If you’ve ever had a candle burning and accidentally got wax on your clothes, you know how frustrating it can be to try and get it out. It seems like no matter what you do, the wax just won’t completely come off the fabric. But don’t despair!
We’re here to help! In this blog post, we will teach you how to get wax out of clothes in the easiest way possible. The methods we’ll discuss here are so quick and effective that they’ll make you go “Ta-da!”
So, don’t wait, and read on to learn how to clean wax out of natural and synthetic fabrics to save your favorite shirt from the grips of this clingy substance.
About Wax Stains
Wax easily penetrates textile fabrics, leaving a hard-to-remove, greasy stain. But unlike when you’re removing butter from clothes, you can freeze wax and physically remove a good part of it before turning to other wax-eliminating methods.
That said, not all wax stains are the same. So, attempting to get hair–removal wax out of clothes will require a different approach than getting rid of candle or crayon wax.
First Steps to Cleaning Wax Out of Clothes
The first step to removing wax from clothes is to identify the type of wax and clothing you’re dealing with. Colored candles may leave different stains than white candles, and the type of fabric that your clothes are made of will also play a role in how difficult it is to remove wax.
Fabrics made of natural materials are sturdier than synthetic-based ones. So, you’ll need different techniques to get wax stains out of clothes made of different fabrics.
Step 1: Don’t Rush
It is easier to physically remove wax from your clothing when the stain is dry. So, wait a bit, and then proceed to remove the stain.
Step 2: Read the Care Label
To save your garment from damage, you need to know what it’s made of. This way, you’ll know which method to use and to what extent.
How to Get Wax Out of Natural Fabrics
Cotton, linen, and wool are all examples of natural fabrics that can easily become stained with wax. If your clothes, sheets, or favorite duvet covers are made from one of these materials, the best way to remove the wax from them is by ironing the affected area.
Of course, you can also get wax out of clothes without an iron. Here are the step-by-step guidelines.
Scrape What You Can
Using a butter knife, putty knife, dough scraper, or a similar tool, scrape the wax off your clothing as much as you can. While you can do this with cotton, we don’t recommend scraping wax off of fluffy wool as you may damage it.
Brush Away Any Residue
If there’s any wax residue between the fibers of your clothing, you can use a soft toothbrush to brush the loose wax away.
Pour Some Boiling Water on the Stain
You can actually wash the wax off of clothes, but only if they’re heat-resistant and color-fast. So, while you can use this method to clean white cotton clothes, you shouldn’t use it on high-quality bamboo sheets, as you might damage them.
Just pour some boiling water over the stain, and this will dissolve the wax and wash it away. Be extra careful to avoid burns, and repeat if necessary.
Iron the Stain
We already mentioned that ironing is the most effective method to get dried wax out of clothes or your cozy throw blanket. Simply place a clean, dry cloth, paper bag, or blotting paper over and under the stained spot and iron it.
Use medium heat and dry setting. When you go over the stain for a few minutes, the stain should transfer from the clothing to the paper bag. Continue ironing as long as you see the wax seeping into the bag. Replace or flip the paper bag if it becomes saturated.
For uneven surfaces or places that you can’t reach with the iron, use a hairdryer to melt the wax off and a paper towel to get it out of the clothes.
Use a Colorless Nail Polish Remover
Acetone is very effective at dissolving wax, so you can use it to make your clothes wax-free. But first, you need to make 100% sure your shirt is colorfast and made of natural fabric.
The best way to avoid damaging your clothes is to test your garment on an inconspicuous part before pouring acetone on top of the stain. If it looks ok, you can blot the stain away with a clean white cloth that’s dampened in acetone.
How to Get a Wax Stain Out of Clothes Made of Synthetic Fabrics
Synthetic fabrics are more sensitive to certain cleaning methods than those made of natural materials, often reacting badly to heat or certain chemicals. Of course, that’s not to say that there are no safe cleaning techniques you can use, and here they are.
Soak Your Clothing in Dish Soap
Liquid dish soap is the perfect remedy for crayon wax stains. Just apply it on the stain and rub it in as hard as the fabric allows. Use two ends of the garment itself or a soft toothbrush.
Allow the dish soap to work for several minutes, before rinsing the stain away. When all of the residue is gone, place your stained clothes in the washing machine for regular cleaning.
Dissolve It With a Vinegar Solution
White vinegar and water mix can dissolve candle wax, so you can use it for wax stains. Simply dampen a clean cloth in a half water, half vinegar mix, and use it to remove wax from your clothing.
Rub With Rubbing Alcohol
This method works best for hair-removal wax stains. Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is a degreasing agent that will work wonders when removing both droplets and bigger wax stains, even colored ones.
You can safely use rubbing alcohol to dissolve wax if your clothing is not made of wool, silk, acetate, rayon, acrylics, or modacrylics. Just put some on a clean white cloth and rub the stain until it gets absorbed into the cloth.
Put Your Garment in the Freezer
This is an excellent method to help you remove wax from fabric made of delicate material. Here’s what you should do:
- Fold and place the clothing in a freezer bag and seal it.
- Freeze it for at least half an hour.
- Scrape the hardened wax off the fabric.
- Fix the stained area over a sink or a bowl.
- Pour hot water directly onto the stain to remove anything that’s left from the stain.
- Throw your garment into the washer and launder it as you normally would.
Use Vegetable Oil
Don’t be afraid to put some vegetable oil on a small wax stain. Immerse the stain, and blot it away with a clean cloth. All that’s left to do is to wash your clothes. Simple and effective!
Try Oxygen-Based Stain Removers
If a candle has left you with a colored wax stain, don’t despair! You can remove candle wax from clothing with lukewarm water and an oxygen-based stain remover. Just follow the instructions on the bottle, and you should be fine.
Conclusion
That’s it! Now you know the most effective ways to eliminate wax from clothes. So, don’t be afraid to use candles to add a nice note to your next romantic dinner.
With our tips, some patience, and persistence, you’ll be able to get rid of wax stains and make garments look and feel like new again.
FAQ
Can you wash wax out of clothes?
Yes, you can if you use boiling water. Just place the stained area on top of a bowl and use your electric kettle to pour boiling water on top of it. This should be enough to melt and wash the wax away. That said, make sure your garment is heat-resistant before trying this method.
How do you clean wax off jeans?
You can use the effective two-step technique to remove wax from jeans. First, place your folded jeans into a freezer bag and then into the freezer. Once the wax has hardened, scrape it off. Then, iron the stain through baking paper or paper towels to melt and absorb any wax residue.
How do you get wax out of polyester fabric?
Most polyester fabrics are heat-sensitive. So, it’s better to avoid methods that include boiling water and ironing when removing wax stains from them. Instead of these, use the ice cubes method, freezing, white vinegar, or an oxygen-based stain remover to get rid of the wax.
How do you get candle wax out of linen?
The simplest way to get rid of wax stains on linen cloth is to harden the wax by placing it in the freezer. Then, scrape the wax off. Residues can be melted by ironing through a paper bag. For other ideas on how to get wax out of clothes, read the methods we described above.
