The Best Way To Clean Up Dried Candle Wax Is In Your Laundry Room

There's nothing more romantic than a candlelit dinner, or more relaxing than curling up after a long day while a candle flickers nearby. But there's one thing about candles that's neither romantic nor relaxing: dealing with dried wax spills. If you've ever experienced wax dripping and sticking to surfaces like your tables, countertops, and candle holders, you know what a stubborn mess it makes. Luckily, a surprisingly effective solution is waiting for you in your laundry room: dryer sheets.

Seems uncanny, right? After all, dryer sheets are typically just handy for softening clothes and making your laundry smell nice and fresh. But thanks to their main ingredients, like cationic surfactants, which are good at dissolving fat, dryer sheets are perfect for cleaning up candle wax from various surfaces. As many wax blends are made from a variety of fats and oils, cationic surfactants make it easier to break down dried wax and remove it from surfaces. So, whether it's a small spot or a larger spill, dryer sheets will make your cleanup much easier and more thorough, using this laundry staple and other household items to effortlessly keep your home wax-free.

First, you will need some basic materials: dryer sheets, a butter knife or spoon, and a clean cloth. Start by gently scraping off as much of the hardened wax as you can using a spoon or butter knife. But be careful not to damage the surface when doing this. It's best to get rid of most of the wax so the dryer sheets can work more effectively on the remainder. Once only a small amount of residue remains, rub a dryer sheet over the area. As mentioned earlier, the sheet's cationic surfactants will dissolve the wax and make it easier and quicker to eliminate the stubborn residue. Continue rubbing until you've fully removed the candle wax. When you're sure there's none remaining, take your clean cloth and wipe it over the area.

If you need to remove wax from softer materials, like fabric, it's best to warm the wax first before using dryer sheets and a clean cloth. This will soften the wax and make it easier to remove from surfaces without damaging them. You can warm it using your hairdryer on a low or medium heat setting. Hold the hairdryer a few inches away from the item and move it in a circular motion until the wax begins to soften. Then, you can use the dryer sheets to clean up the affected area.