How to Get Candle Wax Out of Carpets in Six Quick Steps

If using candles during a blackout has become obsolete in your household, surely you have found other uses for them including setting the ambiance for a dinner party, adding a pleasant aroma to the room, or simply during prayer. For some, turning to candlelight is often a last resort when one’s rechargeable lamps and flashlights die out during a storm. So, whatever the case maybe, if candles are lit in your home every now and then, you probably have to deal with wax spills from time to time as well.

While a little spilt wax on a hard, non-porous surface isn’t much of a task to remove, candle wax on your carpet poses a bit more of a challenge. For starters, you need to be a little more careful as you run the risk of damaging the fibres if you are too aggressive with your approach. Secondly, wax can seep into the backing and harden, making it difficult to remove.

With that said, MaidForYou is here to tell you that getting candle wax out of carpet is a lot easier than you might think. A few tips and tricks will see you get the job done safely and effectively, as if the candle wax spill on your carpet never happened! Read on to find out how.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Remove Candle from a Carpet

The thing about candle wax on a carpet is that you need to act fast while also waiting for it to dry before attempting to remove it. As contradictory as that sounds, when you follow the steps below to get candle wax out of your carpet, it will all make sense!

Let’s begin!

Step One: Harden With Ice

Melted candle wax will continue to spread and penetrate the carpet if not cooled down quickly. For this reason, the first step is to make the rest of your job easier by preventing the wax from spreading too much. To do this, use an ice pack or wrap a few cubes of ice in a clean washcloth and hold it over the candle wax spill. Do this for at least a minute or as needed (depending on how big the spill is), ensuring that the candle wax has cooled down and hardened by the end of it.

Step Two: Scrape Gently

Like any other surface, scraping off candle wax is the best and most effective way to remove it after it has hardened. Of course, when scraping a carpet, it is critically important to use a dull object such as a stainless steel spoon or butter knife, and to be as gentle as possible to avoid damaging the delicate carpet fibres. If the layer of candle wax is rather thick, try breaking it into bits from the top rather than scraping from the bottom. Take your time with this step; as the larger pieces of wax are removed, the smaller bits clinging to the fibres will be easier to scrape off.

NOTE: If all the candle wax cannot be removed, avoid scraping more aggressively as any residue left on the carpet will be taken care of later on.

Step Three: Vacuum the Area

If left on the carpet for too long, the bits of candle wax that were scraped off can stick to the fibres (especially if it is a hot day). To prevent this from happening, and in the spirit of ‘acting fast’, vacuum the affected area to pick up as much loose wax as possible. By this time, you will see that most of the candle wax, if not all of it, has been removed. If there is some residue left on the carpet, move on to the next step. 

Step Four: Melt and Lift the Wax

If remnants of candle wax on your carpet could not be scraped off safely, a surefire way to get them out is by melting and lifting the wax with the help of a paper towel or paper bag and a clothes iron. Begin by placing the paper towel/bag over the area and switching the iron to low or medium heat; turn the iron on and wait for the sole plate to heat up. Once hot, gently press down on the covered area for 10 - 15 seconds. If the wax does not melt and cling to the paper, hold the iron down for a bit longer, or simply increase the heat a little. As the candle wax begins to melt and sticks to the paper towel/bag, use a clean side or a fresh piece altogether until all the wax has been lifted from the carpet.

Step Five: Spot Clean the Area

If the candle wax has left a stain (which is typically the case with dyed wax), spot clean the affected area with clear soap and water or rubbing alcohol. For the latter, mix equal parts of water and 90% isopropyl alcohol; dampen a clean microfibre cloth in the solution and gently blot the stain until it disappears. If you are using soap, choose a clear, liquid dish soap to make a mild cleaning solution; spot clean the stain in a similar fashion as you would with rubbing alcohol, and finish off by rinsing the area with a damp cloth.

Step Six: Dry and Vacuum

After taking care of the candle wax on your carpet and the stain left by it, allow the area to dry completely before vacuuming over it. Any residue from the wax or cleaning solutions used will be removed while the original texture of the carpet fibres will be restored. At the end of this step, your carpet should look like it had not encountered a candle wax spill to begin with!

When it comes to carpet cleaning solutions, MaidForYou offers tips and guides that often use the simplest and safest methods to get the job done. This is clearly evident in the step-by-step guide above on how to get candle wax out of carpets! So, the next time someone accidentally spills wax from a burning candle all over your carpet, you know exactly what to do to get it out! If the above strategies don't work, it's best to consult a professional carpet cleaner to get the job done for you.