Wax Stain Removal - History and Components

Overview
Remove Wax from Wood
Remove Wax from Carpet
Schedule with COIT Now

COIT’s Guide to Removing Wax Stains - History and Chemical Components

After a long day, lighting a few candles over dinner or around your home can offer a few welcome moments of relaxation. In the era of always being connected and always being busy, there’s something nice about lowering the lights and taking a step back that is good for the body and soul.

Remove Wax Stains

So what can you do about the drippings of candle wax that accidentally make their way onto your plush carpeting? This COIT guide will offer do-it-yourself methods for removing candle wax in a few simple steps.
Before we talk candle wax removal, let’s take a closer look at the properties of wax to learn a bit more about this interesting chemical compound.

Chemical Composition of Wax

So what exactly is wax? Wax is a sticky yellow substance that is usually secreted by bees and is also referred to as beeswax. Technically speaking, wax is a class of chemical compounds that are plastic (malleable) near ambient temperatures. When wax is heated to above 115 degrees Fahrenheit, it melts.

Types of Wax

There are actually a few different types of wax:
• animal wax
• plant wax
• petroleum derived wax
• montan wax
• polyethylene and related derivatives

Animal Wax – beeswax is the most commonly used type of animal wax.

Plant Wax – plants secrete this type of wax to control their evaporation and hydration.

Petroleum Derived Waxes/Paraffin Wax – these waxes are hydrocarbons and represent a significant portion of petroleum.

Montan Wax – this type of wax is extracted from coal and lignite and is a fossilized wax.

Polyethylene and Related Derivatives – this wax is created by cracking polyethylene at 752 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now that you know a bit more about the types of wax that exist, let’s dive deeper into the history of wax.

Wax in the Middle Ages

If you look back in history, you can see that wax has been used since the days of the world’s first civilizations. Evidence of using wax seals to seal communications appears starting in the Middle Ages in Europe. At first, these wax seals were only used to authenticate and seal royal and clergy communications; however, the use of wax seals eventually spread throughout the various classes of society.
These wax seals were often used in place of someone’s signature, as not all people were literate. Their seal was a symbol that they were agreeing to the terms or conditions of agreements, contracts and wills.

Using Wax to Make Candles

For thousands of years, candles have been used as a source of light around the world. In fact, until the early 1900s, people depended on candles as the only source of artificial light. In early Egyptian and Roman times, candle wax was actually extracted from sheep and cattle. They melted the tallow (a hard fatty substance made from rendered animal fat) down to liquid form and poured it over a wick, which was usually made of hemp, cotton or flax.
Wax is obviously still a big part of modern life. Without it, how could we curl up on the couch, light a few candles and unwind from our hectic days?

Modern Times: Removing Candle Wax

If you’d like to learn more about wax stain removal, check out COIT’s guide to remove wax from carpet to learn do-it-yourself methods you can use at home.

How to Remove Candle Wax from Wood

COIT's guide on how to remove candle wax from wood

After a long day, it’s nice to sit back on the couch, kick up your feet, light a few candles and catch your breath, right?

Life moves fast these days, so it’s nice to slow down every once in a while. Unless you slow down amidst the chaos of everyday life, you never seem to get a break!

When you burn candles at home, it’s easy to accidentally spill a bit of wax here and there. If you’re wondering how to remove wax from wood, COIT can offer a few do-it-yourself solutions.

How to Remove Wax from Wood – Method # 1

When you’re removing wax from wood floors, follow these handy steps, in order.

Start by mopping the floor with warm water. This will help clear the floor of any dirt or residue that’s sitting on the surface of your wood floors.
Using mineral spirits, pour a generous amount onto the affected area.
Begin scrubbing the wood floor with a clean cloth or a clean mop. Be sure to apply vigorous pressure to the wax stain, as this will help lift the wax residue.
If any wax remains, scrub the affected area with fine steel wool.
Wipe with a clean, dry cloth to finish.

Trouble removing your stain? Find discounts in your area - Limited time only!

