Time

10 - 20 minutes

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Free

Introduction

Candle wax accidentally dripped on a plush carpet may look like a hopeless mess, but with a cool head, a hot iron, and a few tricks of the trade, you can make a big wax mess disappear.

Your wine and cheese party was going great—until someone accidentally bumped into the table decorations and knocked a lit candle onto the carpet. Now melted wax is seeping into your carpet, and quickly hardening. What’s the best cleanup approach?

An old standby solution you might have heard is placing a paper bag over the spill, and ironing it. But the problem with that technique is simple—paper and heat don’t mix. Attempting to lift up the wax this way can cause the paper to overheat and burn the carpet.

Instead, the best way to get wax out of carpet involves a butter knife, spoon, iron, carpet stain remover and white cotton towels. So, if you’re cleaning the carpet and come across some dried wax balled up in the fiber, don’t panic.

Here’s how to get candle wax out of carpet with ease. (And it works for area rugs too!)

Tools Required

  • Butter knife
  • Carpet Cleaner
  • Clothing iron
  • Spoon

Project step-by-step (3)

Step 1

Scrape Up the Wax

The first step in how to clean up wax is to scrape off any hardened wax. You should get rid of most of the wax at this stage.  Scrape the wax loose with a butter knife. Remember to be gentle with Berber carpets because the loops fray easily. Use a vacuum to suck up the loose wax and scrape off any remaining chunks.

Scraping the knife against the carpet will probably leave the area a little fuzzy. To remove the fuzz, lay scissors flat on the carpet. Push down lightly on the pivot of the scissors and trim off any fuzz.

Step 2

Iron the Carpet

Now, it’s time to use a heat exchange to reach deep down into the heart of the carpet fibers to draw out the remaining wax.

Dampen a white cotton towel and place it over the wax. Press an iron set on high over the towel for 10 seconds. The heat will draw the wax out of the carpet and into the towel. Repeat until the wax is gone. You may have to hold the iron in place for up to 30 seconds.

It’s possible, too, that the towel you’re using will dry out from the heat of the iron. If that happens, just wet it down again and get back to work. If the towel becomes overloaded with wax, you can just grab another one and finish cleaning up the wax on the rug.

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Step 3

Scrub in Carpet Cleaner

There’s a good chance the wax will discolor the area, especially in a light-colored carpet. That’s where the heavy-duty carpet stain remover comes in handy.

Spray carpet cleaner on the stain and scrub it into the carpet with a spoon. Dab it dry with a clean white towel, then let the carpet air-dry (it will appear slightly darker until completely dry). If the stain is especially dark, it stains may require several scrubbings. Be patient. It’s still the easiest way to rescue your rug.

carpetfamily handyman

FAQs

Should I use water to get wax out of a carpet?

Water alone will not remove wax from carpet, but water can be used as part of the cleaning process. As explained above, use water to dampen the white cloth before placing it over the stain and ironing. You can also use water to make your own DIY carpet cleaning solution. Mix a formula of one part white vinegar, two parts warm water, and a drop or two of clear dish soap.

Will removing wax from a carpet damage it?

If you follow the correct cleaning techniques, and work gently and slowly, you should be able to remove the wax without damaging the carpet. But of course there are no guarantees when it comes to stubborn stains. It’s always a good idea to perform a test with any cleaning methods or products in an inconspicuous location before attacking the stain. Check with your carpet manufacturer to get the best advice for  your particular carpet brand and type.