How to Remove Red Candle Wax From a Light Carpet

Red candle wax leaves an oil-based color stain on your light carpeting.

Red candles burning in your home add to the atmosphere with their color, light and fragrance. When candles spill or splatter on your light-colored carpet, the red wax causes an oil-based color stain. These stains stick out like a sore thumb until completely removed. Proper technique and supplies will remove the red candle wax stains without leaving a permanent red mark or damaging your carpet fibers. The quicker you get to a candle wax stain, the simpler it is to remove.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic zip-top bag
• Ice cubes
• Table knife
• Paper towels
• Clothing iron
• Sponge
• Dry cleaning solvent
• Bowl
• 2 tbsp. ammonia
• Clean cloths
• 1 cup white vinegar

Instructions

1. Place a few ice cubes in a plastic zip-top bag and lay the bag on top of the red candle wax stain on your carpet. Leave the ice on your carpet long enough to harden the candle wax.

2. 

   Break up hard candle wax into easier-to-remove small pieces.

   Remove the ice bag and set aside. Crack the hardened candle wax using the handle end of a table knife. Pull each piece of candle wax off the carpet, one at a time.

3. Cover the site of the candle wax stain with a paper towel. Warm your clothing iron to a low heat setting and move the iron back and forth over the paper towel. The iron's heat helps to transfer any remaining wax from the carpet to the paper towel.

4. Sponge dry cleaning solvent onto your light-colored carpet to remove the red color stain left by the candle. Work from the outside of the stain into the middle.

5. 

   Use white towels when removing color stains so you can see how much stain has lifted.

   Mix 2 tbsp. ammonia with 2 cups warm water to treat any remaining red dye from the candle. Dampen a clean cloth with the ammonia solution and squeeze out excess liquid. Sponge the stain until it's completely removed.

6. Combine 1 cup white vinegar with 1 cup cool water. Use the solution to neutralize the ammonia on your carpet. Blot the carpet with the vinegar solution, then press a dry cloth into the carpet to wick out the moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow wax to harden on your carpet before scraping or picking the substance out of the fibers.

• Treat red wax color stains with a diluted dishwashing detergent solution.

• Scrubbing or rubbing a candle wax stain can spread the wax or damage the carpet fibers. Blot or sponge instead.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Stain Solutions: Candle Wax: Carpet
• Good Housekeeping: Stain Buster: Candle Wax: Carpet
• 3M Solutions: Carpet Stain Removal Guide: Greasy, Oil-Based Stains