How to Remove Wax from Fabric
Blowing out a candle can be a satisfying end to an evening—unless the melted wax ends up splattered across your shirtfront. Then it's time to just chill out – literally.
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No matter what you spilled on your clothes or furnishings, we can tell you how to get it out.
You Will Need
- A metal pan
- A small hammer or dull blade
- A roll of paper towels
- An iron
- An ironing board
- Dry cleaning solvent (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Put ice in pan
Put ice in a metal pan and place it on top of the wax spill.
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Step 2
Chip away wax
When the wax is frozen solid, remove the pan and chip away at the wax with a small hammer or dull knife.
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If you're able to remove most of the wax this way, apply dry cleaning solvent to the remaining residue and your work is done. If a large amount of wax remains, continue with the remaining steps.
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Step 3
Place paper towels
On an ironing board, place two paper towels under the wax stain and two paper towels over it.
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If the wax-stained fabric has a second layer, like the leg of a pair of pants, make sure to put the bottom paper towels between the stained layer and the bottom layer.
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Step 4
Run iron
Run a warm iron over the paper towels. The iron will melt the wax and the paper towels will absorb it.
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Step 5
Repeat process
Replace the paper towels with fresh ones and iron again. Repeat this process until no more wax comes off on the paper.
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Honeybees collect nectar from approximately 17 million flowers to make 8 and a half pounds of honey... which makes one pound of beeswax!
