How To Remove Wax From Wood Table | Best Way To Removing Candle Wax

Best Way to Removing Candle Wax from Wood Tables

Your candlelit dinners and cosy evenings are not complete without the warm glow of candles, but, accidents are prone to happen and one such incident involves the candle wax dripping onto your favourite wooden table. It is also possible that you forgot the candle burning on the wooden table and upon your return, you will find the candle wax melted all over the wooden table. But, you don't need to worry at all, as we are here to help you remove candle wax from your wooden table. Fortunately, there are many ways to remove candle wax from the wooden table, irrespective of how big or small the spill is. Firstly, it will seem like a difficult task, however, with the right technique and a little bit of patience, you can be able to restore the wooden table to its former glory. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps to successfully get rid of the candle wax from your wooden table without causing any damage.

Step 1: Allow the Wax to Harden

The first thing that will come to your mind when you are dealing with spilt wax is to clean it up as soon as possible. However, cleaning can spread the wax further into the wood grain making the situation even more worse. Instead, the best option is to permit the wax to cool & harden completely. You can make the spilt wax cool faster by placing a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and delicately pressing them against the wax as long as it hardens.

Step 2: Gently Scrape the Wax

As soon as the wax hardens completely, smoothly take off as much of the wax as you possibly can, with the help of a plastic scraper or a credit card. However, take care not to press hard and apply much pressure, as they could possibly scratch the wood surface. Work slowly and methodically, getting rid of small sections of wax at a time.

Step 3: Apply Heat

After getting rid of as much wax as possible using the scraper, now, you can apply heat to soften the rest of the wax. You can apply heat with the help of a hairdryer on its lowest setting or you can place a clean, lint-free cloth over the wax before running a warm iron over it. The heat will help you to soften the wax and become more pliable, making it easier to remove.

Step 4: Wipe Away the Residue

Once the wax has softened, delicately wipe away the remaining residue with the help of a clean cloth. Make sure to use a dabbing motion instead of rubbing, because rubbing might force the wax deeper into the grain of the wood. If any stubborn wax remains, you can repeat the heating as well as the wiping process as long as the table is completely clean.

Step 5: Clean and Polish

Finally, after removing the wax completely, clean and polish your wood table to bring its shine back. With the help of a mild wood cleaner and a soft cloth, delicately clean the surface, but, take care not to use any abrasive cleaners that could damage the wood. After cleaning the table, apply a wood polish or wax to safeguard and improve the natural beauty of the wood.

Extra Tips to Remember

With the above-mentioned steps in mind, here are some extra tips to remember for successful candle wax removal:

• Clean the area immediately you notice the candle wax spilt on your wooden table and don’t let it sit for hours or days. The longer you allow the wax to sit, the worse the damage could be to the wood.

• With each step touch up the area and give it a good wipe down with the help of a furniture polish or wax.

• Keep away from using mineral spirits to remove the wax, because it is considered a stripping agent that can damage the wood.

• If the hair dryer/iron method doesn’t seem to work to your satisfaction, then sand the wood ever so gently.

 

Dealing with spilt candle wax on a wood table may look like a difficult task, but if you follow the right approach, it can be easily remedied. By allowing the wax to harden, delicately scraping and applying heat, you can successfully remove the wax without causing any damage to the wood. Remember to take your time and work carefully, and your wood table will be restored to its original glory, ready to host many more candlelit dinners and cosy evenings.