How To Remove Wax Or Paraffin From Clothes, Wallpaper, Furniture, Plastic And Other Items + Photos, Videos And Reviews

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

How to effectively remove wax and paraffin from hard surfaces or fabric

Stains from a molten holiday candle on a tablecloth or table, residues of wax for depilation on cloth napkins, clothes or carpets, traces of wax crayons on wallpaper or the floor - all this looks extremely sloppy, so you need to know how to effectively remove unpleasant dirt from various surfaces …

Content

• 1 What is the difference between wax and paraffin

  1.1 Important nuances before removing traces of wax or paraffin

• 2 Remove wax and paraffin at home

  • 2.1 Hot Ways

    2.1.1 Video: how to clean wax or paraffin from fabric with water or iron

  • 2.2 Talc, chalk powder or potato starch
  • 2.3 Cold methods

• 3 Get rid of greasy stains after wax and paraffin on clothes

  • 3.1 With an iron
  • 3.2 Folk and cleaning products

  • 3.3 Removing stains from delicate fabrics

    3.3.1 Photo gallery: how you can remove greasy stains from delicate clothes

  • 3.4 Video: how to remove wax from jeans and silk
  • 3.5 We remove wax and paraffin from leather products and suede

• 4 Remove greasy stains from upholstery and carpets

  • 4.1 Cleaning upholstery
  • 4.2 Remove paraffin or wax from the pile
  • 4.3 Video: how to remove wax drops and wax spots at home
• 5 Washing off wax crayons
• 6 Remove wax stains from furniture and floors
• 7 Carefully clean your phone or TV screen

What is the difference between wax and paraffin

The difference between wax and paraffin is:

• They differ in the way they are obtained. Wax is a natural substance that exists exclusively in nature and is not created by man. There are animal waxes: beeswax, woolen wax, sperm whale oil. There are also vegetable waxes (on the fruits of an apple tree, for example, or plums) and fossils. Paraffin, on the other hand, is an artificial product obtained by refining oil. It is similar to wax both in appearance and in its qualities.

  

  Wax is a substance of natural origin

• The wax does not burn, but it melts without forming soot and has a yellow color. Paraffin, on the other hand, burns out completely, smokes and has a boiling white color, often dyes are added to it - these are the most difficult stains to get rid of.

  

  Wax is used to make candles

• The wax is easily cut evenly, in pieces, the paraffin does not have such a density, and therefore it is impossible to cut it neatly - it immediately crumbles. The wax has exceptional plasticity and flexibility, it is soft.

  

  Paraffin is white and crumbles easily

• Differences in scope: wax is more often used in the pharmaceutical industry, and paraffin is used in perfumery and in the production of household chemicals.

  

  Paraffin is widely used in cosmetology and perfumery

Due to its natural properties, wax can cause allergies. Artificially synthesized paraffin is a hypoallergenic product.

Important nuances before removing traces of wax or paraffin

Stains remain from both wax and paraffin. In order not to aggravate the situation when trying to remove stains, it is important to consider the following nuances:

• pay attention to the fabric from which the clothes are made, the type of furniture upholstery - some materials should not be exposed to heating or steam treatment, others - to cold;
• you can only get rid of hardened spots of wax or paraffin, otherwise they will smear on a soft fabric surface, and the wax or paraffin trail will become wider;
• but do not let the stains get old - act quickly;
• treat separately the places of contamination, and only then wash the whole thing;
• Before using chemicals or solvents, make a test on the wrong side of the material, in a place invisible to the eye.

Is there a difference in their removal of stains from a church candle and from a regular one? Church candles are the same wax, difficulties can arise only when removing wax stains from red Easter candles from clothes: they contain a dye. Only a stain remover can help in such cases (of course, after cleaning the fabric from wax deposits).

Wax from church candles is removed in the same way as from ordinary

Removing wax and paraffin at home

To remove traces of wax from any surface, the first step is to get rid of the "sag" - the melted wax itself. Wait for the paraffin or wax to harden and gently scrape it off. Use a non-sharp object for this to avoid damaging the fabric or the surface to be cleaned.

First wait for the wax or paraffin to dry, then scrape it off the contaminated surface

It is not always possible to completely get rid of dried wax from a contaminated surface immediately. All methods of cleaning surfaces (both hard and fabric) from traces of wax or paraffin are based on two main approaches: using heat or cold. The choice of method depends on the nature of the fabrics and furniture surfaces.

Hot Ways

Hot methods include using boiling water, steam, or heating the item with a hairdryer.

Steam can be obtained in one of the following ways:

• steam the fabric by turning on a special mode on the iron, after removing the wax or paraffin, we wash the product;

  

  Steam helps get rid of wax stains

• boil water in a saucepan and hold the product over it for 20 minutes to half an hour, then wash.

  

  Steam can be obtained simply by boiling water on the stove

Hot processing is suitable only for cleaning items made from natural dense fabrics, not dyed at all or with little dyed. Silk, wool or synthetics are not friendly with hot water.

As an alternative to steam, hot air from a hair dryer will do. This method is applicable to both fabrics and hard surfaces: walls, floors or furniture.

