How To Get Wax Off Wood: Step-By-Step Guide
Candles are a very useful item for lightning. However, it is inevitable that the candle’s wax, when lit, will fall out of items such as wood. How to get wax off wood? Let’s learn the method in this article.
How to get wax off wood
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The essential thing to remember when removing wax from wood is to avoid causing more harm to the finish. Here are 4 easy methods to get wax off the wood.
Method 1: Chill the wax
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Allow time for the wax to cool. Allow the dripping wax to cool fully and set before attempting to remove it. In a pinch, place an ice cube in a plastic food storage bag and press it on the wax for 10 to 20 seconds.
Gently scrape away. To remove the solidified wax off the wood surface, use the edge of an old credit card or a plastic scraper (never metal!). Use a light touch and maintain the edge of the plastic level on the wood surface to avoid gouging.
Take out the Loose Wax. Pick up the loose chunks of wax with a soft cloth or your fingertips.
Polish and clean the wood surface. Dip a delicate cloth in a combination of one part distilled white vinegar and two parts water to remove any residue of wax or stains from colored wax on light wood surfaces. Wring out the fabric until it is slightly moist. Wipe the surface in the direction of the wood grain. As the wax is transferred, move to a clean region of the fabric.
Method 2: Shave
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The scraping technique is one of the simplest methods to remove candle wax from wood. It’s totally up to you whether you speed up the process using a bag of ice, as This Old House suggests, or let the wax settle and solidify. What you really don’t want to do is distribute the wax around any further.
The following are the essential procedures for removing the wax:
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When the wax has cooled, scrape it off with a plastic spatula, plastic spoon, or even an expired credit card in the direction of the wood grain.
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Use the edges of your blunt tool to go into deeper cracks and chip away at the wax, dusting it onto a piece of paper.
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After removing it, rub the area using a lint-free towel.
Remember that this procedure is meant for little wax spills and splatters and is unsuitable for larger spills. The scraping procedure requires time and a careful touch to avoid scratches on the wood.
Method 3: Iron by the hair dryer
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Warm the wax just enough to soften and make it malleable using a hair dryer set on low and kept at least three inches away from the region. When it’s soft, begin peeling it off with your fingers and wiping the area with a paper towel or clean cloth to avoid scratching the furniture. Repeat until all of the wax has been removed.
If you have an iron instead, you will virtually exactly follow the same instructions, with a few differences. First, turn off the steam setting on the iron and press it immediately on top of the area for three seconds or so, using a thick washcloth (iron side) and a stack of heavy-duty paper towels (wax side) to absorb the wax as it melts.
Adjust the temperature to allow the paper towels to absorb the wax. Repeat as needed. This is the greatest way for removing wax from floor grains, much better than iron.
Method 4: Applying a wax-removing product
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Another method for removing candle wax from wood is to use a wax remover product. While it is not as simple as using your own hair dryer, paper towels, and an old gift card, it is less expensive and does the job.
Do some thorough research on the market to find the best wood wax. Removing wax from wood can be easier and more effective with the best wood wax.
Extra tips to get wax off wood
With these approaches in mind, here are some more candle wax removal suggestions to keep in mind:
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Clean the area as quickly as possible, and do not leave it for hours or days. The longer the wax sits, the more damage the wood may sustain.
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Touch up the area with each approach and give it a nice wipe-down with furniture polish or wax.
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Avoid using mineral spirits to remove the wax since they are a stripping agent and might harm the wood.
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If the hair dryer/iron approach does not work for you, sand the wood very lightly.
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Did the wax get on an antique or heirloom piece of furniture? Then, get it to a specialist as soon as possible!
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Why is the flame on my candle so bright? It might be that it’s burning too hot, forming a huge wax puddle, or emitting smoke. Keeping your candle and its wick in good condition might help avoid wax from leaking in the first place.
FAQs
What is the best way to get rid of dried wax?
Place the item in the freezer for about a half hour, then scrape off the solidified wax and apply the tried-and-true iron-and-brown-bag method if a persistent stain remains, use stain remover or a dab of laundry detergent before washing.
Is it possible to remove wax from wood using vinegar?
Dip a delicate cloth in a combination of one part distilled white vinegar and two parts water to remove any residue of wax or stains from colored wax on light wood surfaces. Wring out the fabric until it is slightly moist. Wipe the surface in the direction of the wood grain.
Is it possible to remove wax with isopropyl alcohol?
To remove wax, several internet sites propose simply wiping it off with isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Depending on the thickness of the wax coating on your car, you may need to use IPA numerous times to properly strip the vehicle, wasting both product and time.
Final words
You probably already know how to get wax off wood through this article. This job is very simple if you carefully read the 4 methods that the article has instructed. Good luck, and be able to remove the wax from the wood.
