Did you know that producing the candles sold each year in the US requires more than 1 billion pounds of wax?
That figure proves just how popular these decorative light sources are. However, they’re not only for decoration or improving a room’s ambiance. According to psychotherapists, scented candles may also have a soothing effect on anxiety.
Unfortunately, candle drips on carpeting can have the opposite effect. Rather than feeling calm, you might feel infuriated instead.
Don’t worry, though, as we’ll teach you how to get candle wax out of a carpet. So, before you throw all your candles out, try the tips we’ve listed in this guide first.
Freeze the Drips
The first step to getting candle wax out of a carpet is solidifying the drips to make them easier to remove. If you panic and scoop up the droplets, you might spread them while they’re still molten. You could also hurt yourself if the wax is still hot.
What you should do instead is to freeze the waxy drips by placing a bag of ice cubes over them.
However, it’s best to wrap the ice bag with a highly absorbent towel first. You want that extra cloth to absorb the moisture from the melting ice. That can help keep the wax and carpet from getting wet.
Scrape the Frozen Wax Off
After successfully freezing the candle wax, use a round metal spatula to scrape it off. You can also use a butter knife or any knife with a dull edge to lift the now-solid droplets.
Be careful as you scrape, as some of the carpet fibers may have gotten stuck in the wax. So if you pull the substance off with too much force, you might damage your carpeting.
The trick is to use the tip of the spatula or knife to lift the edges of the frozen wax. Then, slide the blade underneath so that part of the droplet sits on top of it. Finally, slowly raise the tool to separate the wax from the carpet’s surface.
Use Heat to Remove Excess Wax
If you’re lucky, you might have been able to remove all the waxy substance with your spatula or knife. If not, you can take care of the leftovers using an iron or a hairdryer.
First, place a paper bag or a paper towel over the wax. Then, turn the iron on and set it to the lowest possible temperature. That low setting is vital as you don’t want to burn or melt the carpet fibers.
Once warm enough, gently rub the iron over the bag or towel. That sheet of paper, paired with the heat, helps absorbs any remaining wax.
If you’re using a hairdryer, position it about an inch over the paper bag or towel. After about five to ten seconds, dab the area with a towel to absorb the excess wax.
Treat the Spot
If you’re dealing with colored candle wax, some of its dyes or pigments may have bled onto your carpet. If you act fast enough, you can remove the stains using a small amount of dish detergent diluted with water.
Use a plain white paper towel to dab the solution, regardless of your carpet’s color. If you use a colored towel, its dye may bleed onto and stain your carpeting.
Grab another piece of clean white towel and moisten it with plain water. Alternate between the soapy solution and the water rinse. Repeat the process until the stain disappears completely.
Clean the Rest of Your Carpet
A square inch of carpeting can harbor up to 200,000 bacteria. That makes it dirtier and germier than your toilet seat. So, if you have time to spare, it’s best to clean your carpets after removing candle wax from them.
You can use baking soda (the same stuff you use for baking) to freshen up and deodorize your carpets. Its mild alkalinity allows it to break down dirt, grease, oil, and other organic compounds. Plus, it’s non-toxic, making it a safer alternative to commercial carpet cleaning chemicals.
To clean with baking soda, sprinkle liberal amounts of the white powder onto your carpets. Next, spray it with some plain water to moisten it.
If your carpets aren’t heavily soiled, you can leave the baking soda as-in until it dries. If they’re filthy, though, you can scrub the powder using a scratch-free carpet brush.
Once the baking soda dries completely, use your vacuum machine to suck the powder out of the carpets.
Hire Carpet Cleaning Experts
Suppose that even after you treat your carpets with baking soda, they still don’t look and smell right. That can happen if you haven’t cleaned them in a long time or if you have pets at home.
Remember: pet waste contains millions of bacteria. Aside from posing health hazards, those germs also contribute to foul odors.
In that case, your best option is to invest in professional carpet cleaning solutions. Doing so gives you access to treatments aggressive on stains yet gentle on carpets. For example, according to this service guide, you can now get low-moisture treatments.
Professional carpet cleaners also use preventive products such as carpet protectors. They help repel dirt, dust, and dander, preventing them from seeping deep into a carpet. As a result, your carpets can look and smell fresh much longer.
In addition, reliable carpet cleaning companies typically apply antibacterial carpet treatments. Such products can help sanitize your carpets while neutralizing and removing foul smells.
That’s How to Get Candle Wax Out of a Carpet
And there you have it; your ultimate guide on how to get candle wax out of a carpet. As you can see, it’s not that hard, as long as you deal with it immediately. Otherwise, the dyes or pigments in the candle can cause more stubborn stains.
So before that happens, get those waxy droplets out of your carpet ASAP.
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