Cleaning and Wax Removal Suggestions
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Cleaning candleholders.
To remove melted wax from your votive cups or other candleholders, place the candleholder in the freezer for 2-3 hours to let the wax completely harden. Remove the candleholder from the freezer, and gently pop the wax from the holder using a blunt knife, such as a butter knife, or a spoon. Any remaining wax can be removed by washing the holder in hot, sudsy water.
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Removing spilled wax.
Below are some suggestions for removing spilled wax from a variety of surfaces. Be sure to always test the method in an inconspicuous place before treating the whole spill.
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Nonporous surfaces (glass, plastic, glazed ceramic):
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Use a blunt knife (such as a butter knife or a plastic knife) or an old credit card to gently scrape away as much wax as you can. Remove remaining wax by washing the item in hot, sudsy water, or use a commercial wax remover. If necessary, you can use a razor to remove any remaining bits of wax.
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Carpets:
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Fill a small plastic bag with ice and run it over the wax spill to harden the wax. Once it is hardened, use a blunt knife or spoon to chip away as much wax as you can. You may need to run the ice over the wax again to harden it. Once you have removed as much wax as you can, lay several sheets of paper towel or a piece of a paper grocery bag over the spill. Turn your iron to a low setting*; you may want to protect your iron from getting wax on it by covering it with a thin towel or piece of aluminum foil. Press down your iron on the paper towel or paper bag; the wax from the carpet will be absorbed into the paper. As you work through the spill, you may have to replace the paper towel/bag with a fresh one several times, depending on how much wax you need to remove.
If any of the spill remains, you should try a commercial carpet stain remover, or contact a professional carpet cleaner.
*NOTE: Some synthetic carpets may melt if you set the temperature on your iron too high. Be sure to keep the iron on a low setting, and test this method on a small, inconspicuous spot prior to proceeding.
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Porous Surfaces (wood, stone, concrete, unglazed ceramics, etc.):
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It may be impossible to completely remove the wax from a porous surface, as the melted wax can permeate down into the material.
As quickly as possible after the spill, fill a plastic bag with ice and apply to the wax to harden it and minimize its seepage into the material. Then, using a blunt knife or old credit card, gently scrape up as much wax as you can, being careful not to mar the surface the wax spilled onto. At this point, you can try the iron and paper towel/paper bag method as described above in carpet spills. Again, be sure to test this in an inconspicuous spot, and make sure that the material you are using the iron on can withstand the heat. Otherwise, a commercial wax remover can be used.
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Small tabletop spills:
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Set your hair dryer to the lowest setting, and warm the wax for several seconds. Using a blunt knife or old credit card, gently scrape up as much wax as you can, taking care not to mar the tabletop surface. You can then buff away any remaining wax residue.
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Clothing:
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Harden the wax by running ice cubes over the spill (or you can put the garment itself straight into the freezer!). Once hardened, use a blunt knife or old credit card to scrape off as much wax as you can. At this point, there are a couple methods you can try.
· Pour boiling water through the stain, and wash the garment separately in hot water. If the garment should not be washed in hot water, you may want to try the next method:
· Use mineral spirits or an oil solvent to remove residue. Rinse with isopropyl alcohol and let dry. Wash with an enzyme detergent.
Note: these methods could damage the fabric. If you are uncertain, take the garment to a professional dry cleaner.
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