How to Get Colored Wax Out of Carpet

Don’t you hate it when you get something on your carpet? The stain can stay there forever, making a terrible eyesore every time you look at it.

Colored wax can be especially challenging to remove. It’s sticky, so it gets in there and, because it’s colored, it tends to pop, so it’s hard to miss it!

Fortunately, there is a way to remove colored wax from your carpeting. Read on to find out the steps you should take.

Steps for Getting Colored Wax Out of Carpet

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You will need several things to get the wax out of your carpet. These are as follows:

1. Ice cubes, a bag of ice, or an ice pack (depending on the size of the wax)
2. An iron (or a hairdryer)
3. Roll of paper towel (you can also use a white terry cloth towel or a brown paper bag)
4. A carpet cleaner or rubbing alcohol
5. Dull knife (e.g., butter knife)
6. Vacuum cleaner

Step 2: Apply Ice to the Wax

Freezing the wax will help consolidate it, so it will separate from the carpet fibers and come off in one easy piece.

You can freeze the wax using just about anything. An ice pack or a pack of ice cubes will work. In a pinch, you can even use a slab of frozen meat!

However, whatever you choose, it’s essential to wrap it in a paper towel or some other material, so the wax doesn’t get wet.

Step 3: Use a Dull Knife to Remove the Wax

Now that the wax is frozen, you will want to use a dull knife to scrape off the wax.

In some instances, the wax will come off with the knife alone. If that’s the case, you can skip to step five, which is to clean the carpet. If you still have residue, you will need to put in a little extra effort, as outlined in step four.

Step 4: Iron the Stain

If there is still residue on the carpet, use an iron to absorb the rest of the wax. However, it’s important to iron the carpet carefully. If the temperature is too high, it will melt the fibers of your carpet. That’s why it’s best to keep your temperature settings low and avoid using the steam setting.

You also want to cover the spot with a towel or bag to absorb the wax as you iron it. Move the cloth or bag as needed and continue until there is no more wax on your carpet.

Note: If you don’t have an iron or are scared to use an iron on a carpet, a hairdryer may work as well.

Step 5: Clean the Carpet

Likely, there will still be a wax or dye stain on your carpet after the wax is removed. You can take out the stain with rubbing alcohol or a carpet cleaning solution.

After applying the solution to the carpet, blot the stain with a clean white cloth until it is gone. Continue blotting to get rid of the moisture.

Step 6: Vacuum

Vacuuming the carpet with a brush roll attachment will restore its texture, so it’s good as new!

Protecting Your Carpet from Wax

Of course, the best way to protect your carpet from wax stains is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Here are tips for keeping carpet protected from wax stains and stains in general.

Be Careful When Burning Candles

Burning candles are the most common cause of colored wax stains on the carpet. Therefore, when burning candles, you will want to take the following precautions.

• Keep candles on solid surfaces: Try to burn candles on wide tables and surfaces as opposed to small ledges where they can easily get tipped over.
• Keep them away from pets and small children: If you have pets or small children, try to keep candles on a high surface where they will be out of reach. If a child or pet tips over a candle, you may end up worrying about more than just a stain on your carpet!
• Don’t leave candles burning overnight: If you leave a candle burning overnight, the wax may end up melting onto the carpet without you noticing.
• Use a covering: Put your candle in a candle holder that will catch excess wax. For added protection, use another cover such as a tablecloth or placemat to capture any wax the holder does not.
• Avoid burning candles near carpets: To make sure your carpet doesn’t get stained by a wax candle, try burning it over a hard-surfaced floor such as linoleum.

Tell the Kids to Be Careful with Their Crayons

It’s also possible to get wax stains when your kids leave their crayons out on the carpet. The heat from a furnace or excessive temperatures may cause the wax to melt into the carpet. To keep this from happening, make sure your children clean up their crayons after playtime.

Apply a Protectant

Today, most carpets may come with a protectant like Scotchgard. However, if your carpet does not have a protectant applied, you may consider adding your own. The protectant repels and resists stains and may minimize some havoc wax can cause. It can also make cleaning easier.

Take Care of Stains ASAP

The longer you wait to remove wax, the more time it takes to seep into your carpet’s fibers. So the moment you see wax on it, start running for that ice!

Now that you know how to clean colored wax off your carpets, you won’t have to worry about staining again. What methods do you use to keep your carpets clean?