During the holidays you are probably using candles more than you do at any other time of year.  Sometimes candles drip onto tables and furniture and end up in your rugs and carpeting; knowing how to remove candle was properly can provide you with peace of mind during your holiday entertaining season.

To remove candle wax from your clothing, rugs, and other soft surfaces, you need to apply an ice cube or use an ice pack to harden the wax and make it more brittle.  Then you can scrape off as much of the wax as you can. Be careful not to use a really sharp instrument to remove it because this can cause more damage that will be costly to repair.  You’ll next lay a paper bag or paper towels over the wax, put paper under the garment or rug, and use a medium to high iron (depending on the fabric) to heat the wax.  This heating process will cause the wax to be absorbed into the paper quite easily.

If you or your guests spill candle wax onto your carpeting, you can try using a hair dryer to heat the affected area and blot up the wax with a soft cloth or paper towel.  If you have trouble getting the wax out of an Oriental rug or your wall-to-wall carpet, be sure to consult a professional to help you remove it as soon as you find the spill.

When wax drips onto your counter top or any other hard surface, use a hair dryer to heat the wax and then gently scrap it off the surface.  If the wax has made its way onto your furniture, once again, freeze the area, scrape up as much as you can from the surface of your piece of furniture, and then use a hair dryer to warm up the remainder of the wax and blot out with paper.  Be sure not to use any tool that will leave scratches on your furniture or tear the fabric; this will be an expensive fix for a simple problem that could have been handled more effectively.  Once the wax has been removed from your furniture, you should polish it to make the finish match the rest of the piece.

If you’re using a votive candle holder or any glass candle holder, you can avoid wax build-up by placing a small amount of water into the votive or container before you insert the tea light or candle.  This keeps the wax from collecting in the bottom of the votive and makes removal of the used tea light or candle very easy.

Candles add a festive touch to your home during the holidays and knowing some helpful tips for removing the wax that drips onto the fabrics and surfaces in your home makes using them a stress-free addition to your decorations.