The problem of stains on things can be solved quite simply with the help of modern laundry detergents. But if these are wax blots, then do not try to immediately wash them with your hands or in a washing machine - nothing will work. Paraffin does not dissolve in water, and detergents do not take it either. Also keep in mind that the wax literally eats into the fabric on both sides and hardens firmly between the fibers.
For the production of candles, wax (a beekeeping product), paraffin (an oil refining product) and stearin, which is obtained from animal and vegetable fats, are used. The properties of these components are similar, so you can use the same cleaning methods. The exception is colored candles that contain dyes. To wash a candle from fabric, you will have to do double work: remove traces of both paraffin and dye.
Removing the waxy coating
There are two home methods for removing wax stains. Which one to choose will be determined by the type of material from which the damaged item is made. When in doubt, read the label on the clothing. On the tag, the manufacturer must indicate the composition of the fabric and the features of its care.
- "Hot" removal. Applicable for natural materials: cotton, linen, calico.
- "Cold" removal. Designed for fabrics that cannot be exposed to high temperatures. For example, for wool. And also for leather products, denim and corduroy.
Ironing method: 5 steps
The hot method involves heating the wax to melt it and release it from the fabric. This is done using an iron. When heat treatment, it is important to remember that the electrical appliance must be heated to an average of 80°C, turning off the steam function. In order for the procedure to be successful and quickly, you need to complete the following five steps.
- Clean off the wax. Before ironing paraffin from clothing, try to remove as much paraffin as possible. To do this, use a wooden spatula, the back of a knife, scissors, a nail file or a school ruler. Proceed with care so as not to damage your clothing.
- Prepare your inventory. Get everything you need: an iron, a piece of plain cloth, napkins, paper towels or sheets of clean paper.
- Preheat the iron. Set the maximum temperature allowed for a particular type of fabric.
- Place napkins on the bottom and top. Place damaged clothing on napkins with the stain facing up. And also cover the stain on top with a paper napkin, on top of which lay a cotton cloth. Iron it. As the wax sticks to the paper, it needs to be changed.
- Wash it. Wash off the remaining wax stain after ironing as usual. You will most likely need a stain remover.
Synthetic items do not like hot ironing; they can be processed in the same way, but at a low temperature. If you are afraid of damaging synthetic clothes, replace the iron with a hairdryer and follow the same principle.
Freezing method
The cold method of wax removal is suitable for dense materials, such as fur, leather or denim. To remove the stain, you need to strongly cool the area where the wax has dripped.
To do this, put the clothes in the freezer compartment or apply an ice pack to the paraffin drops, and in winter just take the item out into the cold. After such an operation, the wax can be removed with any flat object.
Remove remaining stains
Much more difficult than removing convex drops of frozen paraffin is washing stains after waxing. After manipulations with the iron and freezer, a greasy mark may still remain on the clothes. For each material, we choose our own home dry cleaning method.
With suede
Things made from this beautiful material look very impressive. But you also need to care for suede like the most delicate fabric. The following methods will get rid of unpleasant stains on suede products.
- Steam. The clothes should be held over steam, and then the wax build-up should be cleaned with a special brush for suede or blotted with a sponge, but do not rub the dirt into the fabric.
- Ammonia. Ammonia, which has dissolving properties, will help remove stains from clothing that have hardened wax. Dilution proportion: half a teaspoon per liter of water. Wet a cloth or sponge and rub gently until the stain disappears.
- Turpentine. To remove drops of wax from clothes, you need to soak a cotton pad in turpentine and apply it to the paraffin stain for a maximum of 20 minutes. Next, wash in warm water and rinse well.
- Mixture with gasoline. You can make your own solution by combining 50 g of purified gasoline, 10 g of ethyl alcohol and 35 g of ammonia. A soaked cotton pad should be applied to the damaged area for just a few minutes.
Methods of removal with special compounds
To remove paraffin and other adhesive substances, it is permissible to use special chemicals.
