What to do first 6 ways to remove wax from a tablecloth (by fabric type) 4 ways to remove paraffin if there is a greasy stain left 2 ways to clean a tablecloth from wax with dye
A romantic evening, New Year's Eve, a holiday with the family - candles will fit into any setting. But often after an event we find that paraffin has dripped onto a freshly washed fabric. The candle could be without a candlestick or leak outside of it. We tell you how to remove wax from a candle from a tablecloth (even if it had dye on it and left a bright stain).
Consider the type of fabric
Before you start cleaning, you need to pay attention to the composition of the fabric from which the soiled clothes are made. It is easier to remove traces of wax or paraffin from jeans than from a silk blouse.
Fabrics of natural origin
The easiest way is to remove candle drips from linen or cotton fabrics. Such materials can easily withstand high temperatures; their fibers are not destroyed by solvents.
But keep in mind that some products can discolor the fabric. Therefore, before cleaning denim or calico, you need to try the effect of the selected stain remover in an inconspicuous place. If the color remains, then the method can be safely used.
Delicate fabrics
Silk, wool, and synthetic fabrics will not withstand high temperatures. Therefore, when washing and using the iron, it is important to adhere to the recommended temperature conditions. Organic solvents should be used carefully, making sure that the liquid does not destroy the fibers of the fabric.
Most often, gentle methods of exposure are recommended for delicate fabrics: treatment with dish gel, laundry soap. You can use ready-made industrial stain removers, selecting the product taking into account the type of material.
Jeans
If the denim fabric is thick enough, then there won’t be too many problems with it. This fabric is not afraid of temperatures and is resistant to damage. There are several ways that can help you with this problem.
- Soak the clothes in very warm water for 30 minutes. Afterwards, you can choose: either hand wash or machine wash. The advantage of hand washing is that it will be easier for you to understand whether you did it or not. Add a little more hot water and start washing. If greasy stains appear on the surface of the water, it means the fabric has been washed. If the stain is not sufficiently cleaned, place it in a soapy solution and wash. Afterwards, rinse in cold water. In case of automatic washing, set the temperature at 50-60 degrees.
- Hot and cold removal methods work just as well.
- If the fabric is thick enough, you can try to simply rub off the wax with a dull knife. After removing the stain, wash or use dishwashing detergent.
- Plain jeans require more careful handling, denatured alcohol. Apply a couple of drops to the problem area and wait a few seconds. Afterwards, wipe lightly with a damp cloth.
Often a piece of cloth is included with the clothing. It is on this page that you can check whether the method you have chosen will discolor the fabric. Also, when using the hot method or hot wash, look at the instructions and do not exceed the temperature specified by the manufacturer.
After any of the selected methods, be sure to wash the item. If it is not cleared, repeat again.
Mechanical cleaning
Most often, stains from wax, paraffin or stearin on clothing appear as a result of careless handling of candles. Therefore, dirt looks like drops and smudges. Before using chemical stain removers, you should try to remove the stain mechanically. This will remove most of the wax.
Scraping
This is the simplest and most accessible method. It is best to use a teaspoon or a nail file. A plastic spatula works well.
It is not recommended to use a knife, as a sharp blade will easily damage the fibers of the fabric, and a hole or abrasion will form in place of the stain.
Steam treatment
Since wax melts well, it makes sense to get rid of the stain using high heat. One option is steam treatment. To do this, you need to boil water in a small saucepan or in a regular (not electric) kettle.
You should hold the stained area over steam until the candle marks begin to melt. Now you need to carefully blot the liquid wax with a napkin. This method is suitable for clothes made of natural fabric, but cannot be used for synthetics.
Advice Using the same principle, a steam cleaner and a steam generator fight wax.
Heat with iron and hairdryer
A more comfortable method is to process things with an iron or hairdryer.
Advice: The melting point of wax and wax-like mixtures is 45-65 degrees, so this method is acceptable for any type of fabric. The main thing is to first set the iron to the appropriate temperature setting.
Procedure:
- Remove as much wax as possible by scraping.
- Place several paper napkins under the cloth and on top of the stain area.
- Use a hot iron to melt the wax and absorb it into the napkins.
- Change wipes periodically until the stain disappears.
- Wash the item.
If you need to remove traces of wax from shoes or furniture, you can melt the wax stain using a hair dryer.
Freezing
Wax smudges can not be heated, but frozen. This method is even easier than using an iron.
Soiled clothing should be wrapped in a bag and placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours. In winter, take it out onto an uninsulated balcony. When wax freezes, it becomes brittle and easily cracks and crumbles. It won't be difficult to scrape it off.
If the item is large and does not fit into the freezer, you need to take ice and put it in a bag. Apply this ice “compress” to the stained area until the wax freezes.
