How to Get Wax Out of Carpet

Candles are popular for several reasons. Not only will they give your room a warm glow but they will also fill the air with a pleasant scent.

If you’re not careful, however, the wax can easily spill and get on the carpet.

Don’t call the professional carpet cleaner just yet though, because you can easily get the wax drips out in a few simple steps – you just need the right tools.

How to Get Wax Out of Carpet

There are several ways to get spilled candle wax out of carpet fibers, which we will be going over below.

Using Ice

For this method, you’ll need an ice pack or a bag of ice (you can just fill a plastic bag with ice). You can even improvise with a bag of frozen vegetables.

Wrap the ice pack or bag with a towel and place it on the wax for five minutes. The towel will prevent the wax from getting wet while the ice will solidify it so that it will be easier to remove.

Once the wax has solidified, use a butter knife or the edge of a credit card to scrape off as much of the residue as you can. Continue until you’ve completely removed all of the wax.

Using an Iron

You can also use heat to remove wax stains. For example, you can warm the wax with an iron and soak it up with a cloth.

Start by laying a paper towel (a brown paper bag will do as well) over the wax stain. Set your iron to a low setting (turn the steam off) and gently press down for 5-10 seconds. The paper towel will absorb the wax residue as soon as it melts from the heat.

Depending on the size of the wax stain, you may need to lift and reposition the paper towel a few times.

Repeat the steps until no more melted wax residue remains.

Tip: You can also use a hair dryer if you don’t have an iron. Set it on high and hold it above the paper towel so that the heat will melt the wax.

Using White Vinegar

Fill a spray bottle with one part water and one part white vinegar. Give the bottle a good shake and apply the solution directly to the stain.

Let it sit for a few minutes before blotting the area with a clean cloth. The vinegar’s acidic properties will help break down the waxy residue on the carpet fibers.

Using White Vinegar with Baking Soda

Sometimes, white vinegar won’t be enough. In cases like that, you can pair it with baking soda for some extra wax-lifting power.

Start by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda on the wax stain. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before pouring white vinegar onto the area.

The vinegar will react with the baking soda to remove the residue – you will notice some fizzling action. Using a soft bristle brush, gently work the bubbly mixture into the wax stain.

Gently dab the area with a clean cloth and vacuum to remove any remaining debris. Repeat the above steps as needed.

Using Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol, aka rubbing alcohol, is a solvent and can help dissolve oil-based stains, such as those left by candle wax. It won’t damage the carpet fibers nor will it strip it of its colors.

For this method, you want to dampen a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and dab it onto the stain. The liquid will eventually begin to melt away the wax.

Continue to dab the area until the stain is completely removed. You may need to use a terry cloth towel to blot up any remaining residue.

Tip: You can also use an acetone nail polish remover if you don’t have rubbing alcohol.

Using WD40

WD40 is often used as a lubricant and rust-protectant spray but did you know it can also be used to remove spilled wax from the carpet?

Start by removing as much of the wax residue as you can with a butter knife or scraper. Remember to be gentle to not damage the carpet fibers.

Next, apply a generous amount of WD40 to the stained area. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes – that will give the product time to dissolve the wax.

Finally, use a sponge or clean cloth to wipe off the remaining wax.

How to Remove Candle Wax From Carpet – FAQs

What’s the easiest way to remove wax spills from the carpet?

One of the simplest ways to remove spilled wax is by freezing it with ice. You can also melt it with heat and absorb it with a cloth.

Can you remove wax from carpet with an iron?

Yes, you can melt the dried wax with an iron on a low setting (turn off the steam function) and blot it up with a towel.