How to Remove Candle Wax

Co-authored by Mark Spelman and Hannah Madden

You left your favorite candle burning and now there's wax everywhere. Your entire living room is ruined! (Or is it?) Removing candle wax might seem impossible, but there are actually a few different ways you can go about it depending on what you’re cleaning and which tools you’d like to use. Choose the right one for you to get rid of wax fast and protect your interior in the process.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Removing Wax by Freezing

1
Scrape as much wax off as you can. If there’s a lot of wax on your item, use a butter knife to get as much of it off as possible. If the wax is on fabric or clothing, try not to rub it into the fibers so you can avoid a tough cleanup later on.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Freezing and scraping the wax is a good method to use if you’re trying to clean bamboo furniture, cane furniture, wicker furniture, plastic, steel, vinyl, cast iron, and marble.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
2
Put the item in the freezer. Pop small items, like a table runner, into the freezer to harden the wax. If you have a chest or deep freezer, you may even be able to freeze large items, like candlesticks, to help remove the wax.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If the item is too large to fit in the freezer, wrap ice cubes or ice packs in an absorbent towel and apply them to the wax to cool it.
Advertisement
3
Allow the wax to cool completely. This usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour. This will make it easier to remove the wax and ensure it doesn’t spread further.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- You can check to see if the wax has hardened by looking at the color. If it’s turned darker and more opaque, it’s probably cooled.
4
Chip off the wax with a butter knife. Hold a butter knife parallel to the item that the wax is on, then slowly scrape it off. The wax should flake and chip away as you go. If you don’t want to use metal on your item, use a plastic credit card instead.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- If you’re getting candle wax out of a glass jar, use a butter knife to gently pop the wax out of the container.
5
Wash the item to get rid of the rest of the wax. For household objects, put a small amount of all-purpose cleaner and scrub the area with a toothbrush. For clothing or fabric, treat the area with a spot lifter and then put them in the laundry.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- This will get rid of the greasy residue left over from the wax.
- If you’re cleaning wax off furniture, just wipe it down with a clean cloth.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Removing Wax Using Heat

1
Use heat to remove wax from carpets and floors. Sometimes, there’s no way you can put something in the freezer or cool it down enough to scrape the wax off. If that’s the case, you can use heat instead.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Never use heat on glass (which can break) or synthetic fabrics (which can melt).
- Try not to use heat on fabric, as it can melt the wax and spread the stain.
2
Heat the wax with a blow dryer until it melts. Set your blow dryer to a "hot" setting and aim it directly at the stain. Keep the blow dryer a few inches from the surface to avoid scorching the material. Try not blow the wax around—it's easier to wipe up if it's all in one puddle, rather than spread out.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- It may be helpful to have another person helping you here. As the wax melts, someone else can be on hand with a cloth to wipe it away.
3
Wipe the wax off with a paper towel. Wax can be difficult to get out of the cloth or towel you use to wipe up the mess, so be sure not to use your nice towels. An old rag or a disposable paper towel will do the trick. Carefully sop up the melted wax, trying to get all of it at the same time.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- You can also use a plastic-edged card to lift away the hot wax.
4
Remove residue with an all-purpose cleaner. If there's a film of wax left over, get rid of it with a little spray cleaner and a sponge. Squirt or spray an all-purpose cleaning fluid onto the area and wipe it up with a damp rag or sponge. If you're working on a fragile surface (for example, a fine wooden tabletop), be sure not to damage your surface with an abrasive cleaner or rag.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- If there’s still more wax left on the surface, you can use the hair dryer again until you get it all.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Removing Wax from Fabrics

1
Cover the wax with paper towels, then iron the fabric. Set your iron to medium heat and place a few paper towels over the wax. Gently rub the iron back and forth over the waxy area to gradually melt it. As the towels soak up the wax, replace them with new ones until all of the wax is gone.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- You can use brown paper bags instead of paper towels if you have them.
- Make sure you use white paper towels without any designs in order to avoid transferring color to your fabric.
- You can use this method for clothes as well as table cloths, napkins, and towels.
2
Rub the area with ice, then wash your item. Take an ice cube and rub it on the wax until it gets hard. Then, use a butter knife to scrape off the hard wax and throw it away. When most of the wax is gone, run the fabric through a wash cycle to get rid of any residue.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- You may need to use some bleach to get rid of the waxy residue completely.
3
Sponge the fabric with an upholstery cleaner. Spray the waxy area with cleaner and allow it to dry. Use a sponge or a paper towel to blot the cleaner and the wax, then spray more cleaner on. You can keep doing this until the wax is gone.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- If you can wash the fabric, run it through a wash cycle to remove any residue.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Removing Wax from Flooring and Walls

