How To Remove Candle Wax From Your Carpet With These 5 Simple Steps
We all enjoy the enticing scent of a burning candle and the ambiance it creates. We love how candles elevate a dinner party, set the mood for a relaxing evening, or conjure up a memory. So, nothing damper the mood than a spill of candle wax on the carpet. No worries, accidents happen! There are ways to save your carpet and the evening. Try these 5 simple steps to learn how to get wax out of the carpet and keep the party going.
Is it hard to get wax out the carpet?
Getting wax out of the carpet is not hard, but you do want to act quickly. The faster you move the more chances you have to save the carpet. Start by grabbing the below items:
- Bag of ice or an ice pack
- Butter knife
- Iron or a hair dryer
- Vinegar/ rubbing alcohol/ or carpet cleaner
- Paper towel, terry-cloth towel, or brown paper bag
- Vacuum
Step #1: Stop the spread
Firstly ensure the candle wax on the carpet does not spread. Place an ice pack or a bag of ice wrapped in a thin towel on the wax. This will help stop the wax from soaking into the fibers of your carpet. Leave the ice there for approximately 10 minutes until the wax is hard, but not wet.
Dampness can make it more difficult to remove wax from the carpet.
Step #2: Scrape it away
Next, grab a dull or blunt sharp item such as a butter knife to remove wax from the carpet. Take your time to scrape off as much as possible before moving on to the next steps. Usually, you should be able to take off much of the wax leaving only a stain. You can easily sweep or vacuum up any bits left behind.
Step #3: Heat to absorb the remaining wax
Now, you want to heat the candle wax on the carpet using an iron. Place a paper towel, terry-cloth towel, or paper bag on the stain. Set the iron on low/ medium heat and turn off the steam. Be sure to keep the iron moving so as to not burn the towel or your carpet. As the towel/bag starts to absorb the wax, shift it to a clean spot to continue removing the wax. If you’re nervous about using an iron, try using a hairdryer. Slowly heat the area, pressing the towel or bag on to the spill to soak up the wax. Continue until all the wax has been absorbed.
In addition, take into account the fabric content of the carpet. Carpets are made of many fibers from synthetic to natural materials. According to Strathmore Design, a home design company, “Over ninety percent of all of the carpets made today are made up of synthetic fiber. The rest is natural fiber, most commonly wool.” This helps determine how to get wax out of the carpet as the fibers respond differently to heat, abrasion and moisture.
Step #4: Clean the carpet
So, you removed as much wax as possible, but still have a colored stain of candle wax on the carpet. After completing the first 3 steps, remove any dye stains from the rug using a commercial carpet cleaning such as Resolve. Ensure any residue from the wax has been removed before applying any cleaning products.
You can also try a non-toxic approach by using vinegar mixed with baking soda or rubbing alcohol. Vinegar is a great cleaner due to its acidic nature which dissolves grease deposits. Add baking soda directly to the stain and wet it using vinegar. Let the mixture soak for 10min, then blot the area using a dry cloth. Be sure to take your time and not rub as you can spread the color. Once you have removed the stain of wax out of the carpet, use a cloth to remove any additional moisture. You can repeat this process using only baking soda as a second option to remove wax from the carpet.
Step #5: Vacuum the Carpet
Lastly, once the carpet is dry, vacuum the area to revive the texture to its original form. You’re done! You saved your carpet and the evening by acting quickly to get the wax out of the carpet. Who said removing wax was hard? All you need is a little elbow grease and ingenuity to learn how to get wax out of the carpet.