How to Remove Wax from Clothes

Let the wax dry. No matter which method you use to remove wax from clothing, you'll achieve better results if you remove the wax once it has dried. This might go against the desire to get rid of the stain immediately, but you should not remove the wax while it is still hot.

• If you rub the wax while it's still hot, you might spread it to other areas of the clothing and make the situation worse. So, avoid rinsing it with water in the sink while the wax is still hot or scraping it with your hands.
• You can let the wax dry naturally. Alternatively, you can place ice cubes on the clothing to speed up the drying process or put it in the freezer.

Scrape off as much wax as possible. Once the wax has dried, you should scrape off the loose wax before applying heat. A blunt knife can be used for this purpose.

• Scrape away from your body to avoid injury. A blunt knife is recommended because a sharp one could easily tear the fabric.
• For delicate fabrics like silk, use a spoon and scrape gently. Avoid applying too much pressure to prevent damage. Alternatively, you can use the edge of a credit card instead of a blunt knife.

Use an iron to melt the wax. You can remove wax – such as candle wax – from clothes using an iron. Set the iron to a low heat setting. Iron over the wax after scraping it with a blunt knife or spoon.

• Place a paper towel over the clothing. You can also use a paper bag instead of a paper towel. Replace the paper as the wax transfers. You can place a thin cloth between the iron and the paper towel, pressing them onto the wax-stained area.
• Gently press the warm iron onto the paper or clothing. This will transfer the wax from the fabric to the paper towel or bag. Avoid using the steam setting, as it won’t be effective. This method works well for large wax stains. Be careful not to burn the fabric.
• Use blotting paper instead of a paper towel for fabrics like cotton or wool. Otherwise, small paper bits may stick to the clothing.

Apply a stain remover before washing. After trying the ironing method, applying a stain remover before washing will eliminate any remaining wax or stains from the clothing.

• Wash the clothes in the hottest water possible. Use bleach for white clothing or color-safe bleach for colored fabrics. This is especially important if colored wax has stained white or light-colored clothing.
• Avoid putting the clothes in the dryer until you’re sure the stain is gone. Otherwise, the heat could set the stain permanently.
• Hand-wash delicate fabrics or opt for dry cleaning if necessary.

Use a hairdryer. If you don’t have or prefer not to use an iron, there’s another way to melt and remove the wax.

• Place paper towels on both sides of the fabric, blow the stain with a hairdryer for 5 seconds, and remove it along with the paper towels. This method works well for items that might be damaged by the heat of an iron.
• You may need to apply a stain remover and wash the clothing if the stain persists.

Submerge the clothing in boiling water. Soak the garment in a large pot of boiling water to remove the wax. The trick is to add baking soda to the boiling water.

• Use a large pot of water. Bring it to a boil. Add 25-30 grams of baking soda. Dip the wax-stained clothing into the boiling water using a stick or tongs. After a minute, the wax will fall into the water.
• Dip the clothing multiple times. It only takes a few minutes for the wax to soften and fall into the pot. Leaving the fabric in boiling water for too long can damage it by stripping the dye.
• For delicate fabrics like cotton, place a towel over the wax stain and iron over the towel. The wax will transfer from the clothing to the towel, avoiding damage from boiling water.

Use vegetable oil or carpet cleaner. For small stains, you can use vegetable oil to remove them. Apply a generous amount of vegetable oil to the wax. Alternatively, scrape off most of the wax, apply carpet cleaner, scrub the wax with a toothbrush, and wash the clothing in the machine.

• Wipe off excess wax with paper towels. Wash the clothing.
• Avoid stronger solutions like paint thinner or kerosene. However, you can try adding a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the stain along with vegetable oil.

Place the clothing in the freezer. Simply wait until the cold makes the wax brittle. Then, you can peel off most of the wax.

• Leave the clothing in the freezer for about an hour for this process to work.
• Some wax residue may remain. If so, place the stained area over a large bowl and secure it with a rubber band. Pour boiling water over the wax to melt it. Wash the clothing as usual.
• If you want to freeze the wax another way, try using a wart remover spray to freeze it quickly and safely.

• If you don’t have an iron, a flat iron can work just as well!
• You can use the same methods to remove wax from other fabrics, such as tablecloths.
• A bread clip can effectively replace a knife for light scraping tasks.
• Be cautious when using an iron on furniture. If you don’t test it first, you might end up with iron-shaped holes in your fabric.
• The ironing method also works for removing acetone (nail polish remover) from unfinished wood. (Though a soft cloth might be more effective).
• Be careful with candles. They can cause fires.
• Always check the care label on clothing before applying any treatment.

• Do not use this method on dry-clean-only clothing; these items often cannot be safely wet.
• Be careful when using boiling water. Use rubber gloves to handle the clothing when transferring it to the washing machine.

• Clothing
• Water
• Heat source (iron, boiling water, or hairdryer)
• Optional: Baking soda or vegetable oil
• Paper towels, thin cloth, or paper bags