How to Get Candle Wax Out of Carpet

Yes, you can get candle wax out of carpet. It isn't always easy, but the wax itself can be removed with patience. The dyes in the wax are another issue, and getting those out depends on what's in the particular dye.

To begin with, scrape as much wax out of the carpet as you can, with a spoon. Then put an ice cube on the wax to freeze it. Leave it there for a minute. The wax should harden enough to break it up and get more of it out.

Now, to get the rest of the candle wax out of the carpet, put a clean brown paper bag over the spot, and place a clothes iron on it, set on low. The wax will liquefy and transfer to the paper. Apply a new paper bag as often as necessary until you get out all of the wax. This may take a little time.

If this doesn't get all of the wax out of the carpet, you can try rubbing alcohol. This may help with some of the staining from dyes in the wax as well. Using a white cloth or a plain white paper towel wetted with the alcohol, dab at the area. Repeat this with a fresh towel until you get no more transfer of wax or dyes to the towel.

Whichever method you use to get the candle wax out of the carpet, when you are done, rinse the area with clean water, blot up the excess, and dry the area quickly.

If all else fails, professional cleaners who use hot-water-extraction (steam cleaning) will be able to remove the candle wax. The heat generated by a good truck-mount unit is usually enough to melt any residue and the suction is powerful enough to pull it from deep in the fibers. A good cleaner will also know how to remove many dyes that may have migrated into the fibers.