and harden the wax stain on clothing.
Did you just notice a beeswax stain on plastic? Regardless of the plastic surface, the procedure will be the same:
- Scrape to remove as much wax as possible from the plastic floor.
- Mix equal parts lukewarm water with rubbing alcohol.
- Rub the wax stain with a sponge or cloth soaked in this solution.
Removing wax from a carpet or rug is not easy but not impossible either, especially if you notice it very quickly.
Here are the steps to remove all traces of wax from the carpet:
- Scrape with a knife or spoon to successfully remove as much wax as possible.
- Place a blotting paper or paper towel over the wax stain.
- Pass the hot iron over the blotter to melt and absorb any remaining wax.
You can also cool and harden the wax with ice cubes before scraping it off with a knife.
Depilatory wax fallen on a piece of furniture, on a tiling, on the floor… discover below some effective tricks to remove this depilatory wax effectively.
Depilatory wax on furniture:
- Place a blotting paper on the wax (or a few layers of paper towel).
- Run the hot iron over the blotter (without steam).
- Repeat as needed to remove all traces and residue of depilatory wax.
Depilatory wax stain on fabric:
- Dampen a cotton swab with alcohol and rub the wax stain.
- Rub the stain with circular movements delicately so as not to damage the fabric.
- Finish cleaning in the washing machine once all the wax has been removed.
Hair removal wax on a tiled floor:
- Apply a little soapy water (or oil) to the dry wax stain and let it work.
- Scrape off the depilatory wax with a spatula, the back of a spoon or with a scraper.
Removing hair removal wax in a pan:
- Add water to the pan and bring to a boil for a few minutes.
- Repeat until the wax dissolves completely in the pan.
Do not throw the water from the pan down the sink as you risk clogging the drain with wax residue.
Other tips for cleaning candle wax:
If you are looking for tips for cleaning candle wax that has fallen on the floor and other surfaces and textiles, it’s here: How do you remove candle wax from tiles?