Candle wax accidentally dripped on a plush carpet may look like a hopeless mess, but with a cool head, a hot iron and a few tricks of the trade, you can make a big wax mess disappear.
1. Scrape the hardened wax loose with a butter knife (be gentle with Berber carpets; the loops fray easily). Vacuum up the loose wax and scrape off any remaining wax chunks.
Scraping the knife against the carpet will probably leave the area a little fuzzy. To remove the fuzz, lay a scissors flat on the carpet. Push down lightly on the pivot of the scissors and trim off any fuzz.
2. Dampen a white cotton towel, fold it in half and place it over the wax. Press an iron set on “high” over the towel for 10 seconds. The heat will draw the wax out of the carpet and into the towel. Repeat until the wax is gone (you may have to hold the iron in place for up to 30 seconds). If the towel dries out, rewet it, and if it becomes loaded with wax, grab another one.
3. There’s a good chance the wax will discolor the area, especially in a light-colored carpet. Take out the spot with heavy-duty carpet stain remover. Spray carpet cleaner on the stain and rub it into the carpet with a spoon. Dab it dry with a clean white towel, then let the carpet air-dry (it will appear slightly darker until completely dry). Light-colored carpets and dark stains may require several scrubbings.
