This article discusses ineffective best ways on how to remove candle wax from wood.
As a candle lover, you know that a bit of wax is inevitable.
We all have a few candles in our homes that we enjoy on cold evenings or when we need to add some ambience.
Many people enjoy using candles as a decorative accessory, but it can be frustrating when the wax spills onto a floor or table.
The best way on how to remove candle wax from wood is to use boiling water. Heat the water in a saucepan until it boils, then pour it directly onto the area of wax. Wait for 15 minutes or so, and use a putty knife to scrape off the wax. It should come off easily once it cools down.
Candles are often used to decorate homes and on tabletops, but spilt wax can prove to be more of an annoyance than an aesthetic enhancement.
The various types of candles, including pillar candles, tea lights, and votives, can produce large amounts of wax collected during the burning process.
It is crucial to clean spilt candles well to avoid future accidents.
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The Definitive Guide on How to Remove Candle Wax from Wood Surfaces In a Few Easy Steps
1. Scrape It Off
You will need the following items:
- A plastic spatula, credit card, or plastic spoon
- A piece of paper
- A clean and white lint-free cloth
- Furniture polish
When fresh and hot wax spills on your wooden surfaces, allow it to cool off, then take a spatula or ATM card and remove it.
Hardened wax is brittle, making it easier to remove from the surface.
It also ensures that the large pieces come off quickly, and you need to use your ATM or thin plastic to scrape off the residue.
Then, wipe the wooden surface with a piece of tissue to remove the residue, then polish the surface with furniture polish to give it its original look.
Do it gently to ensure that you do not damage your wooden furniture.
This method applies to any wooden surface, sealed, painted, or raw wood.
The chances of scratching the surface when using this method are high.
So, to minimize the risk, peel off as much of the wax as you can using your hands.
Then scrape the wax in the direction of the wood grain, which is evident by looking at the direction of the lines.
However, this may be challenging when the wood surface is painted or stained.
To get the direction of wood grain on a stained or painted surface, run your hand on the surface, and if one side is smoother than the other, that’s the direction of the wood grain.
After removing all the wax, use a clean and lint-free cloth to buff the waxed-off area.
Then apply furniture polish or furniture cream of your choice after you have removed all the wax and wiped the wooden surface.
A metal object should not be used to scrape off wax from a table or any wooden surface because it increases the chances of damaging your wooden surfaces are high.
2. Melt The Wax, Then Dab It Off
If the wax has dried and you don’t have something gentle to scrape it off, you can melt it and wipe it.
Additionally, you can use an iron box or a hairdryer to heat the wax.
You will need the following items
- White and clean lint-free cloth
- Paper towels
- Iron or dryer
- Furniture polish/cream
- Iron Box
Plug the iron box into a power supply wall socket.
Take a brown paper, which comes with grocery or take-out, and place it on top of your wax.
Set your iron box on its lowest heating and put it on top of your brown paper.
Let it sit there for about 10-15 seconds.
If your iron has the steaming option, use the dry, low heat setting to avoid wetting your paper bag.
Then lift the paper after all the wax has been transferred from the wooden surface to the paper.
Check to make sure all the wax has been transferred.
If there is wax residue, you can repeat the process with clean paper until all the wax is off.
If the wax is not transferring to the paper, turn up the heat settings until you notice the change.
This method of removing wax can be applied on any wooden surface, including sealed, painted, stained, or raw wood, irrespective of whether the wax is coloured or not.
It is best applicable when the wax has soaked into the wooden surface or some residue left after scraping it off.
3. Hair Dryer
If you are using a hairdryer, plug it in and hold it at the same distance of 4 inches.
Then hold it directly above; instead of at an angle to avoid wax spreading on the wooden surface once it melts.
If the wax stain is big, wave your hairdryer back and forth to ensure that you are heating all the wax. Once all the wax is transparent, turn the dryer off.
Use a dry cotton cloth and dab the wax while turning the fabric to ensure you get all the wax.
Always dab instead of wiping.
This is because wiping will spread it on the wooden surface and make it worse.
