Autumn and winter are almost here and that means cosy indoor time, hot chocolate, candles, and warmth. However, candles drip and cause a mess. Even though wood artisans and floor installers have been using wax to seal and finish wooden pieces. It is not as scratch and water resistant as today’s modern commercial polishes, however, it gives the wood a nice, natural glow.
The problem comes when the wax is not wanted and ends up being on the wood (like candle wax drips). Nowadays, candles also contain dyes that can stain the wood and cause permanent damage to it. Removing wax from wood is not hard but has to be done with care and attention. You should work with caution and avoid harming the surface of the wood, especially when working with softer wood types. The method you use for cleaning the wood, depends on the wood finish, whether it is painted, polished or raw. The steps we will share in this article will start at the gentlest one and continue to get rougher. Always start by using the gentlest method and if it does not work, move on to the next, harsher step.
Of course, you can turn to cleaning professionals if you think you can’t do it yourself and want to keep your wooden floor in good condition.
Instructions:
1. Allow the wax to cool down – Always let the wax cool down and harden before you attempt cleaning it. You will prevent smudging and making a bigger mess and make the wax easier to remove. To speed up the process, place some ice in a plastic bag and put it on the wax drip.
2. Scrape away – Use the edge of an old credit card, or a plastic scraper (never use metal on wood) to scrape the wax away. Be gentle, work slowly, and do not use a heavy hand. You don’t want to scratch or damage the wood underneath.
3. Remove the loose wax – Use your hand to remove the wax you just scraped off
4. Clean and polish the wood – To remove any remaining traces of coloured wax, dip a soft cloth in a cleaning solution of white distilled vinegar and water and wring it well so it’s just damp. Wipe the wood following the grain of the wood. Finish by buffing the area with a clean dry cloth and apply a thin coat of wood or furniture polish. Olive oil works great when it comes to polishing wood. It will give your wooden surface a beautiful natural glow.
Use heat to remove wax from wooden surfaces
If wax traces are still visible, you can use heat in order to get rid of them.
1. Use your iron – Turn your iron on the lowest setting (do not use a steam setting). If you don’t have an iron handy, use a handheld hair dryer set on medium.
2. Cover the stain – Use an old cloth to put on top of the wax stain to protect your wooden surface from the heat of the iron.
3. Heat and absorb the wax – Place the iron directly on top of the stain. The heated wax will transfer onto the old cloth. You should be able to see an oily spot on the cloth/towel. If not, continue repeating this step until all wax is gone.
4. Wipe and polish the wood – Use a cloth to wipe the wooden surface away and use a bit of polish if needed.
To remove wax from rough/raw wood material
1. Harden the wax– Use an ice cube to harden the wax before attempting to remove it.
2. Scrape away the wax from the surface – Use a plastic scraper or the edge of a credit card to remove the hardened wax from the surface.
3. Absorb the wax – Unfinished/raw wood is often porous which makes the wax more difficult to remove. You can sprinkle the area with talcum powder to help absorb the wax from all the grooves of the wood.
4. Heat the wax – Use the instructions in the step above to heat the wax. Place an old cloth/towel and apply heat to the wax stain. The talcum powder and the towel will completely absorb the wax.
5. Remove any residue – Allow the area to cool off and use a stiff-bristled nylon brush or a vacuum cleaner to remove any wax residue that might be left on the wood. Repeat the process if needed.
6. Clean with vinegar solution – If some oils from the wax stain have stained the wooden surface, mix a solution of one part white distilled vinegar and two parts water and sip a cloth in it. Wipe the area of the wax drip following the wood grain. Allow the area to air-dry and repeat if needed.
Those steps should help you get rid of any unwanted wax drips from any wooden surface. Be careful and work gently. You will be able to get rid of all the wax drip stains, just make sure not to scrub harshly and pose the wood to any possible damage or scratches.