Wax

After using wax products, the problem often arises of how to remove traces of wax from a particular surface.

Depending on the material, various methods and means are used. These can be household chemicals, homemade formulations, or non-chemical methods.

When choosing a technology, it is worth remembering the wax removal rules and limitations. We will tell you in the article how to remove wax (candle and depilatory) from various surfaces.

How can you remove paraffin from a candle and the stains left by it?

When a candle burns, drops of wax can fall on the surface of a table, floor, wall, or clothing. Some materials can absorb wax lipids, causing a greasy stain to remain.

Therefore, the entire cleaning process consists of two stages:

1. Removing spark plugs.
2. Removing grease stains.

After this, they move on to the second stage. Depending on the quality of the material and the dimensions of the product, different techniques are used.

Handy products for use at home

Home methods for removing wax and paraffin are simple, accessible and inexpensive.The best effects in combating stains from candle wax are:

1. Hot steam. For this method, use a household steamer, an iron with the appropriate function, or a container of boiling water. The contaminated area is kept over steam for 10-15 minutes.
2. Warming up. The technique is based on the use of a hairdryer or iron. The wax area is covered with paper napkins on both sides and heated from the inside with an iron or hairdryer.
3. Hot water. If dimensions allow, place the product under a stream of hot water so that the candle stain is at the bottom. An alternative is to immerse the stained area in a container of hot water.
4. Talc, chalk, starch. The stain is generously covered with powder and covered with a napkin. Place a load on top and leave for 1-1.5 hours. Then the surface is cleaned with a brush.
5. Freezing. The product is placed in a plastic bag and placed in the freezer for 1-2 hours. A bag of ice is applied to bulky items. Then, using a plastic scraper or a rough brush, remove the hardened particles.
6. Ammonia, gasoline. A napkin is moistened in one of the liquids and the stain is covered with it for a quarter of an hour. After this soaking, the area is additionally wiped.

To neutralize greasy wax stains, a complex composition is suitable, including purified gasoline (50 ml), ethyl alcohol (10 ml) and ammonia (35 ml).

How to remove with special compounds?

Ready-made chemical preparations are suitable for those who do not trust household cleaning methods. Modern manufacturers offer different products for wax removal:

1. Beauty Image. The manufacturer is the Spanish company CEM.S.A. Contains perchlorethylene. The product is intended for cleaning any surfaces except skin and clothing.The drug is applied to a cotton pad and wiped over the contaminated area. The price of a liter container is 1600 rubles.
2. ItalWax. The spray is manufactured by an Italian company of the same name. The product is recommended for cleaning wooden, metal, and plastic surfaces. Difficult stains are covered with a cloth soaked in lotion for a few minutes and then wiped off with wax. Small stains can be wiped off immediately. The cost of a 500 ml bottle is about 800 rubles.
3. Mellerud. The product from the German brand is designed to remove grease, dirt, and wax. Suitable for ceramics, stone, PVC, plastic, metal. The liquid is sprayed onto the surface and left for a while. Then wash off the solution with water. A liter bottle has a price tag of 440 rubles.

Removing residues after depilation

After a cosmetic procedure, excess wax remains on the skin, which must be delicately removed.

If you don’t have professional lotions at hand, which are usually used by cosmetologists, you can use homemade recipes or commonly available store-bought products.

The latter include “Post-depilation wipes”. They are impregnated with oils and special substances that dissolve wax.

Any vegetable or cosmetic oil helps remove wax marks from the skin. To do this, pour a little oily substance onto a cotton pad and wipe the problem areas with it. At the same time, the skin is not only cleansed of wax particles, but also receives additional nutrition.

Another convenient remedy is a rich cream, for example, “Children’s”. They cover the area with traces of wax and leave it for a short time.Then wipe the skin with a cloth. If the plaque cannot be removed 100% the first time, the procedure is repeated.

If wax gets on fabric (clothes, sheets, towels) during depilation, it is recommended to use the dry heating method to remove it. The most suitable way is to iron the stained area through several layers of paper napkins.

He will tell you more about ways to remove wax from the skin of the face and body. this publication.

Features of cleaning different surfaces

Thermal and chemical purification methods have a certain degree of specificity. Before using the product, it is worth assessing the feasibility of its use for a given material. The choice of method may also be affected by the size of the product.

From glass

Suitable for removal:

• freezing,
• steaming,
• hot air.

If the product is fragile and not made of heat-resistant glass, heating must be carried out gradually.

You can press a sponge dipped in hot water onto the surface of large glass objects. After this, the melted wax is removed with a napkin.

From a wax melter

You can wash the container of the device in which the wax melted using different means. Most often used:

• alcohol wipes sold at pharmacies;
• liquids in which the alcohol content exceeds 40%;
• cosmetic oil used after depilation;
• any edible vegetable oil;
• hot steam followed by wiping dry.

