# how to remove candle wax from carpet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 2, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552 "2005-06-02T14:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/1 "2005-06-02T14:58:29Z")
So, several months ago, a candle burned down and wax got on the wall to wall carpet. I got some kind of wax remover (I think some kind of petroleum based solvent or something) from Bed Bath and Beyond. I worked on the wax for a few days. It got some of the wax up but it was slow going. I kind of forgot about it for a few months but now I just want to get all the wax up. Does anyone have any suggestions? [Mods, I know that last question sounds like an IMHO plea for advice, but I put this in GQ because I’m really asking a factual question: does anyone know of a product or method that will get wax off wall to wall carpet] ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/2 "2005-06-02T15:20:41Z")
> [@constantine](#): > > So, several months ago, a candle burned down and wax got on the wall to wall carpet. I got some kind of wax remover (I think some kind of petroleum based solvent or something) from Bed Bath and Beyond. I worked on the wax for a few days. It got some of the wax up but it was slow going. > > I kind of forgot about it for a few months but now I just want to get all the wax up. > > Does anyone have any suggestions? > > [Mods, I know that last question sounds like an IMHO plea for advice, but I put this in GQ because I’m really asking a factual question: does anyone know of a product or method that will get wax off wall to wall carpet] I’ve done it this [way](http://www.ehow.com/how_2587_remove-wax-carpet.html) before. I’ve not tried [these](http://www.superiorcarcare.net/wucl.html) [products](http://www.topoftheline.com/chewgumrem.html), but I have seen them recommended elsewhere. But it sounds like they didn’t work for you. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/3 "2005-06-02T15:30:07Z")
You can also use a blowdryer to melt the wax and then blot it up. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/4 "2005-06-02T15:40:49Z")
Yes used the **Gfactor** method. Scrape up what can be scraped, then place brown paper (or butchers paper) over the area and heat with a warm iron so the paper absorbs the wax. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/5 "2005-06-02T15:46:49Z")
Another vote for the iron and brown paper bag. WhyNot, Pagan Priestess - where’s there’s smoke, there’s candles. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/6 "2005-06-02T17:23:16Z")
I used the warm iron/ lots of paper towels method. Worked like a charm, pink wax, white carpet. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/7 "2005-06-02T20:21:15Z")
I’d actually put a freezer pack on it first, to harden it and make it brittle - this should permit more to be picked off before you get to the iron/paper phase. ---
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/8 "2005-06-02T20:44:44Z")
Thanks everyone. This worked great! ---
**Author:** ![Xtapolapocetl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/58956e/32.png) [@Xtapolapocetl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xtapolapocetl)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-candle-wax-from-carpet/306552/9 "2005-06-02T21:15:55Z")
I was in a similar situation several years ago, but although I tried the advice above, what I found worked best was throwing out the old carpet and buying a new one. It worked beautifully! No matter how hard you looked, you could not find any trace of the old wax at all. More advice: Buy candle holders. Even more advice: Don’t move candles when they are burning or just after you blow them out. If you are unsure if you can move a candle, try this simple test: Plunge your finger into the potentially liquid wax. If you experience an excruciating burning sensation, you should not move the candle because you may potentially spill wax onto your carpet. A common exception is when you are in your sleeping clothes carrrying a lit candelabra investigating strange noises in darkened rooms while spending a night in a haunted house on a dare or because your car broke down in a torrential storm. In general, occasional drops of wax on the floor are rather unimportant compared to what’s going to happen in your near future.