The hair dryer is convenient to use to remove wax or paraffin residues from any surfaces

One of the easiest and most convenient ways to use is to dissolve traces of wax in boiling water

If the fabric is rough or white:

• pour a small amount of water into an aluminum bowl or saucepan, bring to a boil;

• we lower the product in a polluted place in boiling water, hold it for a little less than a minute, take it out, do this procedure several times;

  

  Not only steam, but also boiling water can deal with a wax stain

  Be careful when removing the stain this way! Do not keep your hands close to boiling water to avoid scalding.

• we wash a thing with soap, using warm water;
• rinse well.

There are “undemanding” fabrics, for example, denim, from which it is most easy to clean wax or paraffin, products made of them can be washed in very hot water (up to 60 degrees) with ordinary washing powder (note that a place with contamination will need to be soaked for half an hour) … We wash and rinse the thing.

Video: how to clean wax or paraffin from fabric using water or an iron

Talc, chalk powder, or potato starch

This method is suitable for use on fabrics with unstable color:

• we remove paraffin or wax mechanically - three parts of the product against each other, as if we were washing it with our hands, or gently pry off the frozen influx with a sharp knife;

• the remains of paraffin and wax, which could not be removed, are densely covered with talc, starch or crushed chalk;

  

  Talc helps to get rid of greasy stains after paraffin or wax

• put a paper napkin or blotting paper on top;

  

  The napkin will pick up the remains of wax or paraffin

• we put a small load on top - a cup of water will do, leave it for an hour and a half;

• remove the napkin and carry out cleaning - first with a medium-hard brush or an unnecessary toothbrush;

  

  Remove wax or paraffin residues from the fabric with a brush

• then we wash the item by hand wash in warm water or in a machine with a delicate wash cycle.

Cold ways

Cold methods include freezing products or taking them out for a certain time in the cold. This method is especially effective for removing wax marks from natural or artificial fur and fluffy surfaces.

• we put the soiled thing in a plastic bag;

  

  In order not to smear the product on the food in the freezer, put the item in a bag

• put the bag in the freezer for half an hour (if the size of the pollution is large, it will take 1.5-2 hours);
• we take out the product and clean the wax, which has become brittle under the influence of the cold, - we wrinkle the fabric in our hands or use a knife or a plastic scraper, a brush with medium hard bristles.

If a bulky item that cannot be placed in the freezer is contaminated, a piece of ice or ice in a plastic bag should be applied to the contaminated place for half an hour.

Ice will make the wax brittle, after which it can be easily removed

Get rid of greasy stains after wax and paraffin on clothes

It is easy to remove "build-up" of wax or paraffin, but oily oil stains may remain, which must also be dealt with.

Removing wax residue from the fabric is likely to leave stains

With an iron

If hot processing is applicable to the fabric of a contaminated product, use the following method:

1. Take a paper napkin or piece of paper folded several times and place it under the stain.
2. Place a napkin on top as well.

3. Heat the iron slightly and iron the stain. The fat will melt and absorb into the paper. Change the napkin as it gets dirty.

   

   Wax or paraffin residues will stick to the paper, and it will also absorb grease

Folk and cleaning products

If the wax is without tinting elements, the easiest way to remove it from non-delicate fabrics is ammonia, gasoline and special solvents such as White Spirit. With the chosen tool, you need to moisten a cotton pad or napkin and apply it to the dirt for 15-20 minutes, and then wash.

Easiest to remove wax without tinting

There is gasoline that has an unpleasant odor; after using it, it is better to wash the whole product, using an air conditioner, so that the thing acquires a pleasant aroma.

You can get rid of greasy stains by preparing a special solution: 50 g of refined gasoline, 10 g of wine alcohol and 35 g of ammonia.

To remove stubborn stains, use a solution of gasoline, wine alcohol and ammonia

Always wear rubber gloves when using ammonia to remove stains.

Removing stains from delicate fabrics

Different products are applicable depending on the type of fabric:

• Denim, that is, denim, is machine washed after wax or paraffin removal - grease stains from such fabrics are easily removed.
• Synthetics and delicate fabrics (cashmere, wool) are susceptible to solvents, they should not be exposed to aggressive action - you need to use more gentle products: Fairy or Vanish dishwashing liquid. It is necessary to apply the cleaning agent to the greasy stain and leave to dry completely, and then wash the product.
• Silk stains can be wiped off with Triple Cologne, ethyl alcohol, wine or apple cider vinegar.
• We wash thick natural fabrics such as cotton and linen in a machine; we can boil white things in a solution of water and washing powder for several minutes.

Photo gallery: how you can remove greasy stains from delicate clothes

Dishwashing detergents are suitable for removing greasy stains from delicate fabrics

The cologne will gently remove greasy stains,

Ethyl alcohol will clean silk fabric without problems

Wine or apple cider vinegar will effectively remove greasy stains from colored fabrics

The final step in getting rid of stains after wax or paraffin is to wash the product.

Paraffin made with the use of dyes, even after removing greasy stains, leaves colored traces on the product. To get rid of them, wash your clothes with laundry soap.

