Annelie Neumann

December 28, 2022, 12:52 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

Sometimes it happens so quickly that you don’t even notice: wax stains on the beautiful tablecloth. Often, candle wax finds its way onto tables and floors on its own. But blowing too hard can also help spread the wax around the house. Either way, unsightly wax stains remain that need to be removed. The most important rule for successfully removing the stain is: Let the wax harden completely! If you don’t, you might unintentionally enlarge the stain.

Did you know? Wax can be very effectively removed with cold or heat. The melting point of candle wax varies between 104 and 149 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the type of wax. As the temperature drops, wax becomes harder and more porous, making it easier to remove. This method is especially recommended for porous materials. If the wax stain is on a non-porous material, it is better to remove the wax with heat.

1. Removing Wax Stains with an Iron

A common method for removing wax stains is to treat them with an iron. This method is particularly suitable for textiles that can be washed at a high temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, such as cloth napkins or tablecloths. Wax stains on untreated and treated wood can also sometimes be removed with an iron. Here’s how it works:

1. First, manually remove as much dried wax as possible.
2. Place blotting paper, kitchen paper, or an old towel over the wax stain and iron over it. Important: Do not iron too hot or for too long on the same spot. Turn the blotting paper and iron until no new grease spots appear on the paper.
3. Repeat this process if necessary.
4. Then (if possible) wash the textile. If not, finally treat the stain with some dish soap and water.

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2. With a Hair Dryer

Same principle, different tool: Instead of using an iron, wax stains can also be warmed with a hair dryer. This method is ideal for wax stains on a glass table or windowpane.

1. Carefully warm the wax stain with the hair dryer, without working on the same spot for too long.
2. Wipe up the wax with blotting paper or kitchen paper.

3. Removing Wax Stains with Hot Water

Do you have wax stains on the floor but no iron or hair dryer handy? Then you can warm the wax in another way. All you need is an old towel and hot water.

1. Place an old towel over the wax stain.
2. Pour hot water over it. Be careful with untreated or even lacquered wood, as this method could damage it.

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5. In the Freezer

As the temperature drops, wax becomes harder and more porous. For porous materials, such as raw or open-pored wood, home economics expert Eva Kerig recommends, when asked by myHOMEBOOK, removing wax stains with cold instead of heat:

“Place textiles with wax drips either in the freezer or cool them with ice packs or cooling units until the wax is completely hardened. Then carefully remove the wax coating. Afterwards, wash as usual or gently ‘dab’ on upholstered furniture with mild detergent foam. Be sure to try this first on an invisible spot. Do not rub vigorously on delicate textiles.”

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4. With Potato Starch

Another very effective method for removing wax stains on uneven surfaces with deep pores is to sprinkle them with potato starch.

1. Sprinkle potato starch on the liquid wax.
2. The potato starch draws the wax out of the pores.
3. Then vacuum it up with a vacuum cleaner.

6. With Plastic Cards

If hardened wax stains are on smooth surfaces, they can be manually scraped off, for example, with a plastic card (like a debit card). The home economics expert especially recommends this method for wax on wood:

“For wood, I would first cool the wax and then carefully remove the blob. If a stain remains, you can treat it with furniture polish. Possible home remedies are also black tea or coffee grounds. But I take no responsibility for that, as wood can be treated in very different ways.”

Tip from the myHOMEBOOK editorial team:
Sometimes it is advisable to combine and repeat the various methods until the wax stains are completely removed.