Ask Heloise/candle Wax Issue

Updated on September 09, 2014
S.W. asks from Birmingham, MI
5 answers

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen....

So the power was out this weekend and we were burning candles to compensate. Here's my issue, When I blew out the candle in my son's room after good night, I accidentally spattered some hot wax on his carpet. It's a short pile shag, wall to wall. I didn't realize it at the time but it became very clear the next day. The candle was white and the carpet is offwhite/ecru.

???? How do I clean it??? I was thinking maybe ice and a fine tooth comb but I don't want the carpet to get too wet.

What can I do next?

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More Answers

J.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Brown paper grocery bag and an iron. Put the bag over the wax and apply the iron to the top. The wax soaks up into the bag like magic.

Use grocery bags not lunch bags.

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S.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

You can also use the iron and old dishrag. Iron over it with the dishrag in between, the wax should all transfer over to the dishrag.

1 mom found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

Brown bag or layers of paper towels, about the size of the candle wax mess or a little bigger. Put the iron on warm but not super hot (you don't want to burn the paper or damage the carpet fibers). No steam. Some people wrap the bottom of the iron in foil. Place the paper on top of the candle wax, then warm iron on top of the paper. Hold the iron still - don't move it back and forth. The heat melts the wax which is then sucked up into the paper. When the paper towels get waxy, have another layer ready to go. Keep using fairly clean layers of towels - you don't want the wax you've picked up to drip or soak back into the carpet. If you don't put foil on the bottom of the iron, be sure to wipe off the residual wax when you're don't - otherwise it goes onto your clothes the next time you iron.

This method works well with wax on clothes or tablecloths but I always put a rag down on the ironing board first, then the clothing, then the towels, then the iron.

When you're all done, if there's any light stain from the wax, use a little dish soap and water, scrub lightly, add more water, and soak up with a towel, which can then be washed.

An all those waxy paper towels or paper bags? Crumple them up and put them in a cardboard (not styrofoam!!!) egg carton and use it in the fireplace to start your kindling when it gets cold and you use your fireplace! It makes me feel a lot less guilty for using up the paper products!

And at any craft store, you can buy little mirror disks to use under candles - for decorative purposes and for emergency candles.

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R.D.

answers from Detroit on

It's super easy. Put a layer of paper towel over the wax and iron it with your iron. The wax melts and is absorbed into the paper towel. It works EVERY time Good luck !

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Isn't the wax already cold? Don't you need to soften it to get it out? Well...I guess if you soften it then it might mush up more and get spread out. I'd simply snip the tiniest bit of carpet that I could to get it out.

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