Remove Wax from Upholstery

Wax stains can be very difficult to remove, especially from upholstery. Luckily, there are several methods that can be used to remove the wax. Begin by cooling the wax, removing the excess wax, and then transferring the wax to a paper bag using heat.

Steps

Removing Excess Wax

1. Allow the wax to dry. If you start removing the wax before it has completely dried, you might smear the wax and make it more difficult to remove.
2. Ice the wax. Once the wax is dry, chill it using ice. Add a few ice cubes in a plastic sandwich bag and apply it to the surface of the wax. Chilling the wax will cause it to become brittle and easier to chip away.
   • If the wax is on a pillow or removable fabric, consider putting the fabric in the freezer for better results.
3. Scrape off the wax. Using a butter knife, gently scrape the excess wax off of the fabric. Be careful to not use too much force as you could damage the fabric. You probably will not be able to remove all of the wax from the upholstery at this time.

Using an Iron

1. Warm up an iron. Plug in a clothes iron and let it warm up to a medium heat setting. Read the fabric’s label to ensure that the fabric is iron safe. If the fabric does not have a label, test the iron on a small, inconspicuous spot before applying the heat to a larger area.
2. Place a brown paper bag over the wax. Iron the brown paper bag. The iron will begin to melt the wax and transfer it from the fabric to the paper bag.
   • A clean rag can be used in place of a paper bag; however, the wax is likely to remain on the cloth after washing.
   • Be careful to use a paper bag without any writing. The ink from the print will transfer and stain the upholstery. If you use a paper bag from a store with a label, cut the label off of the bag before use.
3. Repeat several times. Move the paper bag and repeat the process until all of the wax has transferred from the upholstery to the bag.
4. Remove any stains. Use an upholstery or carpet cleaner to remove any residual stains after the wax is lifted. Spray the stain and let the cleaner sit for one minute. Then, carefully blot the stain with a clean cloth or paper towel. Repeat this process until the stain is gone.

Using Alternative Methods

1. Heat the stain with a hairdryer. If you do not have an iron available, a hairdryer can have the same effect. Use the hairdryer to melt the wax and then carefully lay the brown paper bag on top of the wax. The paper bag will begin to absorb the warm wax. Repeat the process until all of the wax has been transferred.
   • Use a blank paper bag or clean rag for this method as well.
2. Apply WD-40. WD-40 breaks down the wax and makes it softer and easier to clean off of upholstery. Gently scrub the solution into the fabric and wipe away with a clean rag or sponge. Use warm water to clean the solution from the fabric once all of the wax is removed.
   • Test the WD-40 on an inconspicuous portion of the fabric before using it on a more noticeable section.
3. Use dish detergent. Combine the dish detergent with warm water in a small container. Dish detergent is designed to break down grease and, in some cases, can break down the wax. Gently scrub the wax with a clean sponge or rag and then let dry.

Tips

• Let the wax completely dry before trying to remove it from the upholstery.
• Avoid using a sharp knife to remove excess wax.

Warnings

• Do not over scrub or scrape the fabric when removing excess wax. This could damage the fabric’s surface.

Things You’ll Need

• Butter knife
• Ice cubes
• Plastic bag
• Paper bag or clean cloth
• Iron
• Hairdryer
• WD-40
• Dish detergent
• Water
• Sponge or clean rag

Sources and Citations

See also

• Dewax a Table
• Clean Polyester Fiber
• Clean Crayon off Painted Walls
• Reupholster a Couch
• Reupholster Furniture
• Remove Wax from Carpet
• Reupholster a Dining Chair Seat
• Remove Candle Wax
• Clean Crayon out of a Dryer
• Remove Wax from a Glass Table Top

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