How to Get Wax Out of Clothes & Fabric

Have you ever spilled wax on your clothes or fabrics and wondered how to get it out? It’s easier than you think to remove wax stains easily and safely, without ruining your fabrics in just a few steps.

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When candle wax drips get on your clothes, don’t panic — there’s an easy solution! After using a brown paper bag and an iron to melt most of the wax off, pretreat any remaining stain with Clorox 2® for Colors Stain Remover and Laundry Additive before machine washing. Who knew it would be that easy? Let’s get started.

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What you need

Steps to remove wax from clothing

  1. Scrape off excess wax

    Use a dull knife or a spoon to gently scrape the wax off the fabric, then set the item on the ironing board with the remaining wax stain facing up.

  2. Cut open the paper bag

    Make sure the bag does not have any wax coating or writing on it, then cut it open along the seams and lay it flat on the ironing board.

  3. Turn on the iron

    Select the lowest heat setting and turn the iron on to warm up.

    Tip

    High heat settings on an iron can melt synthetics like nylon, polyester and rayon. That’s why it’s important to start with the lowest heat setting (usually “synthetic”) to protect the fabric, especially if you aren’t sure of the fiber content.

  4. Place the bag over the wax

    Position the bag over the wax stain, then press the paper gently with the iron. Use a dry iron without steam.

    Tip

    Check for dark brown splotches on the bag to see if it is absorbing any wax.

  5. Reposition the bag and repeat

    Once the paper bag has absorbed some wax, reposition the bag to expose a clean part of the bag and then iron again. Repeat the process of placing the bag over the wax spot and pressing with the iron, until no more wax absorbs onto the bag.

    Tip

    Depending on the size of the wax stain, you may need more than one bag or, if the fabric is cotton, a warmer iron to remove more wax.

  6. Pretreat any remaining stain

    After removing all the wax you can with the iron and the paper bag, pretreat any remaining stain with liquid Clorox 2® for Colors Stain Remover and Laundry Additive. Apply the liquid directly to the stain and gently rub it in; wait 10 minutes before machine washing.

    Tip

    Set a timer to keep track of the time; don’t let the product dry out on the fabric.

  7. Machine wash

    Machine wash the item in the hottest water recommended on the care label using your regular laundry detergent and a little more Clorox 2®.

  8. Air dry

    Allow the item to air dry, and then check to confirm the stain is all the way out. If any stain remains, rewash with more detergent and Clorox 2®.