If your favorite clothes, tablecloth or upholstered furniture upholstery is stained with wax, this is no reason to worry. Getting rid of it without a trace is not that difficult. Our experts learned how to effectively and quickly remove wax or paraffin stains using improvised means. We share the secrets of cleaning products for different types of fabrics, Uk49s Win, shoes and upholstered furniture upholstery from the effects of dripping candles with the readers of our magazine.
Wax Removal Guidelines
Wax is a substance consisting of high molecular weight esters of fatty acids and alcohols. It is made of plastic, it melts easily at temperatures above 60 0 C, it adheres well to various surfaces. Low temperatures destroy the structure of the wax, it begins to crumble. Fat marks remain after removal.
Knowing the physical properties, it is easy to understand how to remove wax stains on clothing or furniture upholstery: you must first expose the product to temperature exposure, and then use means to remove grease.
It is important to take into account the characteristics of the material and the sail, of which there are traces. Methods for removing common household candle stains from cotton fabric will differ from the methods by which you can remove traces of colored paraffin from wool or silk. Before continuing with a brief guide to removing wax from various types of fabric, 18h18 signification our experts advise what not to do in the event of contamination from a molten candle.
- Rub in fresh drops of wax or paraffin, otherwise, you can increase the area of contamination and damage the tissue structure. It is better to wait 5-10 minutes for the wax to dry and try to remove it with a knife, spoon, coin or credit card.
- Wash the product without removing surface dirt. In the process of washing or rinsing in cold water, the wax can crumble and settle in other areas. After subsequent ironing, it will melt and leave multiple marks.
- By exposing stained products with a high-temperature color candle, the dye will penetrate deeper into the fabric fibres and will be more difficult to remove.
- Use harsh chemicals or stain removers to remove greasy wax residue from delicate and synthetic fabrics. You also cannot clean these materials in a hot way.
Wax stains are not the type of contamination that needs to be removed in a hot search. You need to give it time to cool down, otherwise, you can aggravate the situation. Also, hot paraffin can burn the skin, so we do not recommend touching fresh drops with bare hands.
Methods for removing wax from various surfaces.
Wax and paraffin cannot be cleaned with detergents, only with the help of chemical liquids or exposure to temperature:
- hot (using an iron, boiling, or steaming)
- cold (freezing with ice or in the freezer).
Hot methods can be applied if a stain has formed:
- in white things;
- in products with stable staining;
- in cotton fabrics, including denim.
For products made from delicate fabrics, shoes, and items with remnants of a colored candle, the cold removal method should be used.
Let’s consider all the methods in more detail.
with iron
The most popular and effective method of removing candle marks from clothing is ironing. In order for the process of cleaning the product to be successful, you need to stock up on paper towels or napkins (toilet paper or an ordinary notebook sheet is also suitable) and turn on the iron by setting the switch to medium heating mode. Next, we act according to the instructions.
- Put a few napkins or a sheet of paper folded 2-3 times under the stain (on the wrong side of the product).
- On top (on the front side) put a couple more napkins and a thin cotton cloth (you can use a handkerchief).
- Iron the fabric with a hot iron, changing the napkins as the molten wax is absorbed into them.
- Iron the product until there are no traces on the napkins.
We recommend this method to clean products that can be ironed: clothes and tablecloths.
Elimination of steam or hot air.
From upholstery to upholstered furniture, rugs, or things that cannot be ironed, our experts recommend removing paraffin with a steam generator or hair dryer. To do this, you need:
- put a cotton napkin on the stain (if possible, it is advisable to press it firmly against the fabric);
- send a hot stream of air or steam to the place of contamination (the wax should soften and stick to the cotton);
- heat until all the wax is absorbed into the napkin;
- gently remove it.
The method requires caution: careless handling of steam can cause severe skin burns.
Exposure to boiling water.
Products made from natural fabrics can be placed in boiling water for several minutes. We recommend doing this as:
- fill a wide container (pot or basin) with water almost to the top;
- heat the liquid to a boil and turn off the stove;
- carefully, in order not to get burned, put a dirty thing on the surface of the water – the wax should melt under the influence of high temperatures and move away;
- Remove product from boiling water.
To remove small stains, you can use hot tap water – the melting point of the wax is not high, therefore, by holding the clothes for a few minutes or the tablecloth under the pressure of the water, you can achieve its complete dissolution.
freezer cooling
Freezing is the best way to remove stains from faded candles. It is ideal for fur, wool, leather or synthetic products, as well as for shoes.