Stain remover Dr. Beckmann
Sometimes there is nothing left to do but wash wax from clothes with a special stain remover. This is the only way to avoid damage to the material. Dr. Beckmann is a mixture of solvents and surfactants that effectively removes stains. It is enough to apply the solution to the cleaned area and leave until exposed, not allowing the liquid to dry out. When the stain dissolves and becomes detachable, blot with a wet cloth several times and wash.
Do not use for cleaning work clothes, carpets and leather.
Spartan Chewing Gum Remover
It will help to freeze paraffin without a refrigerator. No need to peel with a knife. Just spray the contents of the can and leave it on for a while. Break the frozen blot with your hands and clean it off with a brush.
How to clean wax with Sapur freeze
Removes stains quickly by freezing, leaving no traces. Most often used for carpets. The principle of operation is similar to the previous product - spray and wipe off the wax.
How to remove wax from clothes after depilation
Mostly wax gets on clothes during some special events. But the risk of getting a paraffin stain also exists when carrying out cosmetic procedures associated with its use. Therefore, there is a separate recipe for how to remove wax from fabric after depilation. If the cleaning is carried out following fresh traces, the procedure can be completed in five minutes:
- treat the stain with a few drops of warm vegetable oil;
- leave the oil on the fabric for two to three minutes to soak;
- Use dishwashing detergent to remove stains.
If you decide to remove candle wax from clothes yourself, do not forget about simple safety rules. When removed hotly, paraffin can get on exposed skin and cause burns. And when working with chemical cleaners, there is a risk of allergic reactions. Even ordinary detergents do not have the best effect on the condition of the skin of your hands and nails. For any manipulations, use thick protective gloves.
Almost any stain on clothing can be easily cleaned and removed using modern laundry detergents. But if it’s candle wax, don’t even try to immediately wash it off or scrub it with your hands or use a washing machine (delicate mode) - it’s to no avail. The waxy mixture will never dissolve with water, and detergents cannot remove it either. And also pay special attention that paraffin instantly eats into all the fibers of the material on both sides.
Types and features of wax
Paraffin and wax candles are still very popular today as a decorative element of the interior, an attribute for creating a romantic atmosphere, and they are also used in churches.
- Wax is a mixture of simple lipids of natural (animal or plant) origin.
- Paraffin is a waxy product of petroleum distillation, a mixture of hydrocarbons.
In the production of most modern candles, paraffin of different classes with various additives is used. Once on clothing from a burning candle, paraffin is absorbed into the fibers and hardens in them, forming a hard film on the surface. It is not washed off with water, so it will take some effort to return your clothes to cleanliness.
Basic methods
Note. If you want to remove traces of paraffin that have become embedded in trousers or another item of clothing, wait until the wax has completely hardened. Otherwise, the situation will not improve, but, on the contrary, will worsen. As a result, the problem spot will increase in size.
Using the hot method involves heating paraffin to its melting point and separating it from the fibers of the material. The ideal tool for this is an iron. When thermally treating a stain, it is important to heat the electrical appliance to eighty degrees. It is recommended to prematurely remove the steam function from the standard mode.
Step-by-step instructions for removing wax from a candle:
- Clean off traces of paraffin. To do this, take a kitchen spatula or nail scissors. Proceed with extreme caution so as not to deform the fibers.
- Prepare a napkin, cotton cloth, white A4 sheet.
- While the iron is heating up, place a napkin underneath and on top of the material. Cover the paraffin blot with a cloth and a sheet of paper. Start ironing the stain.
- After cleaning, be sure to hand wash the item. A stain remover will help get rid of greasy marks.
- It is strictly forbidden to iron synthetic fabrics at eighty degrees.
- Do not use an iron to remove stains from colored candles. The dye used for their production will only penetrate more deeply into the fibers of the fabric, and your favorite sweater will certainly deteriorate.
Steam to remove candle wax
To use this method, equip yourself with:
- a piece of fabric made from natural fibers (an old T-shirt will do);
- hairdryer or professional steamer.
- Cover the paraffin blot with a napkin and start heating it with steam;
- under the influence of hot air, the stain will melt and be absorbed into the material;
- If there is no proper result, you can repeat the procedure several times.
