Removing Candle Wax from Fabrics and Surfaces

Knowing these techniques can save furniture, linens, and laundry.

Don't try to remove candle wax from furniture by scraping it with your fingernail. It's tempting but the hot wax softens the furniture's surface and makes marring easy. Wait until the wax hardens, or place an ice cube on the wax. Once hard, scrape it gently with a dull knife or thin piece of plastic, such as a credit card. If you're using a credit card, hold the card in both hands. Tilt the card slightly and scrape gently as you can remove the wax without gouging the surface.

After removing as much of the wax as possible, wipe the rest with a cloth wrung out in warm, sudsy water or dab the spot with cleaning fluid. You might try a product called Energine, or Carbona, or Renuzit. Dry the surface, then wipe it with your choice of furniture polish, wax or oil. Rub with the grain until no sign of the stain remains.

To remove candle wax from table linens…

Scrape away as much wax as possible with a plastic card or dull knife. Next, place a piece of blotting material such as paper towel or napkin under the stain. Place another piece of blotting material over the wax stain. Press it with a warm iron. The warm iron will melt the wax into the paper. Change the paper as it becomes soiled .

If a colored dye remains…

Sponge the dye stain with denatured alcohol diluted with two parts of water. If the article is washable, wash it in warm, sudsy water. If it's not washable, sponge it with a dry cleaning solvent.

Wax that has dripped onto the curves and crevices of a metal candlestick is hard to remove. To speed up the process put the candle holder in the freezer. Once the wax freezes, it can be peeled off easily.

Change candles before they burn too low. Extinguish flames by snuffing rather than blowing. This way you will be less likely to get wax on linens and furniture.

No endorsement is implied nor is discrimination intended by mentioning commercial products in this program. There may be other commercial products available that will work equally well to remove candle wax stains. Check labels or ask for these products where cleaning supplies are sold.

For more information on stain removal, contact your local County Extension Office.