How To Get Candle Wax Off Tablecloth? Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
14 min read

If you’re trying to create an upscale dinner party environment, you’ll have to deal with the possibility that your tablecloth will get stained by candle wax.

To avoid ruining your fantasy dinner party, use the advice in our tutorial to remove candle wax from a tablecloth. Alternatively,

How to Remove Wax from a Tablecloth

Check the fabric of your tablecloth before beginning any stain cleaning. Natural fabrics such as cotton and linen can be washed using these instructions.

How to Get Wax Off a Tablecloth: 3 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Make sure to use the correct heat setting on your iron in step 3 if your tablecloth is made of synthetic fabric like polyester, which is highly sensitive to heat.

Last but not least, if your vintage tablecloth is made of delicate fabric or lace, it’s probably best to have it dry cleaned. When you bring it in, be careful to let the staff know exactly where the stain is.

Methods on How To Get Candle Wax Off Tablecloth

Method #1: Applying Heat

Step #1

The wax that has gotten all over the place should be frozen. The easiest approach is to fold the tablecloth with the wax on the outside top layer and freeze it. Fill a bag with ice and place the ice pack on top of the wax while the cloth is still on the table.

Step #2

A butter knife or your fingernail can be used to remove the wax off the tablecloth. It’s not uncommon to see tables covered in lace. When removing the wax, take extra care not to damage it.

Step #3

Remove wax from a tablecloth by heating it with a hair dryer or similar appliance. Use brown paper bag pieces to dab at the stain on both sides of the paper towel. Using a paper bag is an option, but make sure there isn’t any writing on it.

Iron the paper using a hot or medium setting on your iron. Steam should not be used when ironing. The wax on the tablecloth will be melted by the iron’s heat and seep into the paper. After that, it’s just a matter of doing some spot cleaning.

Paper towels or brown paper bags can be used again if necessary. To remove all of the wax, keep ironing and replacing the paper. Wax the tablecloth and wash it as usual when it has been removed.

Method #2: Using Cold

Step #1

An ice cube can be used to speed up the process of solidifying the wax that has been spilled. The easier it is to remove resin from the cloth, the less resin that permeates into it! Cool the wax’s outside by brushing an ice cube around it.

You might not have an ice cube on hand, in which case what do you do? You can use another frozen item or even put the tablecloth or placemat in the freezer so that the wax has cooled down completely. It’s a viable option.

Step #2

Using heat, you can melt and transfer any wax that gets lodged in your fabric’s fibers. In order to transfer the melted wax to another substance, it is entirely up to you. Fabrics such as a paper towel, a t-shirt that’s been cut up, or a folded shopping bag can be used.

Place two pieces of whichever transfer material you like between the tablecloth and the area where the candle wax stain appears. Make sure the wax side of the tablecloth is facing up. Then, using an iron or hairdryer, heat the wax stain until it melts and transfers.

Heat can be reapplied as needed. Continue this process until no more wax remains on the tablecloth. Be gentle yet thorough as you do this step.

Step #3

This oily stain may still remain even if you’ve completely removed all of the wax from the tablecloth. The washing machine should be cleaned of this discoloration. Do not use the dryer to dry your tablecloth after washing.

Tips on How To Get Candle Wax Off Tablecloth

  • You may prevent hot wax from dripping onto your tablecloth by placing a large, flat mirror behind your candles. The mirror reflects the candles’ flames, producing a beautiful appearance, and it also collects any wax that drips. To remove wax drips from the mirror, use a dull-bladed knife and an ammonia-based window cleaner wipe.
  • There may still be a stain on the tablecloth even after the wax has been removed with a heated iron. If a stain remains after removing the wax, use a stain removal agent. It is possible to apply Shout directly to the afflicted region prior to washing.

How to Remove Wax from a Tablecloth - Tackling Candle Wax Stains

How to Remove Pesky Candle Wax From Fabric

Step 1:

You should treat this as your most urgent obligation: Before you begin the process of removing the wax from the fabric, wait until the wax has cooled and solidified. You can speed up the chilling process by placing ice cubes in a plastic bag directly on top of the waxy region on the cloth. If you don’t have a freezer at home, Rapinchuk suggests folding up the tablecloth and placing it in the freezer for a few minutes.

Step 2:

To remove the wax from the fabric, you’ll need to wait until it’s hardened and cooled before you can begin to break it up and remove it. With your other hand, use a butter knife or credit card to sweep out the wax that has built up on the fabric.

Step 3:

Heat can be used to remove any remaining wax from the fabric. To remove a stain, use hot water, a hair dryer, or an iron to dry the area. To avoid burning the cloth, keep the iron’s temperature at a moderate setting. In order to re-melt the remaining wax and get it to peel off and attach to the paper itself, Rapinchuk recommends ironing with parchment paper or a paper bag on top of the stain.