I work in the household appliance repair industry. Extensive experience in restoring washing machines and dishwashers.
Freezing
This method will be most effective for the following materials: denim, leather, wool, products with pile.
To do this use:
- freezer (hardened wax is quickly removed even from light dresses).
- ice from the freezer;
- ice or cold water;
- toothbrush.
The result will be as fast as possible if the item is placed in the chamber immediately after the paraffin enters. This should be done quickly so that the wax does not absorb into the fibers.
IMPORTANT! This is the only way to save costume fabric.
If the clothing is made of thin, delicate material, use ice cubes to remove wax marks. Just apply them to the desired area, and after a few minutes, scrub the stain with a toothbrush.
Removing wax from clothes of different materials
You can remove paraffin stains and candle wax from denim fabrics using the freezing method.
- wash away the stain;
- After half an hour, wash the product, the dirt will immediately disappear.
I work in the household appliance repair industry. Extensive experience in restoring washing machines and dishwashers.
We will also consider the following materials: silk, satin, organza, chiffon, wool.
These fabrics are not easy to clean because they warp when exposed to high temperatures. If you want to use the hot cleaning method, pay attention to the item's label and use only the temperature specified by the manufacturer for processing.
However, it is more rational to use a more gentle method of removing traces of paraffin - soak the item in water, and carefully, after a few minutes, remove the residue with a piece of natural fabric. A greasy deposit will remain at the spot, which can be easily removed with a stain remover.
There are also synthetic products that are prohibited from being processed at high temperatures, for example, a light “top” made of chiffon. In this case, traces of paraffin are removed with a cleaner: the product is applied to a sponge and the required area is treated. It is important to wash off any chemical residue.
Advice! Before using such a radical cleaning method, test the solvent on an inconspicuous area of clothing. If it has damaged the fibers of the fabric or ruined its natural shade, take the product to the dry cleaner.
Woolen and silk items are also damaged by drops of paraffin. Regular dishwashing liquid will help remove it quickly. Apply a little product to the stain and leave for 12 hours. All that remains is to thoroughly wash the soap traces from the fibers.
To clean clothes from candle wax, take it out into the cold or put it in a chamber. Then carefully remove the marks with a wooden spatula. This method can also be used to clean leather pants, a skirt or even a coat.
From fabric
It is often much more difficult to remove candle wax from fabric than from any other clothing, since it all depends on the size and type of fabric. If the fabric was too light and delicate, then the hot wax could burn through it, in which case it would be useless to wash it. If you are lucky and the structure of the fabric was not affected, then you can remove the wax from it in the following ways:
- The first step is to scrape the wax off the surface with a sharp knife, after which the contaminated area will need to be treated with a cotton swab dipped in gasoline. After this, the contaminated area will need to be washed with washing powder.
- If the fabric is suede, then you can remove the wax from it only after you hold the fabric over steam for several minutes. After this, take regular napkins and clean the fabric from traces of wax.
- You can remove wax from jeans and denim as follows: first you need to scrape off the dried wax, then drip dishwashing detergent onto the remaining stain. After this, the stain must be washed with warm water.
Difficult moments
Colored wax
Almost all of the cleaning methods described above will not help remove traces of colored paraffin from things. The situation is complicated by the presence of chemical dyes that penetrate deeper into the fabric when exposed to elevated temperatures.
It is recommended to treat the remaining traces of pigment with a special cleaning agent, and then wash the clothes in the washing machine.
Fur and suede
As soon as you notice a blot of paraffin on a fur item, immediately place it in the freezer for at least half an hour. As a result, you can quickly remove wax even with the lint of your fingers.
To clean suede items, cover the stained area with a clean sheet of paper and gently apply the iron. It is not recommended to hold it for more than three seconds, otherwise the material will become deformed. If the stain has not disappeared, arm yourself with the following components:
- aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide (30 grams);
- wine vinegar (10 grams);
- gasoline (40 ml).
