How to Get Candle Wax Out of Fabric, Clothes, and Couch

Candles can bring the most out of different festive days. These light sources even hold the power to make dinners more romantic. However, all the fun and romance can fade away when you drop the wax on the fabric.

Trust me; we did try to get the wax out of fabrics by following the “just put it inside the washing machine” method. But it simply does not work. Then, we learned how to get candle wax out of fabric, clothes, and couch properly.

Since then, we were not worried about going through a tedious process of getting wax out of the fabrics on festive and special nights.

And I’m going to describe the whole process in this article. So, if you want to stay worry-free like us, you need to read the entire thing.

Does Candle Wax Stain Clothes?

Yes, candle wax can stain clothes. When hot wax drips onto fabric, it can penetrate the fibers and create a noticeable stain. Wax stains are often challenging to remove because they harden and adhere to the fabric.

Successful removal requires careful steps to first loosen and then lift the wax from the fabric. Acting promptly and using the right techniques can help minimize the staining effects of candle wax on clothing.

Does Candle Wax Come Out Of Clothes?

Yes, candle wax can generally be removed from clothes. Successful removal depends on various factors, including the type of fabric and the candle wax’s color and composition.

However, with proper techniques and patience, it’s possible to eliminate most candle wax stains from clothing. It’s crucial to act promptly and avoid further pressing the wax into the fabric.

Stain removal methods like freezing, scraping, and using a warm iron can effectively lift the wax, followed by treating any residual staining with appropriate stain removers or detergents.

Always consult the fabric care label and consider professional cleaning for delicate or valuable items.

How to Get Candle Wax Out of Fabric and Clothes

If you were looking for a step-by-step process regarding how to get candle wax from clothes without iron, this segment is for you!

Yes, you do not need to use an iron! However, you need to follow this process right after accidentally dropping the wax on top of the clothes or fabric, or else the stain might remain on the surface.

On that note, the process that I will discuss here will be suitable for all types of clothing. So, you can follow this exact process if you were wondering how to remove candle wax from a tablecloth.

Step 1: Harden the Wax

Yes, we are going to do the opposite of a process that requires ironing. Instead of softening up the wax, we will harden it. Do you know why?

Because dry wax is easier to remove compared to fresh wax. So, it would help if you made the wax wet. Rinse it under the tap for a while. That should harden up the wax.

To accelerate the process, you can even hold ice on top of the targeted area. That will make the wax harden up faster.

If you dropped a fair amount of wax on the fabric, I recommend getting an ice pack. Rub it on the area for a while and harden up the wax.

Step 2: Scrape off the Wax

Now that the wax is hardened up, you need to get into scraping. Grab your least favorite butter knife and gently scrape the wax out of the fabric. Do not use too much force, or else you might end up damaging the fabric.

Step 3: Remove the Stain

After scraping all of the clothes, there might be stains on the surface. Get yourself a paper towel and a hairdryer instead of wondering how to get candle wax stain out of clothes.  Blow the hairdryer directly on top of the targeted area for a while and melt the stain.

Once the stain achieves a liquid form, you need to use a paper towel to get it out of the clothes. One paper towel should work like magic in terms of removing minor stains out of the clothes.

But if you have dropped a fair amount of wax on the clothing, you might need to use multiple paper towels.

Read Next:

• How to remove slime from clothing
• How To Remove Wax Stains From Jeans?

How to Remove Candle Wax from Upholstery Fabric Furniture

This segment of the article will focus on the steps regarding how to get candle wax off upholstery furniture. Yes, it is possible to get the stubborn wax out of the upholstery furniture too. And these are the steps that you would need to follow:

Step 1: Harden the Wax

The first step of this process is kind of similar to the process I just described above. You need to harden the wax.

But unlike a piece of cloth or fabric, it will be impossible to rinse the area with water. So, grab yourself some ice. Put the ice in a bag and keep it on top of the affected area.

Over time, the wax should get hardened. However, if it does not harden up properly, grab another bag of ice and rub it on the area instead of simply placing the bag on the top.

Step 2: Flake the Wax off the Upholstery

Grab a butter knife to flake off the wax from the area. A dull blade will work like a charm too. Use that to scrape as much of the wax as possible.

Hardened wax should be easier to work with if you know where to scrape off first. Just do not apply too much force, or else the wax will start breaking.

And when it starts breaking, it will leave a stubborn stain on the upholstery as you would need to start scraping from that breaking point again.

