How to Get Candle Wax Off a Tablecloth and a Wood Table

Step by step

1. 1

   Let the wax harden

   Leave warm wax alone and let it cool until it’s hard. To speed it up, hold an ice cube in a plastic bag on the drip.

   What it looks like: the wax turns from shiny to dull and feels firm when you tap it.

2. 2

   Scrape off the top layer

   Use a dull knife or the edge of a plastic card to lift off as much wax as you can. Hold the cloth flat and go gently so you don’t snag the threads.

   What it looks like: flakes of wax coming off, leaving a thin, flat, greasy-looking mark.

3. 3

   Press it between paper towels with a warm iron

   Lay a few white paper towels on the ironing board, put the stained part face down on them, and set more paper towels on top. Press with a warm iron from the back. As the towels soak up wax, move them so a clean part sits under the spot.

   What it looks like: a greasy wax mark spreading into the paper towel, and less of it on the cloth each time.

1. 4

   Rub in detergent and wash it hot

   Rub a little liquid laundry detergent into what’s left of the spot. Then wash the tablecloth in hot water if the care label allows it.

2. 5

   Lift any color left by a colored candle

   A red or green candle can leave a dye mark after the wax is gone. Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol with 2 parts water, sponge it on the mark, and rinse. Test it on a hidden hem first.

   What it looks like: the colored shadow comes off onto the sponge.

3. 6

   Check it before the dryer

   Hold the spot up to a window while it’s wet. If there’s still a shadow, repeat Step 3 or Step 5 before drying. The American Cleaning Institute says drying can set a stain.

4. 7

   Wood table: ice, then a gentle scrape

   Put an ice cube in a plastic bag and set it on the wax until it’s hard. Then ease it off with a plastic spatula, a spoon or the edge of a plastic card. Go slowly and gently so you don’t scratch the finish, then buff the spot with a soft cloth.

   What it looks like: the wax pops off in a piece, leaving a faint dull film that buffs away.

When it will not work, and what to do instead

Wax can leave a little behind. Here’s what to try next.

• A greasy shadow is left on the cloth. Do Step 3 again with fresh paper towels, then wash again. It can take a few rounds of towels.
• There’s still color after the alcohol. Sponge it once more, rinse, and wash. Don’t put it in the dryer until it’s gone.
• The tablecloth is acetate or acrylic. University of Georgia Extension says rubbing alcohol can damage those fabrics. Skip Step 5 and take it to a dry cleaner if color is left.
• A wax film won’t buff off the wood. University of Georgia Extension lists mineral spirits as the next step. If you use them, read that product’s label first, open a window, and keep every candle and flame away.
• Wax dripped on the rug. Harden it with ice, scrape off what you can, then cover it with paper towels and press with a warm iron, not a hot one.

Why it works

Here is what is going on. Candle wax is solid when it’s cold and melts with heat. Cold makes it brittle, so it snaps off in pieces instead of smearing, and that’s why ice comes first.

The iron does the opposite job. It melts the last thin layer, and the paper towel soaks it up like a sponge. Moving the towel keeps it from putting wax back on the cloth.

Colored candles add a second stain, the dye. That’s what the alcohol step is for, once the wax itself is gone.