Almost any stain on clothing can be easily cleaned and removed using modern laundry detergents. But if it’s candle wax, don’t even try to immediately wash it off or scrub it with your hands or use a washing machine (delicate mode) - it’s to no avail. The waxy mixture will never dissolve with water, and detergents cannot remove it either. And also pay special attention that paraffin instantly eats into all the fibers of the material on both sides.
- Basic methods
- Removing wax from clothes of different materials
- Difficult moments
- Removing remaining stains
Basic methods
Note. If you want to remove traces of paraffin that have become embedded in trousers or another item of clothing, wait until the wax has completely hardened. Otherwise, the situation will not improve, but, on the contrary, will worsen. As a result, the problem spot will increase in size.
Iron
Using an iron
Using the hot method involves heating paraffin to its melting point and separating it from the fibers of the material. The ideal tool for this is an iron. When thermally treating a stain, it is important to heat the electrical appliance to eighty degrees. It is recommended to prematurely remove the steam function from the standard mode.
Step-by-step instructions for removing wax from a candle:
- Clean off traces of paraffin. To do this, take a kitchen spatula or nail scissors. Proceed with extreme caution so as not to deform the fibers.
- Prepare a napkin, cotton cloth, white A4 sheet.
- While the iron is heating up, place a napkin underneath and on top of the material. Cover the paraffin blot with a cloth and a sheet of paper. Start ironing the stain.
- After cleaning, be sure to hand wash the item. A stain remover will help get rid of greasy marks.
- It is strictly forbidden to iron synthetic fabrics at eighty degrees.
- Do not use an iron to remove stains from colored candles. The dye used for their production will only penetrate more deeply into the fibers of the fabric, and your favorite sweater will certainly deteriorate.
Soak
Steam to remove candle wax
To use this method, equip yourself with:
- a piece of fabric made from natural fibers (an old T-shirt will do);
- hairdryer or professional steamer.
Removal technology:
- Cover the paraffin blot with a napkin and start heating it with steam;
- under the influence of hot air, the stain will melt and be absorbed into the material;
- If there is no proper result, you can repeat the procedure several times.
Expert opinion
Irina. Housewife.
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Important! If using a hairdryer does not bring the desired result, use a steamer. You just need to keep it at a distance of ten centimeters from the stain, otherwise you will ruin the fibers of the fabric.
Freezing
Freezing things
This method will be most effective for the following materials: denim, leather, wool, products with pile.
To do this use:
- freezer (hardened wax is quickly removed even from light dresses).
- ice from the freezer;
- ice or cold water;
- toothbrush.
The result will be as fast as possible if the item is placed in the chamber immediately after the paraffin enters. This should be done quickly so that the wax does not absorb into the fibers.
IMPORTANT! This is the only way to save costume fabric.
Ice
If the clothing is made of thin, delicate material, use ice cubes to remove wax marks. Just apply them to the desired area, and after a few minutes, scrub the stain with a toothbrush.
How to remove wax stains: stage one
To remove stains of this type, you need to know certain rules, adhering to which everything will go without a hitch. Removing wax stains from fabric is not difficult, but the work is divided into two stages. The first is to remove the top layer, but now we will find out how to do this correctly.
How to remove wax stains from clothes without damaging the fibers? The top layer is removed either by cold or heat, the method is chosen according to the type of fabric and personal preference.
The hot removal methods are:
- The most common and simplest is the use of an iron. How to remove candle stains with it? In addition to the heating device itself, you will need a towel, paper napkins, and an ironing board. Place the soiled item on a flat surface; first place a napkin under the contamination. Place a towel or handkerchief on top of the mark and heat the iron to the required temperature. Using a hot household appliance, pass the stained area through a towel; the melted wax will be absorbed by the top layer, so the stain will come off the product.
- How to remove wax stains from clothes using boiling water? This method is used only for dense, well-dyed fibers. Delicate and natural fabrics are not subjected to such stress; hot water will ruin a product of this type forever. You can remove a paraffin stain from a piece of clothing by placing the stained area in a container of boiling water; this must be done carefully so as not to get burned. After immersion, wait only 20-30 seconds and remove the area of contamination. There will be enough time for the wax to melt and flow into a container of water.
To remove stains with an iron, choose white paper napkins; colored ones can stain the item being cleaned.
Advice! To remove wax, boil water only in a clean container.
How to remove marks with cold? You won’t find any difficulties here, the main thing is to follow the instructions exactly. The process consists of the following steps:
- The contaminated product is folded to the minimum size, while the trace should remain on top.
- Place the item in the refrigerator or freezer for 20-30 minutes.
- Take it out and carefully scrape off the frozen wax with a blunt object.
Next, they begin to remove the residual trace using other means and solutions.