How to Remove Candle Wax from Wood – Method # 2

When you’re trying to get rid of candle drippings that make their way onto your wood floor, here’s a quick solution to try.

Start by scraping away excess wax using your finger or a spoon. Be careful not to scratch the wood as you remove the wax.
Set your hairdryer to medium heat and point toward the affected area of the wood floor.
As the wax softens under the heat of the blow-dryer, begin to wipe away the soft wax using a clean cloth.

How to Remove Candle Wax from Wood – Method # 3

Another way to tackle wax removal when it comes to wood floors involves an ice cube.

Using an ice cube, harden the wax by holding an ice cube on top of it for a minute.
Once the wax has become hard, scrape it off using a plastic ruler or a credit card of some kind. Start from one side and gradually move across the wax stain.
To finish, apply cream furniture wax on top of the affected area. This will rub away any remaining residue.

Try any of these three do-it-yourself methods to tackle removing candle wax from wood in your home.

If you find that you’d like a deeper, more professional clean that doesn’t involve any effort on your part, give us a call at COIT wood floor cleaning and don't forget to checkout our coupons!

Using a 5-step, professional cleaning process that includes removing debris, scrubbing, detailed hand cleaning, a second scrub and top coat application, our expert technicians will penetrate deep within your wood floor boards to extract wax, dirt, dust and bacteria build up that accumulates over time.

Remember to always do a spot removal test on a portion of carpet or upholstery that is normally not visible. These are suggested treatments only and COIT can't be held accountable for any damage sustained by use of the treatments in this spot removal guide.

How to Remove Wax Stains from Carpet

COIT's Guide on How to Get Wax out of Carpet

When it comes to your home’s carpeting, you’ve probably got a household cleaner or two ready to tackle unexpected stains, right? From red wine to ink to mud and more, there’s no telling what your carpet will encounter, especially in high traffic areas.

But what do you do when you’ve got a candle wax stain on your carpet?

Have no fear – getting wax out of carpet isn’t as difficult as it may seem, fellow candle lovers. With a little help from COIT’s do-it-yourself guide to remove wax from carpet, a little unexpected wax won’t permanently damage your plush carpeting.

How to Get Wax Out of Carpet – Method # 1

As soon as you notice the wax stain, it’s important to take action. The longer any stain sits on the carpet, the more difficult it is to remove.
Fill a plastic bag with ice.
Lay the plastic bag directly onto the area of your carpet with the wax stain.
Let the wax freeze for a few minutes.
Remove the plastic bag and begin to scrape the wax off the carpet using a dull knife.
Next, lay either a brown paper bag or a clean cloth directly over the affected area of your carpet.
Using a warm iron, slowly press the iron on top of the paper bag or cloth. You’ll see that the material will start to absorb the wax and lift it off the carpet.
You can repeat step # 7 with a fresh paper bag or cloth until the wax residue disappears.
Using an at-home carpet cleaning solution, scrub the area to remove any remaining wax residue.

And there you have it – one do-it-yourself way to answer the question of how to remove wax from carpet!

Up to 50% off Residential cleaning services - Find discounts in your area!

How to Get Wax Out of Carpet – Method # 2

Here’s another way to tackle the question of how to get candle wax out of carpet.

Remove the candle wax using a dull table knife. You should start to see the wax gradually come out of the carpet fibers.
Place a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and put the plastic bag on top of the affected area for a few minutes.
Again, use the dull knife to remove any additional wax residue that may have frozen.
Using the upholstery attachment of a household vacuum, vacuum up any wax you see.
If you used a colored candle that leaves a color stain, pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean white cloth. Gently begin to dab at the stain – do not rub, as you don’t want to be too rough with the carpet.
Blot the carpet until it’s dry with a clean white towel.

So the next time you encounter a few wax stains, you’ll know what to do. Solve your problem in a few minutes or less by using one of these two tried and tested methods when you’re wondering how to get candle wax out of carpet. For more advanced cleaning using professional equipment and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, consider calling COIT carpet cleaners and don't forget to checkout our coupons!