How To Get Wax Out of Clothes Without Damage in 6 Steps
Wax is beautiful for setting a mood or celebrating a birthday, but it quickly becomes a nightmare when it drips onto your favourite clothing. Almost everyone has experienced the panic of seeing a melted puddle of candle wax on a nice shirt, tablecloth, or even a pair of jeans. It’s an incredibly frustrating stain because the wax feels permanent.
Traditional washing machines and simple scrubbing just don’t work, often making the problem worse by setting the stain deeper into the fabric fibres. But don’t toss that garment in the trash just yet because it is removable. By combining cold temperatures with gentle heat, you can lift the stain completely without harsh chemicals or damaging the material.
You already have all the tools you need right at home. In this blog, you’ll learn exactly how to get wax out of clothes safely, leaving your item looking as good as new. And if you are short on time or dealing with a very delicate piece, remember that services like Love2Laundry are always available to handle these tricky stains for you.
Can You Really Remove Wax from Clothes Safely?
Yes, you absolutely can get wax out of clothes safely with the right approach and a bit of patience. Wax stains are notoriously tricky because they consist of three components: the hard wax itself, the oily residue left behind, and sometimes a dye if the wax was coloured.
A two-step process is required since the wax repels water, making simple washing ineffective. First, you must remove the solid wax, and then you treat the remaining oily spot to completely get wax out of fabric. Follow our steps to successfully get wax out of clothes without damaging the material.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before you begin, gather a few basic items to make the wax removal process easier. You will need a dull butter knife or spoon for gently scraping the initial hardened wax.
Keep a stack of clean brown paper bags or white paper towels handy to absorb the melted wax. You will also need a heat source, such as an iron or hair dryer, and a bag of ice cubes to help firm up the wax.
Finally, have a mild liquid detergent or a reliable candle wax stain remover ready for the final treatment. For extremely delicate items or stubborn stains, consider using professional dry cleaning services or a reputable laundry service.
How To Get Wax Out of Clothes Without Damage: 6 Easy Steps
Here is the exceptional 6-step guide to help you get wax out of clothes safely:
Step 1: Let the Wax Harden
The wax will be forced deeper into the fabric fibres if you attempt to remove it while it is still warm or soft.
To speed up the process, place a plastic bag of ice on the stain for a few minutes. Alternatively, let the wax cool and solidify entirely at room temperature.
The most important first step in properly removing the majority of the material is hardening the wax.
Step 2: Scrape Off the Excess Wax
When the wax is completely hardened, carefully scrape away the big chunks of wax accumulation with a dull instrument, such as a butter knife or the edge of a credit card.
Lift the fragile wax from the fabric’s surface gently and delicately, being careful not to tug or tear it. The goal here is to remove all the three-dimensional wax, leaving only the thin stain.
Step 3: Apply Heat to Lift the Wax
The stained area should be placed between a brown paper bag or two fresh, thick paper towels.
Press your iron against the paper for a few seconds on a low, non-steam setting. The remaining wax will wick up and absorb into the paper after being melted by the heat.
Repeat this process, replacing the paper often, until no more wax transfers.
Step 4: Pre-Treat the Oily Residue
You might see a faint, greasy residue or colour dye remaining after the visible wax has been removed.
Apply a small amount of stain remover or liquid washing detergent directly to this area.
Before washing, use your finger or a soft toothbrush to gently rub the substance into the cloth, making sure to remove any last greasy smudges.
Step 5: Wash the Garment According to Care Label
Place the garment in the washing machine and wash it using the warmest water setting allowed by the care label.
This warm temperature helps dissolve any lingering oily remnants that are still caught in the fibres.
For extremely tough stains, a process like laundry stripping is not necessary; a simple warm wash is often enough after proper pretreatment.
Step 6: Air Dry and Check the Results
Avoid immediately drying the garment after washing, as the heat can permanently set any faint stains that may still be present.
Instead, let the clothing air dry completely and examine the area thoroughly in a well-lit place.
Repeat the preparation and washing procedures before drying if any discolouration is still visible.
Other Quick Methods You Can Try
- Using a hair dryer on low heat gently melts the wax, helping to remove wax from clothing on delicate fabrics.
- As the wax melts, continuously blot the area with clean paper towels to absorb the liquid, working to get wax out of clothes.
- Placing a plastic bag of ice directly on the stain is great for quick hardening, which helps to remove candle wax.
- The Freezer Method involves placing the garment inside to harden the wax completely, making it easy to snap off.
- After hardening, use a dull butter knife or a credit card edge to scrape off the bulk of the wax safely.
- For any lingering oily spot, apply a few drops of liquid laundry detergent and gently rub before the final wash.
- After the wax is physically removed, wash the item using the right spin cycle for your laundry to remove any final residue.
- For sturdy fabrics like cotton, you can pour boiling water over the stretched area to dissolve remaining traces of the wax and get wax out of fabric (use caution).
Can Dry Cleaners Remove Wax Stains?
Yes, professional dry cleaners are very capable of removing persistent stains, including those left by wax. While you can often get wax out of clothes at home, dry cleaners use special solvents to effectively target both the waxy substance and the oily residue or dye stain left behind, especially after a spill of hot wax on clothes.
It is always better to let professionals handle delicate materials like silk, wool, cashmere, or expensive formal wear, as at-home methods can easily damage these fabrics.
Although the dry cleaning & laundry prices are higher than doing it yourself, their expertise ensures the complete removal of the candle wax out of clothes and helps to preserve the quality of the item, making it worth the cost to get wax out of fabric safely.
FAQs – Removing Wax from Clothes
How do you get dried wax out of clothing?
You can get wax out of clothes by first cooling the area to make the wax brittle, then gently scraping off the excess, and finally placing the paper towels between the stain and ironing to melt and absorb the remaining wax.
Does vinegar remove wax stains from clothes?
Yes, get wax out of fabric with vinegar: you can use a solution of half water and half vinegar to dampen the stain, which can help break down the residual wax and colour left after the initial removal steps.
Does rubbing alcohol remove candle wax?
Rubbing alcohol can help remove the dye stain often left behind after removing the bulk of the candle wax out of clothes; apply a small amount to a clean cloth and blot the stained area.
No More Wax Worries — We’ve Got You Covered
You now have the simple, six-step guide to confidently get wax out of clothes without causing any harm.
We encourage you to try these easy methods for removing both fresh and set candle wax from clothes so you can restore your favourite items.
Remember that if the stain is stubborn or you just want a completely stress-free result, you don’t have to struggle alone to get wax out of fabric. Love2Laundry is here with expert laundry and dry cleaning services to handle even the trickiest stains.
