How to get wax off your clothes
Decorative candles create a romantic atmosphere, emphasize the solemnity of the situation and the peculiarity of the moment. The only pity is that the beeswax, from which this element of the holiday decoration is made, melts when burning and leaves unaesthetic stains on the tablecloth, and sometimes on clothes. It is quite difficult to get rid of such contaminants, since hot wax instantly permeates the surface of the material and solidifies between the fibers. The situation becomes more complicated if droplets of the substance fall on, which cannot be ironed and washed at high temperatures. And yet, there are several home remedies that will help completely cope with stains from a molten candle.
Cold and warm against paraffin stains
It is possible to remove particles of the substance that have penetrated deep into the material with an iron. It is easiest to remove wax or paraffin stains from natural fabrics that will tolerate ironing and washing at high temperatures. We can consider that it is very lucky if a cotton blouse or a wool skirt is dripped by a candle.
Seeing a spreading paraffin stain, do not despair and panic. It is necessary to act in this situation quickly and decisively. Since the molten paraffin becomes soft and plastic, you should not try to wipe the drop with your hand - this can only increase the area of contamination by smearing the stain over the surface of the material. It is better to blot a drop of hot paraffin with a paper towel, gently applying it to the fabric, and remove the bulk of the substance, preventing the fibers from absorbing into the interior.
Thermal impact
It is possible to remove particles of the substance that have penetrated deep into the material with an iron. To do this, lay out the soiled clothes on the ironing board with the wrong side up, and place a clean paper or white napkin under the place of contamination.
Heating the iron to the highest possible temperature, gently iron the dirty place through an additional layer of cloth. The wax will begin to melt and absorb into the wipes, which will need to be replaced from time to time. This procedure should be carried out until greasy marks no longer appear on the paper napkins.
After all the wax has been removed, all that remains is to remove the greasy stains left over from contamination. This can be done with stain remover or regular laundry detergent.
There are some things that cannot be ironed at all. For example, a cap or a cotton hat is stained with paraffin. In such cases, wardrobe items need to be soaked in hot water for a few minutes, and then cleaned with a clothes brush and laundry soap.
Freezing
You can get rid of paraffin stains not only by heating, but also by freezing. Each housewife chooses the method that she likes best. The essence of cleaning using low temperatures is as follows. Clothes are packed in a plastic bag and placed in a freezer for 2 hours. Once the wax is completely frozen, it can be scraped off with the tip of a knife or other sharp object.
How to remove dirt from synthetic material
Many do not withstand washing with water heated to a temperature of more than 30 ° C, and even more so ironing with a hot iron. To remove wax stains from such clothes, you will have to call for help with aggressive chemicals: ammonia and ethyl alcohol or turpentine.
Ethanol
A cotton pad or a piece of gauze bandage is moistened in a solution of ethyl alcohol and the surface of the fabric is wiped at the site of contamination. To prevent the stain from increasing in size, when processing, they move from the edge of the stain to the center, and not vice versa. After the majority of the wax has dissolved, the product can be machine washed at the highest possible temperature.
Ammonia
To get rid of paraffin stains left by molten candles, you can use ammonia. To do this, make a weak solution by combining 1 tbsp. l. alcohol and 1 liter of cold water, and pour it over the stain abundantly. This method is great for all delicate fabrics.
Turpentine
This tool will be able to remove wax from clothes in just a matter of minutes. To get rid of a fresh stain, it will be enough to moisten a cotton pad in turpentine and lightly rub the place of pollution. If traces of the candle are not found immediately, you need to attach a tampon with turpentine to the stained place and hold it for about half an hour - this is the only way to achieve a positive result.
Detergent
A regular detergent will help remove wax stains. If you don't have alcohol or turpentine on hand, you can use any dishwashing detergent to remove wax stains. A little Fairy is applied to the place of pollution and the product is set aside for 10-12 hours, after which it is washed in the usual way.
All of the above methods allow you to completely get rid of paraffin stains. The main thing is to carefully and accurately carry out the cleaning work. If the clothes are not completely cleaned the first time, the procedure must be repeated.