Our recommendation would be to start from one corner and evenly lift the whole wax away. That should let you lift off the portion of the dried wax in one piece.

Step 3: Place a Paper on Top of the Area

Now, you need to get yourself a paper bag or paper towel. Gently place them on top of the affected area. If the affected area is large, you can also use newspapers.

Step 4: Use the Iron

Once the paper is in place, bring out the iron and plug it inside the power outlet. Then, you need to put the iron on the warm setting. Do not dial the power all the way to the top because that might cause damage to the upholstery fabric.

After that, iron the paper gently. Ensure that you are not pressing too hard. Change the paper after a while so that the paper can absorb all of the wax properly.

Step 5: Remove the Remaining Residue

At this point, most of the wax should be off the surface. But there might be some residue left on the surface. To take it off, you need to use some rubbing alcohol. Use it to blot the area, and the remaining residues should get off the surface.

How to Get Candle Wax Off Clothes After Washing

You might have noticed the candle wax right after washing the clothes. Instead of panicking, follow these steps:

Step 1: Try to Scrape off the Wax

After cleaning the clothes, the wax should already be in a hardened state. So, there is really no need to rub ice on top of the affected area.

Get yourself a dull knife or butter knife and try to scrape off as much of the wax out of the area. But make sure you are not putting too much force because you will risk damaging the fabrics.

Step 2: Use Some Vegetable Oil

Once you have scraped off the wax, rub the area with a generous amount of vegetable oil. That will do a proper job of removing the stain that the wax might have left. Use a paper towel to wipe off any of the excess oil that might be on the clothing.

Step 3: Put It Back into the Washing Machine

Now, you need to put the clothing back into the washing machine. Use the regular washing machine powder and run the machine at the usual cycle. After the wash, let the clothes dry up.

Step 4: Use the Iron If You Have to

If there are visible stains on the surface, then you will need to opt for the good old ironing method. Place some paper towels or paper bags on top of the affected region. Plug the iron in and dial the temperature knob on medium.

Gently press and slide the iron on top of the paper. That should melt the wax from the bottom, and the paper should absorb the molten wax. Change the paper and repeat until the stain is properly off the surface.

Do I Need a Vacuum Cleaner to Remove Wax from Clothes?

A vacuum cleaner is not really necessary to clean wax from clothes. You need to make sure that you are not making too much of a mess while scraping off the wax.

Just start from the very corner and evenly lift off the hardened wax from the surface.

However, if you manage to make a mess while trying to get the wax out of the surface, you might need to use a vacuum cleaner before using the iron.

If you leave the flakes on the area and iron on top of it, you might end up embedding the wax deep into the fabrics.

How to Prevent Wax Spills?

Did you know that you can skip going through the hassles of removing the wax from the surface? Yes, I’m talking about taking steps to prevent wax spills. And these are the things that you can do:

Candle Holders

Get yourself a proper candle holder that can accumulate all of the molten wax on the bottom. That will lower the chances of wax melting and falling onto the surface.

In addition to that, the candle holders are going to ensure that the candle does not tip over. There are specially designed candleholders that can adequately hold tall and skinny candles.

These holders will make sure that the candle does not fall over, no matter how tall and skinny the candles are.

Put the Candles on Plates

Even if you do not have candle holders available, you can opt for plates. Keep the candles on top of the plate and place them on top of the table. The plate will protect the tablecloth and prevent wax spills.

If you do not have ceramic plates or flat dishes, use the aluminum pie plate. Those are going to do a proper job of protecting upholsteries and tablecloths.

Light the Candles Properly and Keep Them Away from the Edges

Finally, when you are lighting up the candles, make sure that they are straight. Slanting them will make the wax fall off.

Also, keep the candles away from the edges. That will lower the chances of the candle tripping and falling over the carpet and staining the surface.

Remove Rugs and Carpets When You Use Hair Removal Wax

Finally, you need to remove rugs and carpets before using hair removal wax. This type of wax is pretty hard to remove, and the usual processes might not yield that much of an effective result sometimes.

So, before you decide to melt the hair removal wax, go to a place where there is no carpet on the floor. Also, keep the molten wax away from the upholstery.

Final Words

After going through the entire article, I hope that you are sure that learning how to remove candle wax from clothes, and couches is not that much of a difficult task.

You need to follow the steps correctly. And if you follow the preventive measures, there will be no need to go through these steps to begin with.