Video: how to remove wax from jeans and silk

We remove wax and paraffin from leather goods and suede

To remove wax from a leather product, let the wax harden, and then rinse the leather with your hands, the wax will go away by itself. If a trace remains, wipe it with a cotton pad or napkin moistened with a solution of laundry soap, then rinse it with water and let it dry.

It is not difficult to remove the wax stain from the skin

To remove wax and paraffin from suede, there is a special technology: after removing the wax, put a clean sheet of paper (absorbent paper or paper towel) on the stain, and apply the suede product on a hot, but not hot iron. Suede on an iron, not an iron on suede, otherwise there is a risk of deformation of the product. The paper absorbs the stain, and the suede does not shine when ironed. If the stain doesn't go away the first time, change the paper towel several times.

Suede is well tolerated both by steam treatment and cleaning with a solution of ammonia (0.5 teaspoon of ammonia per 1 liter of cool water).

Remove greasy stains from upholstery and carpets

Often times, wax can smear both upholstery and carpet.

We clean furniture upholstery

The upholstery of armchairs and sofas is tapestry, acetate, plush, velor, velvet. Stains from soft fleecy fabrics can be removed with heated alcohol or turpentine, they dissolve the wax. Dip the cotton pad in alcohol and apply it to the wax spot for half an hour. Then we treat the stain with soapy water and remove the remaining moisture with a dry cloth.

The fabric upholstery of the sofa can be cleaned of traces of wax with alcohol or turpentine

If the upholstery is very dirty, this method will help:

1. Remove furniture covers.
2. From the inside, put a dry clean towel - preferably a waffle one folded in several layers, outside - blotting paper.

3. Iron the stain through a blotter until the towel has absorbed the melted paraffin or wax completely.

   

   Absorbent paper is used to absorb the grease left on the furniture after shaking off the wax

Keep in mind that velor or velvet do not like iron, so it is better to use alcohol or turpentine, you can use soda gruel, which is then washed off with a damp sponge.

Remove paraffin or wax from the pile

Pile fabrics, carpets and rugs are also susceptible to wax pollution - we save them with a hairdryer and a hard brush (the method is described above), an iron and blotting paper.

Carpet wax is easy to remove

There is a unique way to clean long hair products:

1. We put a piece of cloth on the wax spot that can absorb moisture and fat well, no less than the size of the spot.
2. We take a sheet of thick paper, which should be larger than the base of the iron so that the iron does not come into contact with the carpet pile. Place the sheet on the fabric.

3. We set the required iron mode - synthetics. For a few seconds, we put an iron on top of the paper, iron the stain with it.

   

   Do not pull the iron over the edges of the paper, avoiding contact with the pile

4. We remove the iron, paper and fabric.

The "cold" method with the application to wax on the fleecy surface of the ice also works. We do not exclude cleaning with hot water, solvent or soapy water.

Ice easily removes wax residues from carpet

Video: how to remove wax drops and wax spots at home

Washing off wax crayons

Unplanned traces of wax crayons on the wallpaper will please few people.

You will have to work hard to get rid of the unplanned "masterpiece" on the wallpaper

• If the wallpaper is washable, you can use glue for rubber: apply the glue in a thin layer on the pencil drawings, and when it dries, remove the glue film along with the remains of wax crayons on the wallpaper.
• Washable wallpaper can be wiped with a cloth dipped in mayonnaise, soda gruel, Mr Proper flooring agent or shaving foam. Leave the product on the dirty area for a few minutes and then wipe with a damp cloth.
• If the wallpaper is paper, we moisten the drawings with wax pencils with gasoline (it is important to ventilate the room well afterwards) or with a liquid to remove paint from the skin. You can also use baby wipes.

Use baby wet wipes to wipe off traces of crayon from the writing board. You can also use sunflower oil or melamine sponge.

We remove wax stains from furniture and floors

Mostly hard surfaces are furniture and flooring.

• From a tile floor, wax can be wiped off with acetone or alcohol, as well as blotting paper and an iron, and finally, degrease the surface with alcohol.
• You can remove the stain from the laminate with sunflower oil, and then with soapy water.
• From plastic, including dark, we scrape off the wax, and then use a hairdryer.

If the furniture is wooden and the flooring is parquet, the procedure is as follows:

1. Remove wax or paraffin with a soft rubber scraper.

2. Use a hair dryer to melt the remaining wax.

   

   The hair dryer will melt the remaining wax that could not be scraped off

3. Wipe off the melted wax with paper towels.

4. Wipe dry with a small piece of soft cloth.

   

   After removing the wax, wipe the previously soiled area

5. We polish using a special tool.

Gently clean your phone or TV screen

Gently scrape off the hardened wax with a rubber scraper, then soak a soft sponge in hot water, press it pointwise against the dirt - when the wax remains melt, wipe the place with a paper towel, then polish with a rag.

Rubber scraper will gently scrub wax from TV or computer screens

There are many effective methods, depending on the type of contaminated surface, each of which has its own characteristics of application and is aimed at the final result - cleanliness and neatness of clothes and furniture. Using "hot" and "cold", "chemical" and "mechanical" methods, alone or in combination, will almost certainly solve the problem.