Removing candle stains depending on the type of fabric
When starting to remove a wax stain, you need to focus on the type of fabric from which the injured clothing is made. If standard means and general rules are suitable for cleaning natural and synthetic materials, then fabrics such as suede, velvet, satin or natural fur require special treatment, and you cannot do without knowledge of various nuances.
Suede leather
You can use an iron to remove melted wax stains from a natural jacket.
- First, the frozen droplet is scraped off with a sharp object: a knife, a thick needle, a toothpick.
- You should act very carefully, trying not to damage the structure of the material.
- Then the iron is slightly warmed up, placed vertically and covered with a clean towel.
- In order to melt the wax, the product is applied to the sole of the iron protected with a towel. If you proceed in the usual way, that is, iron the suede with an iron, shiny stripes will appear on the surface of the fabric, which will ruin the appearance of the clothes.
Wardrobe items that cannot be ironed, such as hats or boots, can be cleaned with a special cleaner. To prepare it, you need to mix:
- 45 ml of refined gasoline;
- 10 ml of ethyl alcohol;
- 35 ml of ammonia.
A cotton pad moistened with the resulting solution is applied to the contaminated area for several minutes, after which the remaining wax is removed with a clean napkin.
Leather
Steam can be used to remove traces of wax from a leather jacket. In a small saucepan, heat the water to boiling point and hold the thing over the steam until the wax melts. The remaining greasy residue is washed off with hot water.
Fur
It is not recommended to wash both natural and artificial fur in hot water. If a few droplets of paraffin get on the fur product, you can get rid of the contamination by freezing it.
- Small items of clothing, such as a collar, a hat or detachable cuffs, are frozen in the freezer.
- For bulky items such as a fur coat or cloak, you can use pieces of ice.
Frozen wax becomes brittle and, with any mechanical action, crumbles into small particles that can be easily shaken off the fur fibers with a hand or a clothes brush.
Silk, organza, chiffon, satin
Dishwashing detergent can help remove molten candle stains from delicate fabrics. After the main part of the paraffin is removed, a detergent (preferably colorless) is applied to the contaminated area of the material and the thing is left for several hours. Finish the process of removing the stain by washing as usual.
Velvet
When cleaning, or not to do without organic solvents - turpentine or alcohol. A tampon soaked in one of these substances is applied to the site of contamination for 15 minutes, after which the remaining wax is removed with a damp cloth.
How to remove wax for depilation from clothes
Depilatory wax also stains. Many women use wax for depilation. This cosmetic product, in addition to paraffin, contains synthetic and wood resins, as well as various oils. It is difficult to wipe away stains that have appeared on clothes due to inaccurate handling of depilatory wax. But there is a proven method that allows you to completely clean your clothes and remove this difficult contamination.
Apply a few drops to the stain and leave the product for 10-15 minutes, allowing the wax to soak. After that, wash the dirty place with Fairy and place the item in the drum of the machine for further processing.
How to remove colored paraffin
The task becomes much more difficult if the clothes are stained with wax from a colored candle, especially when it comes to light-colored items.
Important! Colored wax on clothing must not be heated. From exposure to high temperatures, colorful stains will only be fixed on the fabric.
Thus, methods involving heating with an iron or washing in hot water disappear, and you will have to act as follows:
- freeze the wax by covering the stain with pieces of ice;
- destroy the structure of paraffin and shake off its remnants;
- treat the contaminated area with a stain remover.
The result depends on the stability of the colorant added to the paraffin during the manufacture of the candle. It can be considered that the thing is saved if, after processing, the paint has completely disappeared and only a greasy stain remains, which any means that dissolves fat can easily cope with.
It is much worse if the dye is so strongly absorbed into the fibers that even the stain remover cannot cope with it. In this case, there is only one way out - to mask the contamination with embroidery or applique.
Removing wax stains from clothing so that no trace remains of them is not an easy task, but quite doable if you follow the instructions above.