A cotton sponge is soaked in the mixture and applied to the paraffin stain. Then the fabric is wiped with a rag. The structure of suede after such cleansing is quickly restored if you hold the product over steam.
Suede shoes
It is important to immediately remove and revive your shoes after waxing them. Just hold the product over the steam and try to wipe off the marks with a special suede brush.
Materials with unstable paint
The situation is the same as with multi-colored paraffin. The wax is exposed to sub-zero temperatures, after which the stain is cleaned with a wooden spatula. Then the greasy marks are treated with talcum powder or powder and covered with a cotton cloth. A heavy book is placed on top, and the product is not removed from under it for a day, the talc must dry. A Bolognese jacket can also be cleaned in this way.
Removing remaining stains
To remove greasy stains that remain after cleaning paraffin, use the following products:
- ammonia and kerosene;
- acetone;
- turpentine, as well as solvent;
- synthetic detergents, dishwashing detergents, soap.
They are also suitable for knitwear.
The products described above are applied to the stain, and only after a day the product can be washed. However, it must be taken into account that if the paraffin stain does not disappear immediately, then after 48 hours it will be almost impossible to remove it.
Got your favorite clothes stained with wax? There is no need to throw it away or calculate how much dry cleaning costs. Our ancestors knew how to remove wax from clothes using improvised means, and shared their secrets.
Did you have a romantic dinner with your loved one by candlelight? And before that, of course, there was some waxing... Despite the unforgettable moments, unpleasant consequences are inevitable.
The same as after the New Year, Easter or Christmas, for which candles are a mandatory attribute. And these “consequences” often become stains on your favorite elegant dress, which cannot be washed off.
How to remove wax from clothes without going to the dry cleaner? There are several effective methods that are used depending on the type of material on which the wax has come into contact. But almost all of them have one thing in common - the use of high or low temperatures.
How to remove wax from clothes at home?
Experienced housewives know that it is impossible to remove traces of wax - due to its specific structure, the product does not dissolve in either water or detergents.
Natural fabrics
Linen, cotton, calico are natural materials that are the easiest to clean. To do this, it is enough to take thin cotton fabric, paper napkins and an iron heated to 50-70 ° C.
You should place several napkins under the area of clothing where the wax stain is located, and a cotton cloth on top of them. Then you just need to iron this “structure” with an iron. This will allow the wax to melt and soak into the napkins and fabric. The procedure can be repeated several times, changing napkins and fabrics to clean ones.
What not to do and why
There are several rules for how to effectively remove paraffin and protect the fabric from damage. Not recommended:
- heat the fabric with a stain of colored wax - the dye will remain on the clothes;
- rub the stain until it dries - this will increase the area of contamination, and the wax will penetrate deeper into the fibers;
- use sharp objects for cleaning - they will damage the surface of the fabric;
- use aggressive solvents for delicate fabrics (if in doubt, it is better to first apply a few drops to an inconspicuous area and observe the reaction).
We remove “capricious” wax stains from “capricious” things
Colored wax
If colored paraffin gets on things, then practically none of the listed methods will work. The situation is complicated by the presence of dyes in such wax, which penetrate deeply into the fabric when heated. As a result, paint stains will be difficult to remove.
Also, you should not try to scrub the item, since there is a risk of driving particles of colored wax even deeper into the structure of the material. Therefore, the only possible way to try to remove colored wax is to freeze it and carefully peel it off.
The remaining paint stain should be treated with a stain remover, and then wash the clothes in soapy water.
Fur and suede
The first thing to do when you find wax is to place the fur in the freezer for 30 minutes. Frozen paraffin can be easily removed from the villi with your fingers. Small crumbs just need to be shaken off or removed by running your fingers through the fur from bottom to top.
To clean suede, cover the stained area with a paper towel and gently press it against the iron for a few seconds. It is not allowed to hold a hot iron on a suede surface for a long time. Otherwise, dents or gloss may appear. If this does not help, you need to prepare a mixture of the following components:
- 35 ml of ammonia;
- 10 ml of wine alcohol;
- 50 ml gasoline.
