Inside: Learn how to get candle wax out of your clothes using 4 simple ingredients that works every time! Even for crayons!
I put on my favorite comfy yoga pants the other night when I was making some homemade cheese and managed to get wax on them. Major bummer!
Since I didn't want to throw out my favorite pair of comfy pants I decided to find a way to get the wax out of my pants. You can see below how bad they were.
How to Easily Get Candle Wax Out of Clothes and Fabric
This tip works well for crayon wax too! It may not happen often, but if you have ever accidentally put a crayon in the washer and dryer, you know how bad it can be!
With only a few minutes of my time and the washing machine, I had my favorite pants back again.
What You'll Need To Remove Wax
To get started with removing the wax from your clothes you will need a few things.
- hot water (possibly boiling)
- dish soap (I highly recommend blue Dawn)
- vinegar (just the plain white kind)
- laundry detergent
Step 1: To start, you will need to fill up your washing machine with very hot water.
I just used the hot cycle on my machine. However, in forums, I have read that some people will add a pot of boiling water to their machine to get it hot enough.
Once the machine has filled up, add regular laundry detergent.
Step 2: Add 4 tablespoons of dawn dish soap and 1/2 cup of vinegar.
Note: It's a lot of dawn dish soap, so if you have an HE washing machine you may want to add a little less or keep a close eye on it.
Let the water swish around for a minute to mix up all the soap and vinegar.
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Step 3: Add the clothes that have the wax on them and let it swish around until the clothes are completely submerged.
Step 4: Next, turn the machine off and let the clothes sit in the hot water for about 15-20 minutes. Then turn back on the machine and let it run like normal.
Step 5: When the cycle is done, pull the clothes from the machine and let them air dry. If the wax isn't completely gone, then repeat the steps again.
I had to do all of the steps twice and then the wax was completely gone. I was so happy to have my comfy pants back to normal again!
Whether you have a candle or crayon wax this simple tip on how to get wax out of clothes should help you rescue your favorite outfit.
Tips for Getting Wax Out of Fabric
- You'll want to let the wax dry once it spills. Do not try to clean the melted wax while it's wet. This can make things worse.
- Don't air dry until the wax is completely gone.
- If you have a lot of wax pooled on an area, let it dry and pick it off. You can also try using a razor blade to remove it. Just be careful not to damage the fabric.
Common FAQs
Melted wax on fabric and clothes can possible cause staining. However, when I used the hot water, vinegar, dish soap, and laundry detergent method there were not any stains left.
If you've spilled wax onto a hard surface like the floor it comes off easier than in clothes. This method is generally suitable for hard floors like tile, laminate, vinyl, or hardwood.
Allow the wax to harden: If the wax is still soft, wait for it to cool and harden completely. This will make it easier to remove.
Scrape off the hardened wax: Use a plastic scraper or a blunt knife to gently scrape off the hardened wax from the floor. Be careful not to scratch or damage the floor surface.
Vacuum or sweep: After removing the bulk of the wax, use a vacuum cleaner or a broom to remove any loose wax particles or debris.
Prepare a cleaning solution: Mix a solution of warm water and mild dish soap or a floor cleaner that is suitable for your type of flooring. Follow the instructions on the cleaner to ensure proper dilution.
Clean the floor: Dip a clean cloth or mop into the cleaning solution and wring out any excess liquid. Wipe or mop the floor, paying particular attention to the areas where the wax was present. Continue cleaning until the wax residue is removed.
Rinse: Rinse the floor with clean water to remove any remaining cleaning solution. This step is especially important if you used a floor cleaner to avoid leaving any soapy residue behind.
Dry: Use a clean, dry mop or cloth to dry the floor thoroughly. This helps prevent any moisture from seeping into the flooring material.
Sandy says
My granddaughter was trying to move a candle that her mom was burning. It was a large 3 wick candle. She had on one of her bright favorite hoodies and got candle wax all over the front and the sleeve. Her mom asked me to try to get the wax out as this was an expensive Taylor Swift hoodie. I tried this and it literally took out all the candle wax, left no stains on the garment at all. I am 66 years old and I’m impressed with this way to get candle wax out.
Julie says
Yay! I am so glad it worked for you.