You can influence the cold in another way; if the stain was planted in a public place, then you will not be able to iron the item of clothing or put it in the freezer. How to clean such contamination in a cafe or restaurant? A piece of ice wrapped in a napkin or towel will help. They wipe the mark with it, and when the wax hardens, they simply remove it.
Removing wax from clothes of different materials
Let's consider natural fabrics.
You can remove paraffin stains and candle wax from denim fabrics using the freezing method.
More details:
- wash away the stain;
- After half an hour, wash the product, the dirt will immediately disappear.
Expert opinion
Irina. Housewife.
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This cleaning method is the best for home use.
We will also consider the following materials: silk, satin, organza, chiffon, wool.
These fabrics are not easy to clean because they warp when exposed to high temperatures. If you want to use the hot cleaning method, pay attention to the item's label and use only the temperature specified by the manufacturer for processing.
Candle wax
However, it is more rational to use a more gentle method of removing traces of paraffin - soak the item in water, and carefully, after a few minutes, remove the residue with a piece of natural fabric. A greasy deposit will remain at the spot, which can be easily removed with a stain remover.
There are also synthetic products that are prohibited from being processed at high temperatures, for example, a light “top” made of chiffon. In this case, traces of paraffin are removed with a cleaner: the product is applied to a sponge and the required area is treated. It is important to wash off any chemical residue.
Advice! Before using such a radical cleaning method, test the solvent on an inconspicuous area of clothing. If it has damaged the fibers of the fabric or ruined its natural shade, take the product to the dry cleaner.
Woolen and silk items are also damaged by drops of paraffin. Regular dishwashing liquid will help remove it quickly. Apply a little product to the stain and leave for 12 hours. All that remains is to thoroughly wash the soap traces from the fibers.
To clean clothes from candle wax, take it out into the cold or put it in a chamber. Then carefully remove the marks with a wooden spatula. This method can also be used to clean leather pants, a skirt or even a coat.
General recommendations
Is it possible to remove wax stains at home or is dry cleaning necessary? Yes, specialists will do everything right, but what to do if there is no time for this? Don’t panic or get upset; you can save a fabric product at home in a short period of time using improvised means. To do this, you should know the generally accepted principles for purifying such contaminants:
- It is advisable to carry out all work without delay; the fresher the stain, the faster it will be removed.
- Wax stains can be removed by heating or cooling; washing will be the final step.
- Before removing the greasy mark, the paraffin stain is cleaned with a blunt object.
- Haste in this matter is not the best helper; everything must be done carefully, otherwise the contamination may become more extensive.
- Any product for removing greasy wax stains must first be tested on a small, inconspicuous area of the product, and only then treat the problem area.
Advice! Do not immediately use store-bought stain remover or bleach after removing the top layer. First of all, seek help from people's councils.
Difficult moments
Colored wax
Almost all of the cleaning methods described above will not help remove traces of colored paraffin from things. The situation is complicated by the presence of chemical dyes that penetrate deeper into the fabric when exposed to elevated temperatures.
Expert opinion
And the washing method is also not suitable, because coloring pigments can penetrate deeper into the material. Therefore, the only effective way is exposure to sub-zero temperatures and carefully washing off the frozen stain.
Mechanical removal
It is recommended to treat the remaining traces of pigment with a special cleaning agent, and then wash the clothes in the washing machine.
Fur and suede
As soon as you notice a blot of paraffin on a fur item, immediately place it in the freezer for at least half an hour. As a result, you can quickly remove wax even with the lint of your fingers.
To clean suede items, cover the stained area with a clean sheet of paper and gently apply the iron. It is not recommended to hold it for more than three seconds, otherwise the material will become deformed. If the stain has not disappeared, arm yourself with the following components:
- aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide (30 grams);
- wine vinegar (10 grams);
- gasoline (40 ml).
A cotton sponge is soaked in the mixture and applied to the paraffin stain. Then the fabric is wiped with a rag. The structure of suede after such cleansing is quickly restored if you hold the product over steam.
Suede shoes
It is important to immediately remove and revive your shoes after waxing them. Just hold the product over the steam and try to wipe off the marks with a special suede brush.
Materials with unstable paint
The situation is the same as with multi-colored paraffin. The wax is exposed to sub-zero temperatures, after which the stain is cleaned with a wooden spatula. Then the greasy marks are treated with talcum powder or powder and covered with a cotton cloth. A heavy book is placed on top, and the product is not removed from under it for a day, the talc must dry. A Bolognese jacket can also be cleaned in this way.
Removing remaining stains
To remove greasy stains that remain after cleaning paraffin, use the following products:
- ammonia and kerosene;
- acetone;
- turpentine, as well as solvent;
- synthetic detergents, dishwashing detergents, soap.
They are also suitable for knitwear.
The products described above are applied to the stain, and only after a day the product can be washed. However, it must be taken into account that if the paraffin stain does not disappear immediately, then after 48 hours it will be almost impossible to remove it.
