Carpeting consists of tiny, absorbent fibers and most are relatively easy to clean. A wax spill, however, quickly hardens from a melted liquid to a greasy, solid mass that sticks tightly to the fibers of the rug. To completely remove wax from carpet, you need to act quickly to scrape away and vacuum any large, hardened clumps. A warm iron and absorbent brown paper bag or paper towel will soak up any that remains. To avoid tearing or staining your carpet, use low heat and treat it carefully.
Things You'll Need
Quickly collect the following tools:
- Butter knife or putty knife
- Ice cubes in a plastic bag
- Vacuum
- Iron or hair dryer
- Brown paper bag or paper towel
- Carpet spot cleaner
Steps to Remove the Wax
Scrape the larger, dry lumps of hardened wax with the butter knife or putty knife. These tools work well, but you can use anything with a clean, dull blade to remove as much of the hardened wax as possible. While you scrape, take care not to cut into the fibers or you will damage your carpeting. If the wax is still soft, use the ice to harden it so you can scrape it of. Use the vacuum to removed any debris.
Place a clean paper bag (with no printing) or a paper towel over the wax. Turn the iron onto a warm — not hot — setting with the steam turned off. Run the warm iron over the cloth until the wax melts. A hair dryer set to the hottest setting can also be used to remove wax from carpet.
Once the wax is melted, it will stick to the bag or towel. As you lift the paper off, the wax will come away with it. Repeat this step with a fresh paper towel or bag to completely remove any that remains on the carpet.
Things to Consider
Never turn the iron up too hot. If the wax is colored, the heat may cause the dye to stain your carpet. A carpet made with synthetic fibers can also melt under a hot iron, creating an even bigger mess. Avoid touching the carpet directly with the iron as well, as it may leave scorch marks.
Use only a clean paper bag, paper towel or absorbent cloth without any inks or stains. Do not use newspaper or other ink-printed materials as the ink may be transferred to your carpet with the heat from the iron.
Treating Stains
Should the colored wax stain the carpet, dampen a clean, dry cloth with commercial carpet spot cleaner or dry cleaning solvent. Follow the instructions on the product label; it will usually tell you to blot the stain gently with the cloth, taking care not to over-saturate the section. To make sure that it won't bleach or damage your carpet, try testing the cleaner on an inconspicuous area, such as a corner behind a door.
If you prefer to use a natural, alternative carpet spot remover, try one of the following household products: mild laundry detergent, mild dishwashing detergent, laundry stain remover, vinegar or denatured alcohol. As with the commercial spot remover, test an inconspicuous area of the carpet before blotting the dye. Avoid using chemicals on natural-fiber carpeting such as cotton, sisal or wool.