Reliable tips for removing melted wax

When you burn candles, inevitably some wax will spill. One way to minimize damage in advance is to burn only white candles. The dye in coloured candles, especially red ones, compounds the problem.

• Use the fire-and-ice approach.
• Put some ice cubes into a plastic bag and place it on the wax for a few minutes to make the wax more brittle.
• Scrape off the wax with the dull side of a table knife.
• Use a hair dryer onHighto soften the remaining wax.
• Scrape again.
• Put paper towels or white rags over the wax and iron over the area. Keep moving a clean area of the towels or rags onto the spot.
• Use dry-cleaning solvent. Test first on an inconspicuous area, and if OK, blot a little into the remaining wax stain.

• Use the above methods, with these changes:
• Put the item directly in the freezer, or into a plastic bag and then in the freezer, for half an hour before scraping.
• On washable items, once you have removed as much wax as possible, saturate the final stain with a solution of 1 part methylated spirits to 2 parts water and let it sit for half an hour.
• Rinse and then wash in the washing machine.
• Send non-washable items to the dry cleaner.

• The heat will only help set the dye. Instead, try this:
• After freezing and scraping, use mineral turpentine or white spirit, available from hardware and paint stores, on the rest of the wax. Test first and work on only tiny areas at a time, blotting with a rag. Some dyes may not be removable, so stop before damage is done.
• Treat washable colourfast fabrics with bleach, following instructions on the package, then wash.
• For fine rugs or upholstery, consult a professional.

The birthday party ended with your elderly aunt blowing out all of the candles — and wax all over your beautiful mahogany table. But, take heart — wax comes off fairly easily from wood surfaces.

• If you get at the wax while it is still warm, wipe up all you can with a clean cloth.
• If the wax has hardened, soften it with a hair dryer set on medium and then wipe.
• Remove the last bits with a cloth dampened with mineral turpentine.