Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, accidents happen. If you’ve accidentally dripped candle wax on your hardwood floor, there’s no need to panic! In fact, with the right knowledge on how to Remove Candle Wax from the Hardwood Floor and some elbow grease, you can remove the wax and keep your floors clean and shining like new!
To remove candle wax safely, you’ll need two basic things: a heat source and some kind of scraping tool. For heating, you can use a hairdryer or a heat gun; both of these are readily available at your local hardware store for under $50. Just make sure that if you’re using a hairdryer, you adjust it to low temperatures (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and keep it about an inch away from where you’re trying to melt or soften up the wax.
Follow the step-by-step instructions below to get rid of those sticky drips of wax and restore your hardwood floor to its former glory. Just remember to use these instructions carefully so you don’t damage your floors even further!
How to remove wax residue from hardwood floors
1. Allow the wax to settle before scraping it!
This method is easy and simple to use. However, if your wax is a bit huge, this method may not be of so much help to you. Therefore, I would recommend you try the other methods below.
How to remove the wax using the scraping method
- Wait for the wax to cool.
If the splash has just occurred, do not try to treat it immediately. You will need a bit of patience to avoid accidents. You may even burn yourself or splash the wax on a cloth hence causing more damage.
- Use your spatula to scrape the wax off your wooden floor.
Before using the spatula, try using your hands to remove the wax. This will help you avoid lots of scraping. Remember to follow the direction of the wood grains. It will help you avoid forming ugly marks.
Remove the wax inside the wood crevices if your floor has cracks. Suppose you find it difficult to locate the grains because the wood is painted or stained; run your hand across the surface. The direction of the grains will feel smoother.
- Scoop the wax
Once the wax accumulates, use the spatula to push it into your piece of paper. For example, assume the paper is a dustpan, and the spatula is a broom.
- Scrape repeatedly
Scrape the floor repeatedly until all the wax is removed. Here you will need to be patient if you want a perfect job.
- Buff
Get out your lint-free cloth and wipe the spot. Then, using furniture polish, work on the area until the results satisfy your eyes. Use a white or bright-colored cloth. A light-colored cloth will not leave the dye on your floor, unlike dull-colored ones.
Use hand towels to protect the surrounding area and avoid wax from splashing onto clean surfaces.
2. using an iron
Several items will be required, including:
- A spatula. Remember, a metallic spatula will scratch the wooden floor and form some marks you do not need on your precious floor.
- An iron
- A towel. Ensure you will not need to use the towel again since it soaks wax. Hence, an old rug will work best.
How to remove the wax using an Iron
- Use your spatula to scrape off the top wax.
Do this process lightly. If you apply a lot of force, you will end up damaging your floor. Starting slowly from the top will help you get well to the bottom; hence you will know what is sticking on your floor.
- Cover the wax with your old towel, then apply heat.
Ensure that the iron does not have too much heat or steam. Low or medium heat will do better. Pass the iron over the towel gently without allowing it to stay in one place for too long. If the iron stays in one place for too long, it will scorch your floor.
Remember, the importance of iron is to melt the wax and help your towel to soak it with ease. If getting an iron can be tricky, an alternative can be a hair drier. However ensure you have removed all the wax from the floor, then remove the towel
- polishing
Removing all wax is important, thus polishing is required. Furniture wax can help you do the process. Heating the wax is also a better way to remove any oils present in the candle. Hence, as the towel soaks the wax, it will also soak the oils.
3. Using a hairdryer
You will need:
- A hair drier
- A lint-free cloth
- A furniture polish
How to remove the wax using a Hairdryer
- Put on the hair drier and ensure you hold the drier some inches away from the affected surface.
- Point the hair drier directly to the wax but ensure it is on a low setting.
- The wax will begin to soften. At this point, you can use your hand to remove what you can.
- Then, use a lint-free cloth to wipe the surface.
Not all of the wax will come off after wiping with the cloth; use the drier to melt it and remove it completely. Wipe again using the cloth. Apply the furniture polish, then polish the area to make it look brighter.
What if you have a polyurethane floor finish? : You can use either baby oil or olive oil. However, if you are not sure, kindly stick to the furniture wax.
4. Using Ice packs
One of the easiest ways to remove candle wax from your hardwood floor is by using ice cubes.