Using mechanical methods and exposure to temperature, the wax is removed from the surface of the fabric. But there will still be a greasy stain from substances that have penetrated deep into the fibers. Therefore, you can’t do without stain removers.
What to do first
- Try not to light a candle without a candlestick. If you don't have one, use a small mirror. The wax will drip onto it and harden. It is easy to remove from such a surface. In addition, the reflections will reflect from the mirror and create a bizarre play of light. This can be used as part of the interior.
- But if the incident has already happened, the first thing to do is not panic. The main thing is not to try to remove a fresh drop that has not yet dried. You still won't be able to wipe it off. Hot water not only will not dissolve paraffin, but can also melt it, increasing the area of the stain. The dyes in the candle can become even more ingrained into the fibers, making it much more difficult to wash them off.
- Wait until the stain dries. You will need to clean the dried layer and get rid of the grease stain. Often no trace of contamination remains at the first stage. Especially if it's fresh.
Purchased funds
After mechanical removal of wax from fabric, the problem arises of how to clean the remaining greasy stains. Purchased products are quite effective.
Dishwashing gels
The simplest option is dishwashing gel. This product contains components that effectively dissolve fat, so it helps remove remaining wax marks on fabric.
Necessary:
- Pour a little gel onto the stain.
- Leave for 40-60 minutes.
- Launder.
If it was not possible to remove the greasy mark on the fabric the first time, then the treatment must be repeated.
Amway stain remover
Amway universal stain remover copes well with residual traces from candles. It is recommended to use the product in spray form. It is sprayed onto traces of grease, and then the item is washed in the machine. It won’t hurt to additionally add Amway powder enhancer when washing.
Advice The instructions for the Amway stain remover spray do not say whether it is necessary to wait for a period of time after spraying. But it’s still better to wait 5-10 minutes for the product to take effect, and only then start washing.
Removing Colored Wax
Candles are not only white, but also colored. Stains from colored wax-like mixtures are more difficult to remove, since dye is also added to the fatty components. Heat treatment cannot be used here: the dye will spread and stain an even larger area.
How to remove colored wax from clothes:
- Freeze the soiled item and then mechanically remove the crumbled remains with a spatula or spoon.
- Wash using laundry soap or Antipyatin product to remove the pigment.
- Remove any remaining greasy stain using stain remover or dish gel.
- After this, wash the item.
Cleaning up leftovers
After removing the wax itself, peculiar greasy stains often remain. To remove them, you can use any of the following methods:
- Acetone,
- Turpentine,
- Dishwashing liquid,
- Ammonia,
- Refined gasoline or kerosene,
- Solvent,
- Synthetic detergents.
Once you've finished cleaning, let the fabric dry completely. Only after this can you send the clothes to the wash. The above methods are effective against fresh stains. Removing stale wax from clothes may not be realistic. Therefore, act immediately after the incident. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to immediately take things to the dry cleaner.
Traditional methods
Stain removers are not always at hand, so housewives often use improvised means to remove stains.
Solvent
To remove traces of wax stains, you need to use organic solvents:
- refined gasoline;
- acetone;
- White Spirit.
Instructions:
- Use a small sponge or swab dipped in solvent to wipe off the stain. At the same time, try not to go beyond the area of contamination.
- Leave the item for half an hour and repeat the treatment.
- When there are no marks left on the fabric, wash the item using conditioner.
- It is better to air dry.
Ammonia
A solution of ammonia works well to remove traces of candles. Required:
- 10% ammonia solution - 1 part;
- fine salt - 1 part;
- water - 3 parts.
Treat the stain with the resulting solution, leave it for a couple of hours, then wash it off.
Some tips
A few tips to help you remove the stain as discreetly and without problems as possible.
If you are going to use any of the above methods, try it first on an inconspicuous area of the fabric. If the product is too aggressive on your clothes, then you risk getting rid of not only the stain, but also the item of clothing itself.
If your candle contains paraffin, do not use an iron. The smell of burnt paraffin is extremely difficult to remove from clothing fabric.
If a little time has passed since the contact, use dishwashing detergent or alcohol-containing cologne/perfume. Quickly wipe the affected area and wash.
The methods listed above should not be used on human skin. In most cases, you will give yourself a chemical burn.
How to remove depilatory wax from clothes
Depilatory wax also leaves stains.
Many women use wax for depilation. In addition to paraffin, this cosmetic product contains synthetic and wood resins, as well as various oils. It is difficult to remove stains that appear on clothes due to careless handling of depilatory wax. But there is a proven method that allows you to completely clean your clothes and remove this difficult stain.
Apply a few drops of vegetable oil to the stain and leave the product for 10-15 minutes, allowing the wax to soak in. After this, wash the dirty area with Fairy and place the item in the drum of the machine for further processing.
