How to remove candle wax from clothes at home?
A romantic candlelight dinner or special paraffin therapy used in cosmetology can turn into troubles for clothes. No one is safe from the ingress of molten wax on fabrics. After that, it dries quickly, and it can be difficult to get rid of it. In today's article, we will find out how you can effectively remove candle wax from clothes at home.
Features of pollution
The list of contaminants that are difficult to get rid of is very long. It also includes wax drops from a candle. Such pollution is considered one of the most difficult. The whole problem of removal is primarily related to their composition.
In the production of candles, a material such as paraffin or palm wax, which has a high fat content. These substances do not dissolve in water, even if it has a high temperature. This is one of the main reasons why regular washing does not help to say goodbye to the stains in question.
Additional difficulties in removing wax stains are provoked by the fact that the wax falls on the woven materials, being in a hot and melted state... Because of this, it almost instantly impregnates the fibers and solidifies, gluing them together.
Danger drops from a mixture of lipids are hidden in the coloring components used. Candles, which have a variegated color, are produced with highly persistent color pigments.If such components were involved, then the spilled wax composition can leave not only greasy marks on things, but also tinted spots. Cope with such troubles is doubly problematic.
If a drop of wax from a candle gets on your clothes, do not immediately give in to panic or upset because of the spoiled thing. It is difficult, but possible, to overcome such unpleasant pollution.
There are many effective methods by which you can save clothes that are soiled in this way.
Mechanical methods for cleaning fabric from fresh stains
Classic detergents will not help rid the soiled thing of the dirt in question. To remove problem wax stains, you can resort to several mechanical methods. With their help, it is possible to save the fabric. Below we will consider the most popular and effective methods used by many people who are faced with getting wax drops on their clothes.
With an iron
It will be possible to save a seriously soiled thing by means of ordinary heating with an iron.... It is recommended to resort to this popular method if clothes made of high density fabric are damaged by wax.
Beforehand, it is imperative to remove the convex part of the wax droplet from the surface of the woven material. To do this, you can use a spatula or scraper. These tools will need to perform characteristic scraping movements.
For further procedures, such simple constituent components will be needed:
- a pair of cotton napkins;
- White paper;
- iron.
Let's look at how you can effectively remove problematic contamination using the listed elements.
- First, the iron will need to be warmed up. The temperature should not be more than the maximum indicated on the item's label.
- You will need to turn off the steam supply.
- You will need to spread one cotton napkin on the ironing board.
- A contaminated item will need to be placed on top of the laid out napkin. This should be done in such a way that the stain is on top.
- Cover the stained area with a white piece of paper.
- At the next stage, you can proceed to ironing things with an iron. Ironing must be done carefully, without making any sudden movements.
- As soon as the heated wax has soaked the paper sheet, it must be removed and a new one put in.
- This treatment should be repeated until the greasy stains still show through on the paper.
All residues from a dirty footprint can be removed to the end using a high-quality stain remover.
Freezing
If a wax drop from a candle gets on a textured and more complex fabric, it will be especially difficult to get rid of it. The lion's share of recipes in this case, as a rule, turns out to be ineffective. Often, trying to clean up the pollution, people only exacerbate the situation.
To save a contaminated item, you can resort to freezing it... Such a procedure will provoke increased fragility of the paraffin or wax spot. In the winter season, clothes can simply be taken outside. However, this method will only be relevant in a frosty winter.
In warmer seasons, you can use the freezer to remove wax or wax stains. To do this, the thing must first be folded so that the contaminated area "looks up". Next, the folded clothes are placed in a plastic bag and sent to the freezer.
As soon as the wax spot freezes, you can simply break it with your hands, and then carefully clean all the remaining pieces using a brush.
Mechanical scraping
If you want to use the simplest and most affordable way to remove a wax drop, then you should resort to it mechanical scraping. To implement this method, it is recommended to use an ordinary teaspoon or nail file. A plastic spatula will do the job well.
A mechanical scraping knife should not be used as a sharp blade can seriously damage woven fibers. Because of this, scuffs will appear at the point of the spot, or a hole may form.
Folk remedies
There are many folk remedies that can help you get rid of wax drops on your clothes. Many people prefer to contact them. Let's consider some of the most effective and popular techniques that will achieve the desired results.
Solvent
Organic solvents can be used to remove wax stains. The following tools are suitable:
- refined gasoline;
- acetone;
- White Spirit.
Let's find out how you can get rid of the wax pollution by means of a solvent.
- You need to take a small sponge or swab, moisten it in the chosen solvent, after which you can wipe the stain on your clothes. When engaged in such procedures, it is recommended not to leave the contaminated area.
