How to Clean Wax From Tile

Candle spills and splatters on tile leave a greasy wax stain.

Wax stains on tile, whether from candle, furniture or floor wax, leave a greasy spot. Left unattended, the wax can discolor the tile and act as a dirt magnet. It also leaves a slippery film that poses a danger to anyone walking across the tile floor. To successfully clean the wax stain, you must get rid of both the wax substance and its greasy residue. With the right supplies and cleaning techniques, successful removal of wax from tile is a simple process. When cleaning up wax residue from floor or furniture wax, skip Steps 1 and 2.

Things You'll Need

• Hair dryer
• Paper towels
• Rubbing alcohol
• Bucket
• Ammonia
• Clean cloths
• Used dryer sheet

Instructions

1. 

   Soften wax with a hair dryer for easier removal.

   Turn on a hair dryer at low heat and hold 1 foot from the wax stain, liquefying the wax.

2. Wipe the melted wax off the tile with paper towels. Discard wax-covered towels and change to a clean towels, continuing to remove as much of the wax as possible.

3. Dampen a paper towel with rubbing alcohol. Wipe the area with the towel to remove greasy wax residue from the tile. Dry the floor with another paper towel.

4. Mix 1/2 cup ammonia with 1 gallon warm water in a bucket. Soak a clean cloth in the ammonia solution and wash the tile to remove any remaining wax residue. Dry the floor with a clean cloth.

5. Restore shine to the tile surface by buffing it with a used dryer sheet.

Tips & Warnings

• Use 3-percent hydrogen peroxide to remove dye transfer from candle wax.

• Scrape hardened wax off the surface of tile using a plastic scraper.

References

• Beeswax Candle Company: Candle Wax Removal Tips
• Mrs. Clean USA: Candle Wax Stain Removal
• Reader's Digest: 150+ Household Uses for Vinegar: Remove Candle Wax Stains