This Hack Is the Easiest Way to Get Wax Out of Carpet
Updated: Feb. 16, 2023A pro shares his method on how to remove wax
Time 10 - 20 minutes
ComplexityBeginner
CostFree
Introduction
Candle wax accidentally dripped on a plush carpet may look like a hopeless mess, but with a cool head, a hot iron, and a few tricks of the trade, you can make a big wax mess disappear.Tools Required
- Butter knife
- Carpet Cleaner
- Clothing iron
- Spoon
Your wine and cheese party was going great—until someone accidentally bumped into the table decorations and knocked a lit candle onto the carpet. Everybody’s got advice for how to handle it. And one of the most popular suggestions is the old standby solution of ironing over a paper bag, but when we asked a professional carpet cleaner how he suggests how to remove wax, we heard a different story on how to remove wax from carpet.
Don’t use a paper bag. As you might have guessed, paper and heat don’t mix. Trying to take up the wax this way can cause the paper to overheat and burn the carpet, an so that method should not be used to remove wax. Instead, getting get candle wax out of carpet involves a butter knife, spoon, iron, carpet stain remover and white cotton towels. So, if you’re cleaning the carpet and come across some dried wax balled up in the fiber, don’t panic.
Here’s how to get candle wax out of carpet with ease. This will work for area rugs too.
Project step-by-step (3)
Scrape Up the Wax
The first step in how to clean up wax is to scrape off any hardened wax. You should get rid of most of the wax at this stage. Scrape the wax loose with a butter knife. Be gentle with Berber carpets; the loops fray easily. Use a vacuum to suck up the loose wax and scrape off any remaining chunks.
Scraping the knife against the carpet will probably leave the area a little fuzzy. To remove the fuzz, lay a scissors flat on the carpet. Push down lightly on the pivot of the scissors, and trim off any fuzz.
Iron the Carpet
Now it’s time to use a heat exchange to reach deep down into the heart of the carpet fibers to draw out the remaining wax.
Dampen a white cotton towel and place it over the wax. Press an iron set on high over the towel for 10 seconds. The heat will draw the wax out of the carpet and into the towel. Repeat until the wax is gone. You may have to hold the iron in place for up to 30 seconds.
It’s possible, too, that the towel you’re using will dry out from the heat of the iron. If that happens, just wet it down again and get back to work. If the towel becomes overloaded with wax, you can just grab another one and finish cleaning up the wax on the rug.
Scrub in Carpet Cleaner
There’s a good chance the wax will discolor the area, especially in a light-colored carpet. That’s where the heavy-duty carpet stain remover comes in handy.
Spray carpet cleaner on the stain and scrub it into the carpet with a spoon. Dab it dry with a clean white towel, then let the carpet air-dry (it will appear slightly darker until completely dry). If the stain is especially dark, it stains may require several scrubbings. Be patient. It’s still the easiest way to rescue your rug.
