Learn now how to remove candle stains from clothes and other fabrics without damaging them and with very simple tips with products you have at home!
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Candles: party atmosphere and celebrations
How many candlelight dinners have you had this year with the one you love? Did you place an order and close your eyes when you blew out your birthday candles? Did you light a scented candle while preparing a nice bath?
Whether for religious and spiritual purposes, or for feasts and celebrations, the candle has always brought a good, cozy and mystical atmosphere, subtly illuminating and warming, which is why so many people love it.
But despite the pleasures the candle brings, it can end up spilling melted wax on clothes, tablecloths, furniture, rugs or upholstered furniture, causing small inconveniences in everyday life.
Wax can stain fabrics, especially when we light colored candles. To solve this problem, we have separated some tips on how to remove candle stains from clothes and other fabrics. Check it out!
Preliminary Care
Before putting the tips we are going to put into practice, make sure you take some precautions:
Let the wax be dry
In contact with the air and the fire extinguished, paraffin wax quickly solidifies as the temperature decreases. Thus, waiting for the wax to dry before cleaning makes removing the stain much easier.
With solid paraffin, the chance of the stain spreading becomes much less.
Use an ice cube
If a lot of wax has fallen on the fabric and you want to speed up the hardening process to make it easier to remove the stain, the best tip is to pass an ice cube over it. Rapid cooling will cause the paraffin to solidify faster.
Remember that the more agile you are to remove the stain, the easier and more effective it will be. Tissues that have been stained for a long time end up degrading, which makes the stain perennial and impossible to remove completely, even with a professional wash.
Remove excess
After the wax is completely solid, it removes the excess material that has fallen into the fabric with the help of a spoon or spatula.
It is important to emphasize that knives should not be used and that this procedure should be done with great care so as not to damage the fabric.
Step by step to remove candle stains
Now that you’ve removed the excess, it’s time to put an end to the dreaded stains. In general, they are caused by oils or dyes added to paraffin and must be eliminated.
So let’s go to the first tip on how to remove candle stains from clothing:
Using paper towels
- To begin, place two sheets of paper towels over the wax stain.
- Then iron the paper over the paper at a low temperature until the material comes off the fabric and into the sheets of paper.
- If you don’t have an iron, use another heat source, such as a hair dryer or flat iron, for example.
Using warm water and bicarbonate
Another very effective way to remove stains is to use sodium bicarbonate.
Heat a little water until it covers the stained garment.
Then add baking soda and soak for a while until the paraffin melts and the fabric degrades.
If your garment is colored or dark, be very careful to leave only the time needed to remove the stain. It is not recommended to leave it for a long time so that the fabric does not fade.
How to clean paraffin wax from upholstery or rugs
The tips we gave above are very effective in removing paraffin from tissues. However, in some cases they may not be the best option.
If the candle falls on upholstery or carpets, the ideal solution is to have the help of a specialized company.
Home cleaning can damage some types of fabrics and, in certain situations, the stain can be very sticky, requiring a deeper wash.
Mr. Cleaning Services has highly trained professionals to handle all types of materials and coatings, in order to clean completely without attacking them.
During the cleaning of carpets and upholstery, a shampoo is used for fabrics that has high performance in stain removal.
In addition, it eliminates other types of waste, leaving your upholstery or your carpet 100% sanitized. The product has a bactericidal, acaricidal and fungicidal effect. Therefore, besides eliminating stains, odors and residues, it protects your health by eliminating these microorganisms.
The cleaning is done with an extractor machine that removes the dirt under vacuum, being this the most effective method on the market.
Other Tips for Removing Paraffin Stains
Now that you’ve learned how to remove candle stains from your clothes, you can celebrate at ease and prepare a delicious romantic dinner.
So you’re fully prepared and don’t get headaches later, here are some more tips.
- Always act politely. Some fabrics are very thin and fragile, such as silk, chiffon, and velvet, and improper handling can cause permanent damage.
- Before taking any action, check the label of the garment, upholstery or fabric and check the manufacturer’s instructions on how to wash and dry.
- Remember to pay extra attention when removing the stains with a spatula so that the fabric does not tear.
- Also be careful when using the iron, ironing board or dryer not to burn the fabrics and, of course, not to burn yourself.
- Before lighting the candle, special care is also worth taking. Check where the paraffin may fall as it melts. If the candle is on a tablecloth, for example, place a small plate or container underneath to avoid further staining.
Now, just light a candle and celebrate! Tell us if the tips worked and if you have any other tricks on how to remove candle stains from your clothes.
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