Removing old stains
It is not always possible to remove old wax marks when an item has been lying in a closet without leaving a trace, but it is worth a try. Citric acid removes the frozen part well. The crystals are distributed over the area of the stain and lightly moistened with warm water from a spray bottle. Leave for 15-20 minutes and remove with a sponge.
An unusual product is also used, such as a preparation for removing wax after depilation. The oily composition quickly dissolves the wax on the fabric, and the stain is easily washed off. Nail polish remover can also be used successfully, but it discolors the fabric.
On silk and woolen items, old wax is washed off with dishwashing detergent. It is poured onto the stain, covered with cling film and left for a day. Then wash it with laundry soap.
Remove with turpentine
How to remove paraffin from clothes:
- Soak a cotton swab with turpentine.
- Gently remove the stain using blotting movements.
- When the dirt is removed, wash the item.
In this case, it is recommended to set the heat to the maximum possible and turn on the “Extra rinse” option. Turpentine is a mixture of fragrant essential oils, so light washing does not always remove its residue.
Use the freezer compartment of your refrigerator
- Before placing the candlestick in the freezer, let it cool. This is done because due to a sudden change in temperature, hot glass can easily crack. Take the candlestick in your hand, if you are not hot, you can safely act.
- Leave the glass in the freezer for about an hour. When cold, the consistency of the wax becomes denser, its volume decreases in size, and you can easily remove it from the edges and bottom of the candlestick - just shake the glass cup.
- Use a kitchen knife to remove any small residue. The glass will become shiny and transparent if you treat its surface with a cotton pad generously moistened with vinegar.
It is important to know!
If such a nuisance occurs as the appearance of a paraffin or wax stain on the surface of clothing, then you should not immediately throw it in the wash, since the paraffin or wax can simply spread and the area of contamination will become much larger, which means it will be more difficult to deal with it later.
How else can you display candle marks on things, see the following video:
Dear visitor! If you know other methods on how to remove stains, please leave your experience in the comments.
Is it possible to wash it?
If the stain is placed outside the house, then you will not be able to remove the stain without special means, so blot it with a paper or rag, and carry out detailed cleaning later.
It is possible to remove a wax stain, but do not rush, because the process is delicate. Beeswax contains vegetable and animal fats, and paraffin is a petroleum product. Regardless of what candles are made of, they leave an oily residue on clothing. You can remove it from any type of fabric, but not every method is suitable. You will learn in this article how to effectively remove a stain from a church candle and how to remove paraffin from clothes or things.
How to remove with special compounds?
In addition to improvised means that you can find around the house, you can use effective preparations specifically designed to eliminate this type of contamination.
Dr. Beckmann Stain Remover
A special product is suitable for removing greasy marks left after wax removal. The drug contains surfactants that cope even with complex contaminants (up to 15% of nonionic surfactants and non-surfactants).
In addition to wax marks, the product can cope with greasy stains left over from various dishes, sauces, dressings, etc. The stain remover can be used to clean colored and white clothes and fabrics. Contains no chlorine or phosphates.
Application:
- Apply stain remover liberally to the stain.
- Leave for a quarter of an hour.
- Wash as usual.
If the item cannot be washed, then after treating it with a stain remover and leaving it for 15 minutes, blot the affected area with a damp cloth.
Price – about 200 rubles per bottle.
Spartan Chewing Gum Remover
The principle of operation of this product differs from the previous one . The effectiveness of Remover is determined by its ability to freeze the site of contamination without the use of a refrigerator.
The drug is available in an aerosol can. In addition to wax, Chewing Gum Remover can be used to remove chewing gum and other sticky substances from fabrics.
A remover is used by spraying . Once the wax has frozen, you can break it with your hands and brush it off the fibers. The cost of the aerosol is from 320 rubles.
SAPUR FREEZE
SAPUR FREEZE also works on the freezing principle. After the drug has been sprayed onto the stain, the wax must be cleaned off intensively, but without damaging the material. Price – about 700 rubles.
Recommendations
Expert advice will help you deal with wax on clothes and fabrics
- Before using one of the recipes, you must carefully remove the wax blot protruding above the surface.
- A trace of colored paraffin can be treated with undiluted medical alcohol. This is done using a napkin using blotting movements. The work must be carried out carefully so as not to smear the paint even more.
- Fabrics with unstable dyeing deserve special attention. For them, the best option is mechanical cleaning. After removing the top layer of paraffin, talc can be poured onto the stained area and after a while, when it absorbs the dirt, it is removed. The manipulation can be repeated.
- When cleaning wax from upholstered furniture, it is necessary to take into account the composition of the upholstery fabric. As a means of freezing for oversized items, you can use ice cubes placed in a plastic bag.
Useful information about ways to clean wax from various surfaces is in this section.
