How To Clean Up Candle Wax

There are so many benefits to using candles. Their delightful fragrances can elevate your home atmosphere, enhance your mood, and minimize stress.

Perhaps the only downside is that wax can melt onto your furniture and fabrics. The good news is that there are several easy ways to tidy up this mess. 

At Snif, we’ve prepared a guide to teach you how to clean candle wax off of any surface so that you can enjoy all the benefits your candles have to provide, worry-free.

What Is the Best Way To Clean Up Candle Wax?

The best way to clean up spilled wax depends on the type of surface that the substance has melted onto. 

Here are step by step instructions to help you remove candle wax from rugs, clothes, and hard surfaces.

On Hard Surfaces

If candle wax has melted onto a hard surface in your home, such as a glass coffee table, hardwood floor, or tile countertop, the first thing you should do is apply ice to the affected area. 

The cold ice will harden the wax, making the next step of scraping it off much easier. Use any sort of plastic scraper to remove the hardened wax from the table. 

If you don’t have one on hand, you can take a DIY approach and use household items like credit cards, gift cards, plastic spatulas, and plastic rulers.

It’s important to avoid using metal tools, as this can damage the surface. Once the majority of the wax has been scraped off, you’ll probably notice some wax residue left behind. 

Use a washcloth or paper towel to wipe away these stains. You can combine warm water and dish soap to clean the surface, or for something a little more powerful try mixing your water with white vinegar. 

On Clothes and Fabrics

Similar to how you clean candle residue from a hard surface, if melted wax gets onto your clothes or some other fabric, start by hardening the wax. You can do so by applying ice to the material, or you can place your stained article of clothing in the freezer.

After the wax has hardened, scrape it off of your garment. If it’s too tough to remove it by hand, you’ll need to use an object like a plastic knife or spoon. Just be sure that the tool you use has a dull edge. This will minimize the chance of your clothing getting torn.

If after this step there is still some remaining wax, move on to applying heat. Grab a paper bag and place it over the affected area. Then, carefully press a heated iron onto the bag. If you don’t have access to an iron on hand, a blow dryer can work just as well. Whatever wax is left should melt off of your fabric and onto the bag. 

If there’s a wax stain left behind, use a soft cloth to gently apply a stain remover, baking soda, or some dish soap to the blemish. Then wash the fabric with your next load of laundry. Remember not to tumble dry the piece until the stain is out of sight. 

On Rugs

Just like with the other types of surfaces, the first step to removing hot wax from a rug or carpet is to harden it. 

Place an ice pack atop the wax and wait for it to solidify. If you do not have an ice pack, you can use ice cubes instead. To avoid making a watery mess all over your carpet, put the ice cubes in a plastic bag first.

Once the wax has solidified, use household objects like toothpicks or a butter knife to gently scrape off as much as you can. Unlike with clothing, it’s typically safe to use metal items. Still, your tools should be dull, not sharp, so that you don’t accidentally damage your rug in the process.

Next, place a disposable clean cloth over whatever excess wax is still left. Use a warm iron or a hair dryer and apply heat. Just like with the paper bag trick, this should take the leftover wax and transfer it onto the cloth. 

After the wax is gone, use a store-bought carpet cleaner to tidy up. If you do not have carpet cleaner, you can try using a combination of dish soap and warm water instead. Take the soapy water and gently work it into your rug. Other popular DIY carpet cleaners include baking soda and white vinegar.

How To Clean a Used Candle Jar

There are lots of ways to repurpose a candle jar. They can be used as toothbrush holders, planters for succulents, storage for cotton balls, a container for seasonings, and more. You can even fill an old candle jar with wax and make a new one.

But before you can get to any of that, you’ll first need to clean out the previously used container. There are two methods for doing so: the freezer method and the hot water method.

Hot Water Method

To be specific, the hot water method requires boiling water, so your first step will be to put a pot of water on the stove to boil. When the water is ready, safely transfer some into your jar. 

