In this article, we offer a step-by-step guide on how to remove wax from a carpet.
Thanks to load shedding, candles have become a “must have” feature in South African homes. They’re likely to stay that way, too. Frequent power cuts are forecast to continue, this year and probably for some time to come.
The soft glow of candlelight adds comfort, even if used in combination with battery-powered emergency lamps or solar lights.
However, using candles does have a tendency to lead to wax spills. Candles get knocked over or simply drip.
How to remove wax from carpets
How successfully you can remove wax will depend on the type of carpet and how bad the spill is. The following method should remove wax from most carpets.
Step 1: Freeze the wax
When the spill happens, don’t wipe it up. Wait for the wax to harden.
Put ice cubes in a plastic bag and apply to the wax to ensure it’s as hard as possible.
Don’t apply ice cubes directly. They’ll melt and wet the carpet.
Step 2: Scrape the wax off
Very gently, use the flat edge of a plastic or metal butter knife to scrape the wax off the carpet.
Remove as much as possible in one piece. Don’t push down when scraping. The wax might penetrate the fibres.
Vacuum up the loose wax. Repeat to remove any wax left behind.
Step 3: Iron the area
Spritz a small towel or dishcloth with water. Don’t oversaturate the cloth.
Lay the damp cloth over the remaining wax spill and apply a hot iron over the top. The steam will penetrate the cloth and melt the wax, which will be absorbed by the cloth.
If the cloth is too wet, it won’t absorb the wax properly. Lift the cloth to check. Repeat once if necessary. Be careful not to damage the carpet fibres with the steam.
Step 4: Wash the area with a carpet cleaner
Once the solid wax has been removed, wash the carpet with carpet cleaner to remove any oily residue.
Use your usual cleaning product or sponge the area with soapy water to lift the last of the waxy residue. Once dry, vacuum to re-fluff the fibres.
Professional carpet cleaning for wax spills
Even if you follow the guidelines on how to remove wax from a carpet, there’s no guarantee of full success.
Unfortunately, wax can be difficult to remove, especially from carpets with delicate fibres.
Also, it’s not always possible to fully remove the mark it leaves behind. This applies especially if the wax spill is extensive or the wax contains a colour.
Professional cleaning, with industrial-standard equipment and specialised detergents, can’t work miracles – but it offers the best chance of removing stubborn marks.