Step 4:

Consider using sea salt if your material is light-colored and there is still some residue from the candle’s oil, since candle wax is an oil-based stain. To avoid damaging the tablecloth’s fibers, Rapinchuk recommends staying away from Kosher salt. “Especially if the material is fine,” Rapinchuk warns. Choose a finer-grained product instead, such as table salt.

Step 5:

In a jiffy, toss in the cloth. Keep in mind the cleaning directions printed on the label.

A Comprehensive Guide to Remove Candle Wax Stains from Any Surface

Tabletops

Use a blow dryer on the lowest setting for a few seconds to loosen the wax, then scrape it off with a credit card, plastic spatula, or flexible dough scraper. Using a delicate cloth, you may remove the excess. A plastic bag filled with ice cubes can be used to solidify freshly dripped wax by placing the bag on top of it. Once the wax has solidified, it can be simply scraped off.

Upholstery

Even while a dry cleaner should be able to remove wax from delicate textiles like silk, you can try to clean cotton yourself. Place an ice cube wrapped in plastic on top of the wax to speed up the cooling process. Once the wax has hardened, use your fingernail or the dull edge of a butter knife to delicately scrape out as much of it as possible. Place several layers of damp paper towels on both sides of the fabric before ironing it on a low setting to remove the wax; the towels should wick away the wax. Prior to laundering, use a spot remover and clean paper towels to remove any remaining stain (first test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous location, then follow label instructions on spot remover). You can ask your dry-cleaner to recommend a tailor who can delicately remove the stuffing from a cushion or pillow cover so that the cover can be cleaned separately. Remember to only light candles when they are well away from drapes or other flammable fabrics. Every flame must be extinguished before retiring to sleep.

Rugs and Carpeting

On the surface, the candle wax on the carpet appears to be much worse than it actually is. Wait for it to set, and then use a spoon to scrape up as much as you can. Apply a warm iron to a white cloth or paper towels on top. A low setting is necessary if you’re using an iron over synthetic flooring. Using dry-cleaning fluid if there is any wax remaining is a good option. It’s impossible to get rid of little burn marks, although they can be disguised with scissors. Superglue the fibers into the burn mark, then smooth the top with scissors after they are secured with fibers cut from a hidden strip of carpet. If a stain persists despite your best efforts, don’t lose hope: Rearranging the furniture may be the answer.

FAQs

How do you get dried candle wax off tablecloth?

Hair dryer or iron and two thin towels are required for this. One towel should be placed underneath the clothing, and another should be placed over the wax. The discoloration can be removed by using a hair dryer or an iron. The wax will be melted by the heat and absorbed by the cloths.

Best Tips for Removing Wax Stains | Martha Stewart

How do you get melted candle wax out of fabric?

A liberal dollop of vegetable oil can be used to remove small patches of solidified candle wax from textiles. Paper towels can be used to remove any extra oil from the skin before washing. Another method for removing small amounts of wax from a tablecloth is to freeze the linen.

What is the easiest way to remove candle wax?

Apply medium heat with an iron to a damp, lint-free white cloth, and the wax will stick to the cloth. Remove residue with rubbing alcohol. Alternatively, you can use an ice pack to freeze the wax, and then smash the frozen clump with a blunt instrument like a kitchen implement.

Will candle wax come out in the wash?

If you have wax on your clothes, this small tip is a godsend! You’ll need baking paper, waxed cloths, and an iron. Place a piece of baking paper over the wax smear. Candle wax should leave a mark on your skin. This is a washable item!

How do you remove candle wax from wood table?

Allowing the wax to cool and then gently scraping it off with a plastic spoon, spatula, or credit card is the most effective and safest method of removing it from wood. To make a big mess, use a hair dryer or garment iron to gradually soften the wax before wiping it off the wood with a cloth.

Does candle wax stain?

Candles are both beautiful and useful when the power goes out. It’s just that the waxy stains they can leave behind aren’t pretty—or tricky to erase. The oil, wax, or dye that the wax leaves behind must be removed using particular methods from fabrics and carpets.

How do you get wax out of a washing machine?

Fill the washing machine with hot water and add two cups of white vinegar. Use only water and a regular wash and rinse cycle to clean the machine. This will remove soap scum and other filth and grime from the washing machine, as well as any remaining wax.

Conclusion

Tablecloth stains can be caused by candle wax. In contrast, after the stains have solidified, they can be easily removed with soap and water. To remove candle wax from a tablecloth, follow these instructions.

Using an iron and a few paper towels, you may remove the wax from the candle. After that, wash the tablecloth as usual to get rid of any remaining dye. To remove candle wax off a tablecloth, it should only take one day.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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