How to Remove Candle Wax From Carpet or a Rug

If you burn candles you may have to deal with spilled candle wax at some point. Here is an easy and reliable way to remove the wax from your carpet or rug.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• knife with dull blade
• vacuum
• iron
• paper towel, paper bag or clean cloth
• rubbing alcohol
• sponge
• water

1. Use the dull knife to to gently scrape away as much of the hardened wax as possible. If it is a very recent spill and the wax is still soft use an ice cube to harden the wax before attempting to remove it with the knife.

2. Use your vacuum to sweep up the small pieces of wax you have scraped away.

3. Turn your iron on low with no steam. Cover the carpet area with the wax with the brown paper bag, paper towel or clean, white cloth.

4. Iron over the area of wax until it melts out of the carpet and into the bag/cloth. Be sure to keep the iron moving so you don't burn your carpet.

5. If you have a large area covered in wax you will need to get a new piece of the paper/cloth and repeat step 4. Continue to do so until all of the wax is gone. Remove the paper/cloth.

6. If color from the candle remains on your carpet/rug put a small amount of rubbing alcohol on the spot. Do not put too much on as it could go too deep and damage the "glue" that holds the carpet in place.

7. Blot with a clean white cloth until the color is removed.

8. Use a sponge and some water to "rinse" the area and remove the extra rubbing alcohol.

Tips & Warnings

• I have used the brown paper bag and it works very well.
• If you do use a brown paper bag when removing the wax do not use the part that has writing printed on it is it could transfer to your carpet.
• If you have a special type of rug such as antique or silk use caution, this is just for standard carpets and rugs.

[tammyfrost]

on 8/23/2009 Very nice article!

[juliemcmurchie]

on 8/8/2009 Good tips on removing candle wax from carpeting.