How to Clean Candle Soot From Interior Paint

Candles placed too close to walls or furnishings often leave soot marks.

Most candles produce some soot, and if candles are left burning too close to walls or furnishings, they will leave a visible, sooty mark. Removing this mark consists of at least two challenges: preventing damage to the paint and effectively removing all of the soot. Use the same techniques as fire restoration experts when removing areas of candle soot from interior paint on walls or other painted surfaces.

Things You'll Need

• Chemical soot sponge
• Razor
• Bucket
• Trisodium phosphate
• Rubber gloves
• Sponges
• Cloths

Instructions

1. Wipe a chemical soot sponge over the candle soot mark. Turn the sponge over and wipe the area again. Find a clean area of the sponge, or cut the sponge in two with a razorblade to expose a clean area, then continue wiping to remove as much soot as possible. If you get off all the soot this way, you don't need to continue. Otherwise, you will need to use TSP (trisodium phosphate).

2. Fill a bucket with a gallon of warm water. Add 1 tbsp. of trisodium phosphate to the water, advises the Michigan State University Extension.

3. Put on rubber gloves. Dip a kitchen sponge in the solution and squeeze out the excess.

4. Wipe the solution over the wall to get rid of any remaining candle soot. When you are finished and the mark is gone, switch to a clean sponge.

5. Wet the sponge in clean rinse water. Wipe this over the area to remove residual trisodium phosphate.

6. Dry the area with clean cloths.

Tips & Warnings

• Hardware or home improvement stores usually carry the chemical sponges and TSP.

• Do not wet the chemical sponges before using. They are intended for dry use only.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Cleaning Sooty Walls

Resources

• Parish Supply: Cleaning Sponge