How Do I Remove Paraffin Wax From Pool Table Felt?

Remove paraffin wax from pool table felt with a hot iron.

Paraffin wax is a solid compound used in candles and for hand or foot treatments. As the paraffin wax heats up, it softens into a liquid and can drip from items such as candles. When the warm wax lands on a surface, it hardens as it dries. Removing hard wax from the pool table may damage the felt, pulling the soft material from the table. Remove paraffin wax from pool table felt by softening it.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Iron
• 1 tsp. mild dish soap

Instructions

1. Remove soft paraffin wax from the pool table felt. Pick up dollops of the wax with a damp paper towel. Avoid smearing the paraffin wax further into the felt.

2. Place four paper towels over the remaining paraffin wax. Heat an iron to a medium setting and turn off the steam.

3. Run the heated iron over the top of the paper towels. As the wax melts it absorbs into the paper towels. After three to four passes with the iron, inspect the paper towels. Replace the paper towels with new ones as the towels become saturated with the wax. Continue ironing and replacing the towels, removing all the paraffin wax from the pool table.

4. Mix 1 tsp. mild dish soap into a sink of warm water. Moisten a paper towel with the soapy mixture and blot onto any remaining stain.

5. Blot the area with a damp paper towel to remove soapy residue. Press two paper towels into the affected area to remove moisture from the felt.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove paraffin wax as soon as possible to avoid leaving a permanent stain on the pool table felt.

References

• Creative Homemaking: Removing Candle Wax Spills