How to get wax out of clothes

The first step in removing wax from clothes is to freeze the wax. Whether it's candle wax, melted wax or wax stains, freezing can help solidify the wax which will make it easier to remove. Start by placing the item of clothing in the freezer and make sure that the wax is exposed to the cold air. Put the garment in a plastic bag as this will keep the rest of the fabric protected and eliminate the chance of further stains from the freezer. By freezing the stain, this will prevent the wax from spreading or sticking to other parts of the garment.

Once the wax has been frozen, it's time to gently scrape it off your clothes. Grab a butter knife or a credit card, and carefully scrape the frozen wax from the fabric. Be gentle with your scraping technique to avoid damaging the fabric underneath. Remember, the goal is to remove the wax without leaving any residue or causing any further damage. By using a scraping tool, you can effectively lift off the frozen wax from your clothes. Take your time and be patient during this step as you want to ensure that you remove as much wax as possible before moving on to the next step.

Even after removing most of the wax, there may still be some stubborn stains left behind. To treat these wax stains, you can use a stain remover. If you’re looking for an effective remover, we recommend trying the Vanish Oxi Action powder. Start by applying a small amount of Vanish powder (mixed with water to make a paste) and gently rub into the fabric using a clean cloth or sponge to dissolve wax residue. Leave to work for a maximum of 5 minutes on coloured garments with Vanish Oxi Action Multi Power powder and 10 minutes for whites with Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White powder. For tough stains, soak your garment using one scoop of powder and 4L of water.

Once the stain remover has penetrated the fabric fibres, wash the item to complete. For fabrics that you can machine wash, check the care label to determine the appropriate water temperature and cycle setting. You should also check what temperature is required to hand wash delicate garments. Add the recommended amount of detergent to the washing machine and place the stained garment inside. For best results, add Vanish on top of the laundry detergent, Vanish Oxi Action Multipower Powder for Coloured clothes and Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White Powder for your whites. Vanish products are designed to boost the wash even at low temperature and in short cycles. Once you have checked everything, you can start the wash cycle and allow the machine to complete the full cycle.

Removing wax from clothes is a relatively simple process if you follow the right steps. By freezing the wax, scraping it off and treating any remaining stains, you will be able to get even the toughest candle wax stains out of your clothing – or any wax marks for that matter! Our final takeaway? Always make sure you have handy stain removers on hand so you can restore your clothes to as-good-as-new condition should any mishaps happen. With these tips, you'll be able to successfully tackle wax stains with confidence and keep your clothes looking their best. Looking for more advice on how to remove other tricky substances from your clothing? Check out our blog posts on how to remove outdoor stains, including rust, grease and mud stains.