How to Get Candle Wax Out of Carpets

If you or a guest accidentally knocked over a candle or tried to blow out the flame too hastily, there's no need to despair. Goose Creek is here with the advice you need to save your rug's appearance from going up in flames. Not only do we create the best candles, but we offer helpful advice for your home's benefit. This guide walks you through how to get candle wax out of carpeting, so you don't have to worry about ruining your floor when you go to host everyone for the holidays and other special occasions.

Scrape Away Most of the Wax With Care

First, you want to do what you can to avoid damage by removing whatever amount of wax is possible. The key is not to rub the candle wax into the carpet even more as you're trying to get it out; this will only make matters worse.

If a candle was just knocked over, begin by hardening the wax. Since the mess was just made and the candle wax needs to cool down for removal, put it on ice. You can fill up a plastic bag with ice cubes and place it on the wax for a few minutes so the pool of candle wax hardens.

Next, use a dull knife to try to scrape any hardened wax stuck to the carpet. Be careful while you're scraping, as certain carpets become damaged easier than others.

After that, use your vacuum and its upholstery attachment if you have one to remove any pieces of hardened wax that came loose from your scraping efforts. Repeat the process of scraping away more hardened wax and vacuuming it as necessary.

Steam Your Carpet With an Iron

Once you have gently scraped away most of the candle wax, you can work on the rest of the wax that threatens to settle beneath the surface.

Take some spare white cotton towels from the linen closet and wet them before setting your iron to "high". Fold over one towel and place it on the wax-covered spot on your carpet. While the damp towel works as a barrier to protect your carpet, press it with the hot iron for a minimum of about 10 seconds. In essence, the iron is meant to steam your carpet, evaporating wax from the carpet with heat so that your towel may absorb the mess. If the wax is being difficult, you can hold down the iron for up to 30 seconds.

Finish Off Strong With a Carpet Cleaner

After all of your hard work, you might be wondering why there is still a noticeable stain or discoloration. In order to eliminate those traces of candle wax and get your flooring back to normal, you will have to rely on a potent carpet cleaner.

Spray the stain with a strong carpet cleaner and scrub it in with a spoon. Ensure that you are following the directions for the carpet cleaner that you chose. Some products may tell you to dab the cleaner immediately whereas others want you to wait several minutes. After this potential waiting period, depending on the cleaning instructions, you will use a clean paper towel to dab up the area.

Finally, you can give your carpet time to air dry. You will have to wait and see to know if the stain is especially stubborn, as the carpet may look stained if it is still damp.

Hopefully, you will find that our tips have helped you stop that wax in its tracks or prevented a potential carpet stain from being too much of a pain. For a wax-free air freshener, consider room sprays for hosting parties or a quick burst of fragrance anytime.