First, collect some clean, unused ice cubes. Next, place each cube on top of a sheet of paper towel and pat it gently with another sheet. If you don’t have paper towels at home, you can use a soft microfiber cloth.
Once you’ve done that, transfer each cube onto your floor and slide it across slowly with even pressure. The ice will absorb all of the excess wax while leaving behind no stains or residue. You can repeat as necessary until all of your floors have been cleaned up.
This method works especially well for smaller spills. For larger spills, consider using a vacuum cleaner to suck up any remaining pieces of wax. Afterward, you can wipe down your floor with a dry microfiber cloth to make sure there are no streaks left behind.
However, if there are still bits of wax clinging to your floor after vacuuming them away, don’t worry—the next two methods below should help clear things right up!
5. Using commercial products
Homemade methods may be tiresome to some. However, if you are one of them, you have some other alternatives.
You can utilize some of the best wax removers available on Amazon, such as
However, you will need to be keen and follow the instructions on the labels on how to use these products.
They have several uses; hence you will need to know where, when, and how to use them.
One disadvantage of these products is that you may not need to use them in a wider space. They work best when the wax smear is minor.
Other ways to Remove Candle Wax from the Hardwood Floor
Try Lemon Juice
Many common household chemicals are effective in removing candle wax, but these solutions often contain harsh chemicals that can damage hardwood floors and should be avoided if possible. A better alternative is lemon juice: It won’t damage your hardwood floor, it smells great and it works!
So grab a lemon (or two) and get ready to learn how to remove candle wax from your hardwood floor with just three ingredients—no more trips to Home Depot!
The first step is to fill a large bowl with hot water. The water will help loosen up any hardened wax on your floor as well as provide an easy way to clean up after you’re done.
Next, pour in about 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and stir until mixed thoroughly. Then take a microfiber cloth or paper towel and dip it into the mixture so that it is lightly wetted with lemon juice; you don’t want it dripping wet or saturated.
Finally, begin wiping away your hardwood floor in small circles. You may need to re-wet your cloth periodically throughout the process. When you’ve finished, use another dry part of your microfiber cloth or paper towel to wipe up any excess moisture left behind by lemon juice, and then mop with warm water and a mild detergent solution.
That’s all there is to it! Your hardwood floor should now be free of any candle wax residue.
Try Baking Soda
If you’ve accidentally dripped some candle wax on your floor, use baking soda and water to clean it up. It might not get rid of all of it, but every little bit helps. Baking soda also works well at removing grease and oil stains.
Just sprinkle a generous amount on top of an oil stain or dip a rag in water and dab it on top of a grease stain until it disappears. The chemical reaction will do most of the work for you! (Baking soda is a natural cleaner that can be used for many household chores.)
Use Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is a great remedy for removing candle wax. It’s thick enough that it won’t damage your floor but thin enough that it can still wick away wax and grease.
First, remove as much of the wax as you can with paper towels, then douse a paper towel with mineral oil and gently rub it over affected areas until all remnants are gone. If there’s any wax left on hard-to-reach spots, use a cotton swab dipped in mineral oil instead.
Repeat if necessary. Just be sure to wipe up any excess oil with a dry paper towel or cloth before you walk across your floor again. Once finished, don’t forget to give your floors some mopping with warm water and mild soap or clean them with homemade cleaners. And don’t forget about the rugs!
Should you use mineral spirits to remove wax?
Though some people recommend using mineral spirits on wax, I would not recommend it. The reason is that this product is a stripping agent. The truth is that it can remove the wax from the floor. However, it will not spare the floor’s sealant that protects the floor.
Hence, you will remove the wax but create an even bigger problem. You will need to again sand and protect or reseal the wooden floor. You do not need to incur such unreasonable expenses. Please avoid mineral spirits on your floor.
Other stuff to avoid when removing wax include:
Green scrubbers and steel wool: These materials are very aggressive. If you want to protect your floor’s finish, avoid them.
Sharp things such as razor blades or knives: Do not try these sharp objects on your floor wax even if you think you will not use too much force. Try using your hands or blunt objects such as an expired credit card.
Conclusion: Ways to Remove Wax From Wooden Floors
Having read all these simple methods we have provided, you do not need to be stressed when you see a candle drip on your beautiful wooden floor. Instead, relax and calm down, then see which method will fit to clear your mess. The best thing about the ways is that they are simple to use. You only need the readily available items at home, and you will be good to go.
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