Were you excited about Halloween until someone spilled wax from a candle onto the carpet? Or worse, did a large wax stain ruin your romantic dinner? If yes, don’t worry!
In this blog post, we will discuss how to get wax out of carpet without leaving the tiniest trace. No matter the type of wax or carpet you have, we’ve got you covered.
In addition to a step-by-step guide for wax stain removal, we’ll also give you all the tips and tricks you need to know when dealing with wax stains. So, let’s start!
Is Wax Easy to Get Out of a Carpet?
Wax stains are both unsightly and difficult to clean, especially those coming from scented and dyed candles. You’ll need different tools and materials to treat the oil, wax, and dye (the content of most candles) in order to remove a candle stain from your carpeting.
Fortunately, there are several techniques that are good enough to help you on this mission. So, just follow these steps, and your carpet will be as good as new in no time.
How to Get Wax Stain Out of the Carpet: First Steps
There are a number of cleaning products you can use for this purpose. The best choice will depend on what you have in your cleaning closet, but also the amount of wax spilled, as well as the type of carpet.
For example, for the process of removing smaller spills, you don’t need a cleaning product of any kind. Read what you need to do below.
Step 1: Don’t Panic!
Unlike most other stains, it’s far easier to get dried wax out of the carpet than fresh, melted wax. So, the first tip is to wait a bit before you attack the wax spill. A few minutes will usually do, depending on the amount of wax you’re dealing with.
Step 2: Freeze the Wax
Just like dealing with a chewing gum mess, putting something cold on the wax, like frozen meat or an ice pack, will make it more easily removable. To prevent the wax from getting wet, you might want to cover the bag or the ice cubes in paper towels, towels, or a plastic bag.
Step 3: Scrape the Wax Off
In order to get wax out of the carpet with ice, use a butter knife or spoon to gently scrape the wax spot off your carpet’s surface. If it’s impossible to remove it all, don’t worry. There are other tools you can use to help loosen and remove stubborn wax from your carpet fibers.
Be careful when choosing your scrape tool, though. You can easily slip up and make a hole in your beloved carpet, or even a bald patch! So, a plastic scraper or a spoon is your safest bet when trying to get hard wax out of a carpet.
Step 4: Brush and Vacuum Loose Wax
After scraping as much as you can, you’ll need to brush and vacuum the loose wax.
For this, use a gentle bristle or rubber broom to gently whisk away any leftover bits of wax, then use an upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to catch anything that remains.
Methods That Remove Wax From Carpet
After you’ve done all you can to remove as much wax as possible from your carpet, it’s time to bring out the big guns! The first thing that can help you with that is heat!
Since wax is oil-based, solvent-based cleaners are effective in removing the stain, and even some good hardwood floor cleaners will do.
Just make sure to use a drop or two of the cleaner in an inconspicuous place first, just to make sure it won’t damage your carpet. Here are our recommendations.
Method 1: Iron It Out
You can iron the wax stain with a damp towel. This is one of the best ways to get melted wax out of a carpet. When using this method, make sure you’re using a white towel that you don’t mind staining with wax.
The white towel won’t allow color transfer, and it’ll soak up the wax stain that melts under the heat of the iron. If you’re not satisfied with the result, just turn the iron to a higher heat setting and try again, or apply the heat for longer.
If you don’t like staining a towel for this method, you can use greaseproof paper as a replacement option.
Method 2: Use a Hairdryer
You can get candle wax out of the carpet without an iron by using your hairdryer. Simply set your hairdryer to the highest heat, and hold it about a foot above the wax stain for several minutes.
Do NOT bring the hot nozzle too close to your carpet, as this can damage or burn the fibers. When you’re done heating the area, use a clean cloth to wipe away and loosen any remaining wax.
Method 3: Vinegar or Lemon Juice
Vinegar and lemon juice can work wonders when it comes to getting candle wax out of your carpet. Simply combine equal quantities of water and vinegar or lemon juice in a bowl or spray bottle, and gently blot the mixture onto the stain until it has been removed.
Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes, then blot and rinse with clean water until the stain is gone. Keep in mind that this may need to be done multiple times to fully remove the wax.
Method 4: Vinegar and Baking Soda
You can use baking soda to clean almost any stain, from a red wine carpet stain to wax. However, you’ll also need vinegar to do it. If you need to get colored wax out of the carpet, this combo is a miracle worker.
Just sprinkle the stain with baking soda and let it sit for a minute. Then, pour some vinegar onto the baking soda until it’s completely dissolved. Finally, vacuum the area after blotting the vinegar with a towel.
Method 5: Use a Carpet Cleaner
If the wax stain is still visible after following these steps, it’s time to bring out a carpet cleaner. Just spray it on the stain and use a spoon to scrub it into the carpet.
After wiping it dry with a fresh, white towel, allow the carpet to air dry. If you need help selecting a carpet cleaner, ask your local hardware or home improvement store for recommendations.
Method 6: Rubbing Alcohol
If you need to get dry wax out of the carpet quickly, rubbing alcohol is a great option, as it should dissolve wax enough for you to sponge it off the carpet.
Simply pour some rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth or paper towel and dab at the stain until it is gone. Be sure to test this method in a smaller area of your carpet first, as the rubbing alcohol may cause colors to fade.
Method 7: WD-40
Apply WD-40 to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, use a sponge to remove the wax once it appears to be dry.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the key to successfully removing candle wax from your carpet is to be careful and gentle, taking care to avoid damaging your carpet fibers. If you follow our cleaning tips and put in some time and patience, you can get rid of that pesky wax stain once and for all!
FAQ
What dissolves wax on a carpet?
Since wax is essentially oil-based, you’ll need oil-dissolving solvents to get a wax stain off your carpet. Rubbing alcohol, WD-40, and vinegar are all good choices.
However, before you start removing wax, don’t forget to test these in case they could damage your carpet.
Will a steamer get wax out of a carpet?
Yes, it will. Steam cleaners re-melt wax stains and eliminate them without making a fuss.
All you need to do is scrape away what you can before using the steam cleaner to heat and remove the rest of the wax. If needed, use a clean white towel to blot the remainder away.
Will vinegar dissolve wax?
In short, yes! That’s why it should never be used to clean waxed furniture. To remove candle wax from your carpet, simply combine water and vinegar in a bowl or spray bottle. Then, gently blot the mixture on the stain until the wax is gone.
Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it with some clean water and allowing your carpet to air dry for at least a day. Now that you know how to get wax out of carpet, you can enjoy a romantic and carefree dinner with candlelight.