This video will show you how to remove wax from a wax melter:

From a candlestick

Cleaning of the candle stand is carried out based on its material. Candlesticks made of stone, silver or glass can be frozen, and then remove the frozen coating with a dull knife or spoon. It is permissible to boil metal carvings and then wipe them dry.

From the dishes

You can clean plates, cups, and spoons from wax that has fallen on them by rubbing them with soda or heating them with hot air.

After heat treatment, wipe the dishes with a dry cloth and then additionally wash them in the usual way.

From wallpaper

Marks on the wallpaper may remain due to careless handling of a candle or after children's arts with wax pencils. The cleaning method depends on the quality of the wall covering.

If the wallpaper is washable, then cover the stains with rubber glue. After drying, the film is carefully removed along with the wax. For washable wallpaper, shaving foam or soda slurry is also suitable.

It is recommended to clean paper wallpaper with gasoline or a liquid designed to remove paint from leather. Baby wipes have the same effect, but cleaning with them is a longer and more labor-intensive process.

From wooden objects

To restore an aesthetic appearance to a wooden object, it is advisable to start cleaning while the wax is still liquid. It is washed with a paper or cloth napkin.
If the influx has hardened, it is carefully removed with a plastic or wooden spatula.. The remaining thin film is first heated with warm air and then washed with a rag.

From ceramic tiles

Any wax that gets on the tile can be easily wiped off with alcohol or acetone. First, large drops are removed with a plastic spatula, and then wiped with a cloth soaked in one of these liquids.

From furniture

A sofa or armchair can be cleaned with a sponge soaked in warm alcohol/turpentine or soda slurry. After removing the wax, the upholstery area is treated with a soap solution and wiped with a dry cloth.

If upholstered furniture has covers, they can be removed and cleaned using the “iron + paper” method.. Fleecy materials (velor, velvet) are easily damaged by a hot iron, so only alcohol or turpentine is suitable for them.

Remove the wax layer from the smooth surface of a cabinet or table with a rubber or plastic scraper. The remaining thin film is melted with hot air from a hair dryer and immediately wiped with a napkin.

This video will show you how to remove wax from furniture:

From the floor

Removing wax marks from laminate, parquet or linoleum is identical to cleaning from wooden furniture. First, the excess wax is mechanically removed using a blunt spatula, and then the residue is melted with hot air.

Finally, wipe with a cloth. It is also possible to walk over the area to be cleaned with a cloth soaked in alcohol.

From the carpet

Floor products with pile are freed from wax using a hair dryer, iron, ice cubes in a bag, solvents (ammonium, ethyl alcohol). In any case, you must follow the instructions for use for this product.

After removing wax particles the area to be treated is additionally cleaned with a detergent diluted in water. Read more in this article.

From clothes

Before you begin cleansing, you need to let the wax harden. The liquid composition penetrates even more between the fibers and increases the size of the stain.

Items made from jeans or raincoat fabric are placed in a bag and sent to the freezer. Hardened wax comes off after simply rubbing the fabric.

If the stain remains on clothes made from delicate fabrics, then fill the stain with liquid dish soap. The material is allowed to dry completely and then washed.

You can learn how to remove wax from clothes Here, from jeans - here, from a jacket - Here.

From roses

The wax coating is removed from the stems of rose seedlings in different ways. It is important to remember that any mechanical removal should be carried out before buds begin to open.

Gardeners recommend three methods:

1. The roots of the seedling are immersed in water. Saturation of fabrics with water promotes natural cracking of the wax.
2. The protective film near the root is pryed off with a sharp peg. Gently move the tip along the stem, peeling off the wax.
3. The seedling is placed in water and exposed to the sun. The stem is sprinkled with warm water every half hour. Melted wax is removed manually.

He will tell you more about how to remove wax from rose seedlings. this article.

From apples

Removal of artificial or natural wax is carried out by placing apples in hot water. After heat treatment, the peeled coating is removed with a napkin.

A remedy made from baking soda and lemon juice is also effective.. Rub the fruit with this mixture. Then fill them with warm water, and finally wipe them dry. Read more here.

What can't be done and why?

When removing wax, it is important to remember some nuances that complicate cleaning or even increase the degree of contamination. Firstly, you should not remove melted and not yet cooled wax from the fabric.The liquid composition spreads easily and increases the area of ​​the stain on the product.

Tips on the topic

The choice of methods and means for destroying wax and paraffin stains is quite wide. In order for their use to bring a quick and positive effect, It is necessary to remember the nuances of cleansing:

1. The wax stain should be removed while it is fresh. The old trace is much more difficult to eliminate.
2. First, only the area of ​​contamination is treated, and then the entire item is washed.
3. Before you begin cleaning, you should test the new product on an inconspicuous area.
4. In the case of colored wax, first remove the wax build-up, and then use a stain remover to remove the dye.

Conclusion

To remove wax from a hard or soft surface, it is recommended to use ready-made chemical solutions or improvised means. The choice of cleaning method is determined by the quality of the material and the degree of contamination.

To achieve the desired effect and return the product to its original appearance, you must follow the instructions and remember additional tips.