When the power cuts out at home, what’s the first thing you do? Chances are, it’s to reach for a couple of candles and bring some light back to your home.
Being left in the dark at home can be a scary experience, so it’s only natural to reach for the candles – but what if you accidentally drip wax on your clothes or furnishings? Once the power is back on, you’re going to need to know how to remove candle wax from clothes and fabric fast! Luckily, our advice on removing candle wax have all the tips you need.
You can remove candle wax from fabric using the back of a spoon, some greaseproof paper and an iron. However, you should always check the wash care label of any item before undertaking this method and proceed with caution to avoid damage.
How to remove wax from clothes
Spilling candle wax on your clothes during a blackout can feel like a catastrophe, but there’s no need to despair! Just familiarise yourself with the steps below detailing how to remove candle wax from fabric and you’ll be able to restore your clothes in no time.
Removing candle wax: A step by step guide
To remove candle wax from fabric, follow these instructions:
Take a step back
As tempting as it may be, trying to tackle the wax while it is still a liquid could do more harm than good. The stain can spread more easily when wet so have a little patience, and let it set.
Scrape it away
Use the back of a spoon to gently scrape off the wax once it has dried and hardened. You need to be careful not to damage the fabric here so avoid using knives or other sharp implements and apply gentle, but even, pressure.
Iron out the damage
Having removed as much of the spilt wax as possible, it’s time to tackle any wax that’s sunk right into the fibres of the fabric. Place some blotting or greaseproof paper (or even a clean piece of kitchen towel) underneath and on top of the fabric where the wax stain is present. Place a thin towel on top of the paper and carefully iron the stained area. This magical part of candle wax removal should see the heated wax attach itself to the paper or kitchen towel and be removed from your clothes.
Finish by washing as normal
The final stage in removing candle wax from clothes and fabric is to wash the items with a detergent such as OMO Auto Liquid. You can also apply products such as these directly to the clothes as a pre-treatment – just make sure you test any new products on a small area first, and always check the instructions on the garment’s care label.
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Candle wax stains often happen at the most inconvenient times, and they can seem difficult to deal with. Thankfully, in most cases you needn’t worry about forking out for expensive dry-cleaning bills. In fact, if you’ve read this article it’s more than likely you’ll have no trouble figuring out how to remove candle wax from clothes next time the power shuts off.