How to Get Lava Lamp Wax Out of the Carpet

Lava lamps work with melted wax. While most lava lamps are made from thick glass that can survive a drop on the carpet, if the lamp catches the end of a nightstand or a bed railing on its way down, it can crack or weaken the glass, causing it to break. If the lamp was not on, you can probably pick up the wax with paper towels if you move quickly. But if the lamp was on and the wax was hot, then the wax can bond onto the carpet fabric. Removing lava lamp wax from the carpet is not impossible but will require some patience and time.

Things You'll Need

• Ice cubes
• Plastic bag
• Scraper or butter knife
• Vacuum
• Dry-cleaning solvent
• Sponge
• Clean, white cloths
• Iron

Instructions

1. Place ice cubes in a plastic bag, and place the bag on top of the wax to freeze it.

2. Break the hardened wax with your fingers, and scrape it off the carpet with a scraper or butter knife. Vacuum up the pieces of wax.

3. Place a small amount of dry-cleaning solvent on a sponge, and apply the solvent to the carpet to remove any remaining wax and color from the wax that bled onto the carpet.

4. Lay a clean, white cloth over the stain, and press the cloth with an iron that has been heated to the warm setting. Repeat this process using a new clean piece of cloth until all the wax and color lifts. If necessary, reapply the dry-cleaning solvent.

5. Blot the carpet dry with a clean cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• You can buy commercial cleaning sponges already coated with dry-cleaning solvent, made specifically for carpet.

References

• Good Housekeeping: Stain Buster--Candle Wax