Make sure that you are swift to avoid the wax hardening again; however, you can dab all of it if it hardens before.
Repeat the heating process and keep dabbing at it until all the wax is off.
You can apply this method on any wooden surface, including stained, sealed, or raw wood.
And it doesn’t matter whether the wax is coloured or not; all of it will come off without causing any damage to your table or floors.
4. Freeze And Scrape It Off
You will need the following items:
- Ice
- A plastic zipper bag
- A clean, white, lint-free cloth
- A plastic spatula, spoon, or ATM card
- Furniture polish or wax cream
This is the most common method, where you place a plastic zipper bag with ice cubes on top of the wax to cool it.
Place a piece of lint-free cloth between the was and the plastic container to avoid getting the wax wet through condensation.
Once it’s cool and brittle, it becomes easier to remove.
Use a slim plastic object, such as an ATM card or spatula, to scrape it off the surface.
Be gentle when scraping to avoid scratching the surface.
Suppose the wax is deeply rooted in the wood; some residue may be left after scraping it off.
You can use the heat and dab method to remove them with this.
Then polish the surface with a furniture polish or furniture wax cream of your choice.
5. Apply Wax Removing Products
If you are not a, Do It Yourself kind of person, then use wax removing products.
These are products designed to remove wax.
They are several wax-removing products in the market. To make your shopping less overwhelming, I’ve compiled a list of the best three wax removing products in the market.
The upside is that they are cost-friendly and effectively remove all the wax, evident from the positive rating.
Goo Gone is an adhesive remover that helps remove wax from wooden surfaces without causing any damage.
This wax-removing agent is composed of citrus cleaning agents and leaves your surface with a pleasant citrusy scent.
Moreover, it can also remove stickers, gum, glue, window decals, and glitter.
When you have bought anything with a sticker, you can use Goo Gone to remove the stickers from wine glasses, clothing, and gifts.
This cleaning solution is perfect for removing wax from wooden surfaces and fabrics. It doesn’t have a pleasant odour like GooGone, but it’s easy to use and highly effective.
Weiman has a variety of products meant for varying purposes, so check the product cautiously when buying to ensure that it is for removing wax.
The upside is they also have furniture polish, which leaves your wooden surface looking as good as new.
De-Solv-it Orange Citrus Solution Spray
This cleaning solution is perfect for removing foul odour and stains on clothes, glass, and wood.
It is available in spray form and helps remove residues deeply embedded on wooden surfaces.
De-Solv-It Orange Citrus Solution spray is easy to use.
You need to spray the surface, wipe it, and then rinse.
With this cleaning solution, you can restore your wooden table and floors to their original state.
The upside is that it is safe for children, and since it contains essential oils, vitamins, and aloe, it leaves your surfaces shining.
Moreover, it is available in a 12 ounces bottle.
Things not to do when removing candle wax from wooden surfaces
When removing wax from wooden surfaces, do not use mineral spirits.
Because they lift the floor wax from a sealed hardwood, leaving it exposed and unprotected.
Do not srub the wax off using steel wood or the green scrubby.
This is because they are hard and aggressive and will destroy your wooden table and floors.
So if you want to safeguard your shiny new table sheen or floors, use a soft, clean, and lint-free cloth.
You may be tempted to use whatever is at hand to scrape off the wax, and in some instances, this may be a knife or a metal spoon.
Don’t, as chances of gouging off your wooden surface are high.
Final Thoughts on How to Remove Candle Wax from Wood Surfaces
Luckily, if you’re looking for inexpensive ways on how to remove candle wax from wood it is quite easier than one might think with the use of the methods discussed in this article.
Although candles are essential in creating a romantic feeling during dinners, making the home smell nice.
Their wax can be a nuisance, especially if you don’t have candle holders.
This is because they ruin your home’s aesthetics.
Remove the wax from your wooden surface using the methods discussed in this piece.
Have you ever removed candle wax from wooden surfaces using any of the above methods? Would you please share the outcome and any questions in the comment section?
