A candlelit evening due to romance or a power outage can end with drops of wax getting on your clothes or tablecloth. In this case, it is useless to wash it by hand or use a washing machine; it will not give any results. The waxy compound is not broken down by water and washing powders are also unable to get rid of it. Paraffin eats into the fibers instantly.
Effective methods for removing stains depending on the fabric
To clean fabric from ordinary undyed paraffin, many methods are suitable, it all depends on the type of matter.
Natural fabrics
The easiest way to remove paraffin traces is from natural materials, be it linen, cotton, or calico. When getting rid of wax, you will need to prepare paper napkins, cotton material and an iron. Several napkins are placed under the fabric, exactly where the mark is located, and a cotton cloth is placed on it. Iron at a temperature of 50-70o C. The paraffin melts and is absorbed into the napkins.If the need arises, the procedure can be carried out repeatedly, first changing the napkins and the cotton piece.
Important! To effectively remove traces of paraffin, it is necessary to wait until it hardens after it gets on the material, otherwise, during the mixing process, the high temperature will allow the wax molecules to be absorbed more firmly into the material.
A fairly effective method of removal is to boil water in a pan with a stained cloth immersed in it, and when grease stains appear in the water, remove it. This action can be repeated if necessary to achieve the best effect. Finally, the material is washed in soapy water and rinsed thoroughly.
The following will help remove the remaining fatty residue from paraffin:
- Ammonia
- Kerosene or turpentine
- Acetone or solvent
- Synthetic dishwashing detergents
Apply any of the above products to the paraffin stain and wash it off after 24 hours.
Synthetics
Synthetic fabrics such as silk, chiffon, organza and wool are more difficult to clean due to the negative effect that high temperature has on the structure of the fabric, and the resulting possibility of deforming it.
A safe way to get rid of paraffin is to soak it in water at a temperature close to hot, but not boiling water. The soaked mark is carefully removed with a cloth or napkin.
You can also get rid of stains using an organic solvent; apply it to cotton wool and wipe off the frozen paraffin.
Attention! Before using the solvent, it is recommended to test how it affects the structure of the material in an inconspicuous place on the clothing.
Delicate natural materials, in particular silk and wool, are cleaned using a product that is usually used to wash dishes, due to its minimal aggressive effect on the material. In a small dose, it is applied to the stain; after six hours, the item must be washed.
Denim
To remove paraffin from jeans, it is recommended to place damaged jeans in the freezer for a short time. A frozen stain can easily crumble, and what remains can be removed using an iron and napkins.
How to remove traces of colored wax
Working with a stain left by a colored candle is more difficult, because colored paraffin cannot be removed using the above methods, because the dyes go deep into the fabric. In this case, freezing the item and carefully removing the frozen wax will do. The remaining stains are treated with stain remover and washed.
Removing paraffin from fur and suede
If a stain is found on the fur, it is necessary to freeze the item for some time, at least half an hour. The frozen mark can be easily removed from the fibers by hand.
To remove wax from suede, you can cover the stain with a clean sheet and place an iron on it for three seconds. If this method does not help, you can use another, you will need to make a solution from:
- 35 ml ammonia
- 10 ml wine vinegar
- 50 ml gasoline
A cotton wool is dipped in the solution and placed on the wax mark for a minute. Then wipe the suede with a clean damp cloth.
When you are not sure which method is suitable for getting rid of a stain, you should contact a dry cleaner. This is especially true if the item is expensive and there is a risk of ruining it. It is easier for professionals to cope with this task, and in case of damage to the fabric they are obliged to compensate for the damage.
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