Removing wax from your carpet is one of the easiest things to do, but seems to be one of the biggest mysteries. The average homeowner will have little accidents here and there, but when we act fast enough, we can correct the problem almost every time. Here is what you need and what you should do:
One Steam Iron (Do Not fill With Water)
One White Towel
Here’s how to clean your carpet. Take the towel and soak it with water from the tap. Place the wet towel over the wax spot, then take your hot steam iron and place it directly over the wax. The wax will begin to melt in 10 to 30 seconds. Be sure to monitor the time so not to over do it. In approximately 30 seconds, pick up the iron and see what kind of progress you’ve made removing the wax. The heat causes the wax to rise into the wet towel keeps the iron from damaging your carpet. If you can still see or feel wax in the carpet, shift the towel so a clean area over the wax and replace the iron over the wax spot for another 30 seconds. Generally, this may require repeating these steps 2 or 3 times but the wax will all transfer into the towel.
If the carpet is a berber type then be sure to check the carpet in 20 seconds or less as olefin fibers have a much lower melting point than nylon and polyester. Be sure to keep the towel very wet when removing wax from an olefin carpet. Another situation to remember, candle wax contains both wax and dye. The wax will transfer into the towel, but the dye may heat-set itself into the carpet fiber when it falls on the carpet. This situation may require performing a dye removal treatment to remove any dye that may remain on the carpet after the wax is gone. This wax removal process only takes minutes and is extremely effective. Do it yourself and save hundreds on carpet replacement. Be careful not to burn yourself when handling a hot iron – think safety first.
If you are in our local area and need further assistance you can call us at 373-7410 (Valley) or 562-7410 (Anchorage).
