What Not To Do When Removing Wax From Carpet To Prevent Damage

With so many beautiful ways to decorate your home with candles, it's no surprise that you may have a large collection you enjoy using. But if you've spilled candle wax on your carpet, you'll need to know how to handle this mess correctly. It's also just as important, however, to know what not to do. When removing wax from carpet, don't rub the wax into the carpet, don't use a hot iron directly on the carpet, don't use sharp objects to scrape the wax off, and don't use water. Instead, either use a hot iron with paper towels to blot the mess or use an ice pack and gently scrape the wax and vacuum.

Removing spilled wax as soon as possible is best to ensure the least amount of carpet damage. It's also important to remember that the type of carpet you have will help dictate what you can and cannot do to clean wax off of it, as some carpet fibers are more susceptible to damage. While using vinegar and baking soda to remove the residual waxy buildup after the initial cleaning works well on most carpets, you should avoid this method on those made out of wool.

It's important to remember never to rub a freshly fallen puddle of wax on carpet to try to clean it, as this will further spread your mess deeper. Instead, focus on hardening the wax with an ice pack or bag filled with ice, then use a spoon or dull knife to scrape it out of the carpet fibers. Do not use sharp objects to do this job — you'll end up ruining the delicate fibers. Remember that one of the best ways to get candle wax out of carpet is to use an iron to heat and absorb it. However, never use an iron directly on your carpet as you may burn it. Always ensure you have paper towels between the iron and carpet, and use the lowest heat setting possible.

Getting candle wax wet makes it more difficult to remove from carpet, and you'll likely cause some damage this way. That's why, while it might seem like a good idea to try steam cleaning the entire mess, it'll actually make a bad problem worse. Once you've removed all the wax, you can safely clean the carpet to help get rid of any residual staining that might have occurred. Don't sleep on the fact that vinegar can be a versatile cleaning tool, as long as your carpets are made from nylon, polyester, or polypropylene. If this is the case, sprinkle baking soda over the stain, leaving for one minute. Add enough vinegar to dissolve the baking soda fully, then clean with a towel to remove any lingering wax residue.