Candle wax is a common household item that can create a mess if it spills onto your carpet. Who’d have thought that a candle light dinner could cause such a frustrating mess to clean up?
Not only can it be difficult to remove, but if left untreated, it can also cause permanent damage to your carpet fibres. You might not think that a bit of wax can cause such a huge issue, but it can!
Here are some tips on how to get candle wax out of carpet:
How To Get Wax Spills Out Of Your Carpet
Scrape off as much wax as possible
Apply heat
Blot with rubbing alcohol
Use a carpet cleaner or wet and dry vacuum
Vacuum the Area
Scrape off as much wax as possible
Use a dull knife or spoon to gently scrape away as much wax as possible from the surface of your carpet. Be careful not to damage the fibres while doing so.
Of course you need to use enough force to scrape the wax away but remember that this step is just to remove the wax that isn’t touching the fibres to make the next step easier.
Apply heat
Place a white cloth or paper towel over the wax and use a warm iron to melt the wax. The heat will cause the wax to melt and stick to the cloth, making it easier to remove. Be sure to use a white cloth to avoid any dye transfer onto the carpet.
You can also use a steam cleaner if you have one, this would speed up the process by a fair amount. If not, no worries the iron works just fine too.
Blot with rubbing alcohol
Apply rubbing alcohol onto a clean white cloth and blot the affected area. The rubbing alcohol will dissolve the wax, allowing it to transfer onto the cloth.
Continue to apply rubbing alcohol and blot the area until the wax is fully removed. Sometimes the wax is pretty thick so you will need to revert back to the first steps a couple of times before applying the rubbing alcohol.
Use a carpet cleaner or wet and dry vacuum
If there is any leftover residue or staining on your carpet, use a carpet cleaner designed for spot removal.
Follow the instructions on the label and test the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area of your carpet before using it on the wax stain. This can be necessary if the wax has been left on the carpet for quite a while. A mixture of carpet cleaning and a scrub brush should make light work of the rest of the residue.
Vacuum the area
Once the stain is removed, use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining debris or particles.
This will help to restore the appearance of your carpet and prevent any further damage from occurring. Ideally you will want to use a wet and dry vacuum as you will no doubt be sucking up some moisture.
If you don’t have one, it might be wiser to use a towel to brush to remove the candle debris and dry manually with a fresh towel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, candle wax spills can be frustrating, but with the right approach, they can be removed from your carpet.
Remember to be patient and gentle while cleaning your carpet, as aggressive scrubbing or rubbing can damage the fibres.
By following these steps, you can effectively remove wax from your carpet and restore its appearance.