1
Use ice and a cleaning solvent on carpet. Wrap an ice cube in a plastic bag and rub it on top of the ice until it’s hard. Use a butter knife to scrape the wax off the floor, then spray a carpet cleaning spray on the area. Scrub the area with a paper towel to remove any residue.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- You can also shampoo your carpet and then vacuum after it’s dry for a deeper clean.
2
Wipe away waxy residue on vinyl with mineral spirits. If you spilled some wax on your vinyl flooring, rub an ice cube wrapped in plastic on top of the wax until it hardens. Use a plastic credit card to scrape the wax up (a metal butter knife can scratch the surface), then dab a cotton ball in mineral spirits and use that to wipe up the residue.^{[15]
X
Research source}
- Heat can warp vinyl flooring, and chemical solvents can discolor it. It’s best to stick to simple methods that aren’t too strong for vinyl floors.
3
Buff wood flooring to get rid of waxy residue. Wrap an ice cube in a plastic bag and rub it against the wax on the floor until it’s hard. Use a credit card or a dull knife to scrape up the majority of the wax. When you’re finished, buff the wood with a chamois cloth to remove any residue or scratches.^{[16]
X
Research source}
- Wood flooring can get scratched easily, so be careful not to gouge your scraping instrument into the floor.
4
Use detergent to wash wax off of tile, brick, cement, and decks. Use an ice cube wrapped in plastic to harden the wax, then scrape it up with a dull knife or a spatula. When you’re done, mix up a little bit of water and detergent, then wipe the area clean.^{[17]
X
Research source}
- Be careful: your tile will be slippery until the water dries!
- You can use this same method on exterior flooring, like decks or patios.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Troubleshooting

1
Heat the wax if it’s really old. If you’ve just discovered a mess of wax and it’s completely stuck, don’t worry! You can use a hair dryer to heat the wax and loosen it up enough for cleaning. Try to scrape off as much as you can before you go the heat route, though, just in case your material doesn’t mesh with it.^{[18]
X
Research source}
- Never heat anything that’s very old or made of synthetic fibers.
2
Use a vinegar mixture on delicate surfaces. Wood and vinyl don’t do well with sharp tools scraping against their surfaces. If you want to avoid scratching your floors, mix 1 part water with 1 part white vinegar and soak a cloth in it. Use the cloth to dampen the wax and peel it up slowly without hurting your home.^{[19]
X
Research source}
- Vinegar also won’t discolor light-colored wood.
3
Mix alcohol and water for tough fabric stains. If you’ve scraped, washed, and scrubbed your fabric and the waxy residue is still there, mix 2 parts rubbing alcohol with 2 parts water. Sponge the area lightly, then rinse it out with cool water. Keep repeating this until your fabric looks brand new again.^{[20]
X
Research source}
- If your fabric is safe to bleach, you can use that instead.
4
Dry clean linen if it’s stained. Linen fabric is pretty delicate, and it doesn’t hold up well under deep scrubbing. If there’s still an oily residue left on your table cloth or your favorite blouse, take it to a dry cleaner and have the experts fix it up for you.^{[21]
X
Research source}
- Washing and drying linen at home can warp the fabric, so it’s best to take it to a professional.
5
Save recovered wax to get a little crafty. If you cleaned up a lot of candle wax, it can seem like a waste to just toss it in the trash. You can melt the wax and pour it into a new glass jar with a wick to create a brand new candle, keep the wax to use on squeaky doors or hinges, wax a skateboard with it, or use it to seal your fancy letters. It’s up to you!^{[22]
X
Research source}
- If it’s only a little bit of wax, you can toss it out.

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

Question

How do I remove wax from a painted wall?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Heat up the wax, using something like a hair dryer, to get it to melt. Then, wipe it away with a clean cloth and clean the wall with an all-purpose cleaner that is safe to use on paint.
Question

How do I remove candle wax from vinyl fabric on outdoor furniture?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Let the wax cool and harden before trying to remove it. Then, scrape it off with a plastic-edged item like a credit card. Clean the furniture with fabric cleaner to remove any residue.