The instructions for use are quite simple:
- wrap the stained product in a plastic bag;
- put in the freezer (or take out in severe frost to the balcony or the street) for 30-60 minutes;
- heat the thing, crush it and carefully rub it between your fingers; paraffin will crumble, it remains only to shake it;
- Leftovers can be scraped off with the blunt end of a knife or scissors, a fingernail, or brushed off with a toothbrush.
The wax impregnates the fabric from beginning to end: the traces remain on the front and on the wrong side, so you must remove them from both sides at the same time.
apply ice
To remove wax from bulky items of any fabric that cannot be placed in the freezer, you can use ice (freezer products are also suitable).
You need to put the ice in a plastic bag on a wax stain for 30-40 minutes and after the time passes, try to scrape the dirty place with something sharp: with a fingernail, a key, Uk49s Predictions a knife point or rub it with hands. You can first try to break a large spot with a sharp or heavy object.
The method is well suited for the instant removal of fresh contaminants. If you put ice on freshly dripped wax, then with a high probability the stain will go away after 5 minutes without any signs.
Disposal of chemical fluids
To soften an old paraffin stain will help:
- alcohol
- solvent 646;
- refined gasoline;
- turpentine
- acetone
- White spirit
You can use them for thick fabrics, suede, leather, as well as for furniture or cabinets that cannot be exposed to temperature. In this way, stains left by colored paraffin can also be removed.
Method of use:
- soak a cotton pad or cotton cloth in any liquid;
- put on a stain;
- wait 5-15 minutes (depending on the thickness of the wax layer);
- Scrape the fabric on both sides with a hard edged object (knife edge, plastic card);
- Repeat liquid treatment as needed again.
Instead of alcohol, you can use cologne or eau de toilette in spray form. They are easy to apply to the surface of the fabric, and after processing, a pleasant aroma remains (which can not be said about solvent or gasoline).
How to get rid of fat after removing wax
After successful removal of wax by any of the methods, as a rule, a greasy trace remains. There are six ways to get rid of it. All of them have been tested by our experts and qualified as effective and safe.
Method 1. Sprinkle with talcum powder or crushed chalk
With talcum powder, you can safely remove the remaining fat after paraffin from any tissue. To do this, you need:
- sprinkle powder on the stain;
- it is advisable to put something heavy on top;
- wait 10 minutes;
- rub the place of contamination with a brush;
- shake off leftovers.
After processing, wash the product or rinse the surface with clean water.
Method 2. Wash with laundry soap
If you soap the remaining candle stain on clothes with household soap and leave it for 10-15 minutes, it will go away without a trace.
Method 3. Treat with ammonia (10% ammonia)
To clean white and colored things from fatty deposits, you can use ammonia:
- dilute 1 tablespoon ammonia in 100 g of warm water;
- moisten a cotton pad or sponge with a solution;
- put in place of contamination for 10 minutes;
- scrub with a toothbrush.
Next, you need to wash the product with any detergent in the washing machine or manually.
Method 4. Apply soda slurry
Soda copes well with a greasy waxy residue on any surface. To cook porridge, you need to mix 2 tbsp. soda with 1 tablespoon warm water. Then apply it in a thick layer on the stained place and leave it for 15 minutes. After this, rub off the dirt with a brush and wash.
Method 5. Wash with liquid detergent
You can get rid of greasy leftovers with the help of Fairy or any other dishwashing detergent. You just need to put a few drops on the stained place and wait 5 minutes. After that, brush well (or rub between your hands) and wash.
Method 6. Treat with micellar water (makeup remover)
Micellar water not only attracts dirt from the face and removes makeup residue, but also easily copes with oily stains. We process the place to be cleaned with a cotton pad with the product, wait 5 minutes and … enjoy the french result.
How to remove colored paraffin stains
If the paraffin of the colored candle was removed from the product by the cold method, traces of dye may still remain in it. You can display them using:
- solvent;
- White spirit;
- turpentine
- refined gasoline
It is necessary to moisten a cotton pad in one of the liquids and carefully wipe the stain with it until the dye is completely removed from the surface.
Advice! Before processing contamination from any of the chemical fluids, you should check how it will act on the fabric in an inconspicuous place. This is especially true for products made from coloured fabrics: instead of a trace of paraffin, a discoloured stain may remain.
White items made from natural fabrics can be soaked with chlorine bleach, and colored items can be washed with an oxygen stain remover: Vanish, Amway, or Dr. Beckmann Expert.
A nuisance like wax or paraffin stains is not as difficult to remove as it might seem at first glance. Taking into account the peculiarities of fabrics, choosing a suitable extraction method and a suitable product will help to easily remove traces without damaging the product.