Lit candles provide a romantic touch to any dinner table or holiday display. However, some wax may drip onto your table if you leave it on your table unguarded. That is why we will teach you how to get candle wax off table.
Methods On How To Get Candle Wax Off Table
Method 1: Settle and Scrape
The first method on how to get candle wax off table is the settle and scrape approach. It is the easiest and most effective for cleaning tiny wax spills. So, how to get candle wax off table using this approach?
Materials Required:
- firm, plastic spatula, plastic spoon, or credit card
- a scrap of paper
- lint-free textiles that are clean, white, or light in color
- wash towels or sanitizing cloths
- preferred furniture polish
Process:
Scrape the wax off in the direction of the wood grain with a spatula, spoon, or one side of a credit card. If your wood has cracks or deep crevices, use a pointed spatula or the rounded edge of a credit card. It can help to loosen the wax.
Use the spatula or credit card to gently push them onto a sheet of paper in a broom and dustpan pattern. Do this as the wax pieces build up. Repeat the process until all of the wax has been removed.
It may require numerous scraping cycles. After the wax has been removed, rub the treated area with a clean, lint-free cloth. Next, apply furniture polish with a cloth and mix until you are pleased with the results.
If wax has recently leaked, allow the wax to cool completely. Patience is essential, as scrubbing or scraping off hot wax can burn you or spread the wax everywhere. It’s not an easy process, but it’s part of it.
Peel off as much as you can with your hands before you begin. It will reduce the quantity of scraping required. The primary disadvantage of this procedure is that you risk scratching the wood if you are not cautious.
Work in the direction of the wood grain to reduce this danger. The wood grain may sometimes be seen simply by glancing at the direction of the lines. However, it can be considerably more difficult to notice on stained or painted wood.
Run your hand across the wood in certain circumstances; the direction of the wood grain is the way that feels smoother. Next, to avoid dye transfer from a colored fabric, buff and polish using a white or light-colored cloth. Finally, use hand towels to cover the surrounding area to prevent stray wax onto pristine wood surfaces.
Method 2: Wipe and Heat
The Heat and Wipe approach is the most effective method for removing significant wax spills from wood. Why? Because other procedures, such as the Settle and Scrape, are only effective for removing a few droplets of wax.
You’re almost sure to scratch the wood if you try to scrape off a large lump of wax. However, because it does not need scraping with sharp instruments, this procedure works brilliantly on large messes. In a nutshell, this approach includes progressively warming the wax to soften its composition.
When the wax is soft enough, you may wipe it away with a cloth or absorb it with a paper towel. By doing so, you can avoid harming your furniture. There are two methods to approach this procedure: one uses a hairdryer, while the other uses a garment iron.
Materials Required
- lint-free textiles that are clean, white, or light in color
- heavy-duty paper towels
- washcloths on the cheap
- iron or hair drier as a heat source
- your preferred furniture polish
Process When Using a Hair Dryer
Step one is to keep the hair drier at least three inches away from the afflicted region. Next, point the hairdryer toward the candle wax on a low setting. As the wax softens, attempt to peel off as much as possible with your hands.
Then clean the area with a lint-free cloth. Reapply the heat and clean the area until all of the wax has been gone. Wipe the affected area with a clean, lint-free cloth, add furniture polish, and buff.
Process When Using an Iron
Set your iron to the lowest steam setting. Apply at least three layers of heavy-duty paper towels to the afflicted area. Cover the paper towels with a clean, iron-safe, lint-free fabric or washcloth.
Press the iron into the cloth over the afflicted region for three to five seconds. Then, pull back the fabric to observe if the paper towels have absorbed the wax. If not, you may need to add a second or slightly raise the temperature.
Repeat the process with a fresh strip of paper towel until all of the wax has been removed. Depending on the amount of wax, you may need to replace the paper towels after a few heat applications. Finally, wipe the treated area with a clean, lint-free cloth, add furniture polish, and buff.
You can use these approaches singly or in combination. So, what if you have deep grooves in the wood? The iron can be used as a subsequent step after the hairdryer has removed most of the wax.
Using an iron to remove wax takes longer than using a hair drier. It is because you must repeatedly apply the iron to a cloth over the damaged region. It pushes the wax upward into the paper towels.
So, it is the ideal approach to employ when the wax is deeply buried in the wood grains. If you don’t have the time, use a hairdryer. If you’re going to use an iron, start on the lowest setting with no steam.
Only increase the temperature if the wax isn’t melting. The iron should be heated, not scorching. Make careful to cover the wax with numerous paper towels.
If you don’t use enough paper towels, the wax will seep into the fabric, solidify inside the fibers, and become an annoyance. Instead, use an oversized washcloth to prevent the iron’s surface from coming into direct touch with the wood. Examine the fabric composition of your washcloth to avoid burning it throughout the operation.
Conclusion
So here are two different methods on how to get candle wax off table. Carefully choose which way applies to your table. These methods are applicable if you are not removing wax from a tablecloth and just directly on the table.