At the time, it seemed like lighting your room with the soft, romantic candlelight was a smashing idea. But in the cold light of the morning, those bright globs of wax on your carpet don't look so good. If you have wax stuck on your carpet and you want to find a way to remove it, look no further.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using an Iron

  1. 1
    Plug your iron in somewhere within reach of the waxy patch. Turn the iron onto its lowest setting and do not use the steam function on the iron, if it exists.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    The back of a butter knife is fine. You can do this while waiting for you iron to heat up.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    [1]
    • Keep the iron moving slowly, just as you would when ironing clothes, and make sure you don't burn anything. The heat will cause the wax to melt and absorb into the paper.
      Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    [2]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    If stains or dyes exist:
    • Try blotting a little bit of rubbing alcohol onto the area with a white cloth or rag. Take care not to drench the carpet in rubbing alcohol, though.
    • Keep blotting the stain until it no longer appears on the carpet.
    • Cover wet area with a clean cloth and cover with books or other heavy objects overnight in order to soak up any remaining rubbing alcohol.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using a Lighter and a Spoon

Use this method if you do not have a clothes iron handy. This method uses the same basic technique, but just with more common household items.

  1. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    Take four or five ice cubes, put them in a plastic bag, and cover the wax until it is suitably frozen. [3]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    [4]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    A match is suitable, but a lighter is easier to use, and you don't risk burning yourself or dropping any spent embers.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    Make sure the back of your spoon gets placed directly where the wax is. Notice how the blotting paper soaks up the wax.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Get Wax off Carpets
    Use rubbing alcohol (method explained above) or carpet detergent to lift any remaining dye from the wax from the carpet.
    • Mix one 1 2 tablespoon (7.4 ml) of carpet detergent with 2 cups of warm water.
    • Soak a cloth in the mixture, wring out, and cover the stain with the cloth.
    • Move from the outside in, gently working the cloth into the carpet and being careful not to spread the stain elsewhere on the carpet.
    • Repeat until as much dye as possible has been removed.
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      Tips

      • Cool the wax down with ice, scrape it with a blunt knife, put brown paper over the spot and iron it. Then just scrub the carpet with warm, soapy water.
      • Talk with a professional carpet cleaner if your carpet is made of a very sensitive fabric such as straw or wool.
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      About this article

      Article Summary X

      To get wax off carpets using an iron, scrape off as much of the wax as possible using a butter knife as your iron is heating up. Make sure the iron is on the lowest setting possible and that the steam function is turned off. Then, place a paper towel over the wax and iron on top of the paper towel, moving the iron in small, slow circles to melt the wax. Once the wax absorbs into the paper towel, discard of it and check the area for stains from dyes in the wax. To remove a remaining dye stain, blot the area with a paper towel dipped in rubbing alcohol. If you want to learn how to remove wax using a lighter and a spoon, keep reading the article!

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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 120,350 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Sep 10, 2017

        "I had spilled a tart burner, so I had a lot of wax. Using the iron on low, I went through loads of brown packing ..." more

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