🧪 Special casesHow to remove candle wax & crayon stains

Harden, scrape, then transfer it out with an iron

Wax dripped from scented candles or birthday-cake candles, and crayon a child has scribbled on clothes, are mainly wax (paraffin). Once hard it can be scraped off, and the thin layer left over is melted with heat and absorbed into paper. With colored candles and crayons, a color mark may remain at the end.

🔬 Why this order works

Wax has a low melting point, so heat turns it liquid, and absorbent paper soaks it up at that point. The trick is to change the paper often so the melted wax doesn't sink further into the fibers.

🧺 Step by step

Tap a step when it's done to tick it off.

Wait until the wax has fully hardened, or harden it with ice.
Scrape off as much as possible with a blunt knife or a card.
Put paper towels or a paper bag above and below the stain, press firmly with an iron at a temperature the care label allows, then lift.
As wax soaks into the paper, move to a clean area and repeat.
Dab any remaining color mark with alcohol, apply dish soap, then wash.

👕 By fabric

⚪ White cotton & linen

Transfer out with an iron → alcohol → oxygen bleach.

🎨 Colors & synthetics

Iron → alcohol (after testing) → wash.

🧶 Wool, silk & cashmere

Go only as far as hardening and scraping off, then take it to a dry cleaner. The heat of the iron can damage the fibers.

🚫 Don't

Wiping melted wax.
Putting the iron directly on the stain — wax gets on the soleplate.
Ironing hotter than the care label allows.

⏳ If it has already dried

The order is the same for old candle wax. Scrape off as much as you can, then transfer the remaining wax out with an iron.

💡 Tip

The same method works for wax on carpets and tablecloths. A brown paper bag soaks up wax better than ordinary paper.

❓ Common questions

What temperature should the iron be?

Follow the number of dots on the iron symbol on the care label, but start lower than that. Wax melts even at low temperatures.

Wax got on the bottom of my iron.

Wipe it off with a dry cloth or paper towel while the iron is still warm. Make sure to check so it doesn't transfer to the next garment.

What about crayon on wallpaper?

This page covers fabric. Wallpaper varies by material, so follow the wallpaper manufacturer's instructions.

🔗 Related stains

Check the care label firstBleach, wash and dryer symbols explained

🧭 All stains

🧼 Basic rules & cleaning-agent guide

General home methods. For valuable garments or unknown fabrics, take them to a dry cleaner and say what the stain is. Follow product labels for bleaches and solvents, ventilate, and never mix them.