Avoid filling up the container all the way. The heat from the water will cause any remaining wax in your candle jar to melt, and you will need space at the top of the jar for this debris to float up.

Set the jar aside and wait for the water to cool and the floating wax to harden. When it is safe to do so, pluck out the solidified wax. If there’s still wax stuck to your candle jar, you will need to repeat the process over again. Finally, after all the wax has been removed, clean the jar using warm water and dish soap.

Freezer Method

With the freezer method, you’ll need to wait for the candle jar to cool down before you can begin the cleaning process. It’s also important to wait for any remaining wax to solidify. 

Next, take the jar and put it in your freezer. The goal is to freeze the container so that it will be easier to remove the wax inside. To achieve this, leave the jar to freeze for a few hours and then move on to the next step.

After the candle jar has chilled and the leftover wax has contracted, use any kitchen utensil to scoop the wax out. This may take a little prying, but remember to do so gently, especially if you are working with a glass container.

Once you have popped out all the large chunks of leftover wax, use a paper towel to wipe out whatever is left. You can add a dab of rubbing alcohol to the paper towel for a little extra support. Once there is no visible debris, wash the jar as you would any other dirty dish.

What Not To Do When Candle Wax Spills

Although cleaning up melted candle wax is a pretty straightforward process, there are lots of little mistakes that can happen along the way that will make your job more difficult. Here is a list of things not to do when candle wax spills.

1. Don’t Panic

This first tip might sound easier said than done, but the truth is that panicking over spilt wax could lead to you hurting or burning yourself. Melted wax is hot, so don’t rush to clean it up. Remind yourself that there is a solution to this problem and the best way to handle it is calmly and rationally. 

2. Don’t Apply Direct Heat

Although many of the methods for cleaning up candle wax do involve the application of heat, you should avoid applying any directly onto the fabric or surface. 

Too much heat can further damage the material, especially if it is delicate. Don’t forget to use a filter between your heated tool and the wax, such as a washcloth or paper bag.

3. Don’t Use Hot Water

In this same vein, it is best not to immediately use hot water when cleaning up wax. When we spill something that can stain, it’s often our first instinct to use hot water to fix it. 

Applying hot water to hot wax will just exacerbate the issue, making the mess bigger and trickier to clean up. If you’re going to use heat, first wait for the wax to cool and solidify.

4. Don’t Dry Stained Fabric

When candle wax gets onto fabric, it’s crucial that the material is completely clean before you toss it in the drying machine. 

Whether it’s a tablecloth or your favorite sweater, if you want to reuse these items, then don’t put them in the dryer until the wax stains are gone. Heat from the drying machine can actually deepen stain particles making them even tougher to eliminate.

What Are Some Candles To Try?

Now that you are comfortable lighting candles in your home, you can move on to the best part of candle shopping — picking out the scents. 

There are endless candle fragrances to choose from, but here are three seasonal aromas we suggest trying out.

Apple Cider Smash

This apple cider candle features sparkling apple cider, honeycrisp apple, warm donut accord, and Madagascar vanilla for a crisp, cozy, and nostalgic scent.

Pumpkin Smash

With pumpkin spice, cinnamon stick, cardamom, and whiskey, this pumpkin candle brings you the ultimate sweet, warm, and inviting scent.

Instant Karma

This cardamom candle includes black plum, black tea, vetiver, and geranium for a dark, dreamy scent that reminds you what goes around, comes around.

Wax On, Wax Off

The next time a little wax melts off your candle and onto a surface in your home, you’re going to be able to handle it like a pro. 

With just a little effort and a few simple household items, no one will ever be able to tell that the wax was ever there.

Sources

Inhalation Effect of Lychee-Scented Candles on Stress | PMC

Stress Management | PubMed

Burns: Classification, Pathophysiology, and Treatment: A Review | PMC

Stain Removal | Museum Conservation Institute