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If the wax drips on a hard surface such as wood furniture, allow it to dry and use a dull knife to lift it off. However, removing candlewax from fabric can be more challenging. While you can start with the same process --- scraping excess wax off with a dull knife --- you will need to add another step. Place a clean paper towel over the affected area, and then rub a hot iron over it to melt and lift the wax from the fabric. Repeat as necessary until most of the stain has been removed.
If any traces remain, use a fabric treatment followed by laundering, if the fabric item is washable. Check the label of the fabric and make sure you don't use any products that could damage it, and when it doubt, spot-test first. -
Candles often drip onto carpet, and it can be difficult to remove it from the plush fibers. Try the same approach as outlined above for fabric, but use a cloth rather than a paper towel beneath the iron to prevent burning the carpet, as carpet that contains synthetic fibers can melt. Follow this process with a carpet cleaner to remove any final traces of candlewax.
There is also a product called un-du Candle Wax Remover that supposedly removes stains without having to perform all the steps outlined above. -
A stain from a light-colored candle, such as a vanilla candle, is fairly simple to remove. However, if your candlewax stain is from a red or other deep shade of candle, extra steps may be necessary. Try applying alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to the affected area to lift the colored stain. Obviously, peroxide can bleach, so only use this on white fabrics or carpets.
If you are left with an oily residue, try applying a little baking soda and then vacuum it out after it sits for a little while.
