Remove Wax from Carpet with Iron

by J.J.
(Denver, CO)

I have tried the cold method and it works. I have used the scraping method and it works. but all of the methods depend heavily on the type of carpet in which the wax has been spilled. Another consideration of course is the fiber content. Wool will prefer one method, nylon or polyesters quite another.


I found that for a good wool carpet, I didn't like using the scraping method, it could cause pile cuttings which were unattractive. Alcohol also created certain problems with possible staining of the area. My favorite method for a good wool carpet with or without a long plush pile is to use paper toweling and an iron.


The application of heat over the paper towel laid on the wax allows the wax to melt and be absorbed. This is a wonderful way as it can be repeated, does not require undue physical strength and usually results in a complete removal of the wax from the rug fibers.


I have also used candle wax remover, a product specifically designed to deal with this problem. I do suggest a very small application test first as it can remove color from some fibers. A note of caution: the neat method is not necessarily safe for nylon and some polyester carpets; I successfully melted a shag carpet once. It was a costly error.