A simpler composition: dilute 0.5 teaspoon of ammonia in 1 liter of water.
It is necessary to moisten a cotton pad in the prepared solution and apply it to the stains for a minute. Then wipe the suede with a clean damp cloth. The structure of suede after the procedure can be easily restored by holding it over steam.
How to remove wax from suede shoes?
You just need to hold it over the steam. After the shoes have cooled, you should clean the stains with a stiff brush. If necessary, repeat the procedure until completely cleansed. Particularly difficult wax marks can be cleaned with ammonia or gasoline.
Materials with unstable paint
The situation is almost the same as with colored wax. You should freeze the wax, then crumble it with your hands, rubbing it thoroughly. Then sprinkle the stained area with talcum powder or chalk and cover with a paper napkin. Place something heavy on top and leave for 2-3 hours. After this, clean the stains with a brush and wash the clothes in soapy water to wash off any remaining absorbent (talc, chalk) with wax.
Synthetic products
Often, inexpensive and easily accessible components that everyone has in their home are helpful in the fight against candle marks.
Ammonia
Before you wash candle wax from clothes with ammonia, check the availability of cotton pads or prepare small pieces of soft, light-colored fabric.
Wet the wax mark with a solution of 1 teaspoon of ammonia and 500 ml of water. Leave to act for 2-5 minutes. After waiting for the stain to dissolve, wipe the area with cotton wool or a prepared cloth.
Turpentine or alcohol
Dampen the sponge with medical alcohol or turpentine, wring it out lightly, and rub it on the areas that require cleaning. Repeat the manipulations until the wax dissolves.
You can remove old, ingrained candle marks from clothes using a soaked cotton swab, left on your trousers or blouse for 30 minutes. After which you should scrape off the thawed wax.
Kerosene or thinner
Apply a slightly diluted product onto cotton wool and treat the stained area.
It is important to contact only the wax, without touching the fabric around it, so that prolonged contact does not discolor the fibers of the fabric.
Dish detergents
Apply undiluted, concentrated detergent to the marked area. Leave for a long time. It is optimal to carry out the procedure in the evening, postponing it overnight, so that there is as much time as possible for the chemical reaction to occur.
The next morning, remove the paraffin that has separated from the fabric with a damp cloth or moistened soft towel. Wash it.
The greasy marks remaining after wax removal can also be removed with a detergent, leaving the item with the product applied for a long time.
Chalk or talc
Rub the stained area with chalk or baby powder. Press down on top with a heavy object. After an hour, vigorously brush the desired area with a brush, then with a moistened cloth or wet napkin.
Cleaning up leftovers
To remove greasy stains left after wax, the following products are suitable:
- ammonia;
- kerosene;
- unleaded gasoline;
- acetone;
- turpentine;
- solvent;
- synthetic detergents;
- dishwashing liquid.
After processing, the material must dry well and only then can it be washed. However, it should be taken into account that if the wax is not removed immediately, it will be almost impossible to remove it after a few days.
Attention! If it is difficult to determine which cleaning method is suitable for your item, then it is better not to take risks, but to use dry cleaning services (especially if wax stains are noticed on expensive clothes). Firstly, it is much easier for professionals to cope with such a task. Secondly, in case of failure, they will compensate for the damage for the damaged item.
How to remove wax from jeans
Jeans is a natural fabric. Therefore, stains are removed from denim in the same way as from natural ones. Just before ironing the wax stain, you need to put the jeans in the freezer for half an hour so that the stain dries well. And before throwing the fabric into the wash, you need to very carefully remove the stain using a sharp knife or nail file. It is also advisable to freeze the tissue before doing this.
You can also remove wax stains from jeans using hot water. In this case, the jeans are immersed in hot water, and after greasy stains float to the surface of the water, they are carefully examined. If the stain is not completely removed, you should repeat the procedure in clean water. Then wash the fabric with powder and detergent.
All these procedures are completely contraindicated if colored wax gets on your jeans. Wax dyes can easily ruin fabric because they are easily absorbed by friction and high temperatures.