- After the specified processing, the item will need to be left intact for about 30 minutes. After that, similar procedures will need to be repeated again.
- As soon as there are no marks left on the woven fabric, the item can be washed. In this case, it is imperative to use an air conditioner.
- It is recommended to dry cleaned clothes outdoors.
Ammonia
Candle marks are perfectly removed by ordinary ammonia. This folk remedy is very popular among housewives. To save soiled clothes, you will need the following components:
- 10% ammonia solution - 1 part;
- fine salt - 1 part;
- water - 3 parts.
The listed components must be mixed with each other in a separate container. After that, the resulting solution will need to thoroughly treat the stain on the clothes. Next, the processed thing is left for a couple of hours. After that, she is sent to the wash.
Ethyl alcohol or turpentine
You can easily get rid of wax traces using these folk remedies. Even stubborn stains can be removed with their help. It is enough to soak with the selected composition the place where traces of the candle droplets remain... After 30 minutes, the thing to be processed will definitely need to be washed.
Special chemical compositions
It is possible to wash and clean a thing damaged by wax not only with folk remedies, but also with special chemical compounds. Today on sale you can find plenty of very good and effective drugs, through which it is possible to easily reduce traces of wax and paraffin.
Stain remover Dr. Beckmann
It is a very popular chemical and is ideal for removing greasy stains that remain after removing wax from textiles. This product contains special surfactants that are able to cope with even very difficult dirt.
The rules for using this stain remover are as follows:
- the product must be applied in large quantities to a dirty stain on clothes;
- the stain remover will need to be kept in the contaminated area for at least a quarter of an hour;
- the product can now be washed as usual.
If the clothes cannot be washed, then after processing manipulations with the agent in question, you need to wait 15 minutes, and then blot the contaminated area with a damp cloth.
Spartan Chewing Gum Remover
This remedy works in a completely different way than the stain remover discussed above. Drug efficacy level Spartan Chewing Gum Remover demonstrated by its ability to freeze the contaminated area without using the refrigerator.
Spartan Chewing Gum Remover comes in a convenient spray form... It is allowed to be used for high-quality cleaning of fabrics not only from wax, but also from gum or other substances of a sticky consistency.
This drug is operated by the spray method.Once the wax is frozen on the product, it can be easily broken by hand, and then the residue can be brushed off the fibers.
Zapur freeze
Also works according to principle freezing... After the product is on the contamination, the wax will need to be very carefully cleaned off without damaging the fabric.
How to remove old stains?
Old traces of dirt from wax drops that have remained on clothes are unlikely to be removed completely without leaving a single trace. However, no one forbids attempts to get rid of them. The hardened parts can be removed well with simple citric acid. Its crystals only need to be distributed over the contaminated area, and then moisten it all from above with warm water from a spray bottle. After that, you need to wait about 15–20 minutes and collect the dirt with a sponge.
In the fight against old spots, a remedy such as preparation for removing wax after depilation procedure... The composition of the oily type will be able to dissolve the wax on the woven material in the shortest possible time and without unnecessary problems. The remaining stain can then be removed.
Some housewives even resort to using liquid to remove nail polish. However, one must take into account the fact that such products can discolor the fabric.
Synthetics or knitwear can be easily cleaned, but many housewives are afraid to clean silk and woolen fabrics. On these materials, you can try to remove old wax with a dish detergent. It just needs to be poured onto the existing wax spot, and then covered with cling film. In this state, the item should be left for at least 1 day. After the specified time, the clothes will need to be washed using laundry soap.
Useful Tips
Let's take a look at a number of helpful tips and tricks on how to remove wax stains from clothes at home.
- Before resorting to one of the effective methods for removing wax stains, be sure to carefully remove the protruding part of the drop from the candle.
- If there are traces of colored paraffin on the clothes, then they can be dealt with with undiluted medical alcohol. The most convenient way to do this is using a napkin. It is necessary to carry out blotting movements. It is advisable to carry out all work as carefully as possible, since the paint cannot be smeared even more - this will ruin the thing.
- It is strongly discouraged to hesitate to remove any wax stain that appears on your clothes. It is not always advisable to try to rinse it off with hot or cold water, as this will not be enough. It is advisable to immediately resort to effective methods so that the contamination does not have time to eat into the fabric. Remember: old stains are much more difficult to remove than fresh ones.
- If you want to use some folk remedy or a chemical solution, it is first recommended to check it on a small piece of fabric from which the thing is made. Thus, it will be possible to check how the material will react to the selected medium.
- Work from the edges towards the middle to remove the stain from the woven fabric. Due to this, the area of contamination will not expand.
- If the item cannot be washed, it is advisable to use a dry cleaning service.