How to Get Wax Out of a Rug With a Blow Dryer

If you spill candle wax on your carpet, your first instinct might be to immediately begin blotting. However, this tactic will only exacerbate the problem because the soft wax will spread considerably. Instead, pick up the candle and wait for the wax to harden. Then collect a few household items, like a blow dryer and a brown grocery bag, in anticipation of cleaning up the mess using the instructions below.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brown paper grocery bag or several paper towels
• Blow dryer

1. Pick up the candle being careful to avoid burning your hand with hot wax.

2. Allow the wax on the carpet to harden. This will take a few minutes.

3. Tear off a piece of the brown grocery bag or paper towel. Lay it over the hardened wax.

4. Turn the blow dryer on its highest setting and aim the expelled air over the piece of paper. The air will heat the paper causing the wax to melt and become absorbed by the paper. When you see a greasy spot on the paper, you will know that wax was absorbed.

5. Discard the greasy paper and get a new piece if wax remains on the carpet. Repeat Step 4 with this new piece of paper.

Tips & Warnings

• If the blow dryer's hot air will not sufficiently heat the wax when aimed at the paper, remove the paper and aim the blow dryer directly at the wax on the rug. Then, blot the warmed wax with the paper to absorb it.
• If you do not have a blow dryer, substitute an iron instead. The iron's heat should be set to a low level that will not melt or damage the carpet fibers.
• Do not scrape the dried wax off of the carpet fibers. This might stretch or damage the fibers.