Using Goo Gone to Remove Spilled Candle Wax

Spilled candle wax is one of the messiest, hardest substances to clean up. The wax is hot when it is spilled, allowing it to penetrate carpet fibers and fabric surfaces, but when it cools it hardens, making it extremely hard to remove. I have been in the candle business for many years, first working at a retail candle store at the mall, and then selling candles as a direct sales consultant for years after that. During my candle career, suffice it to say, I spilled a lot of wax that needed cleaning up.

Many people will tell you to use a hot iron over a dry towel to clean up spilled wax, but I've found that this often re-melts the wax and drives it deeper into the carpet or fabric. Other people suggest using an ice cube to freeze the wax, but I've never had any success using this method at all. Fortunately, I have found one thing that seems to work without fail.

Goo Gone is a cleaning product, widely available at grocery and "big box" stores, which is made to remove adhesive material from surfaces. Goo Gone is very cheap at just a few dollars per bottle. People commonly use Goo Gone to remove price stickers and window adhesives. What most people don't know, however, is that Goo Gone can also be used to remove spilled candle wax from carpets and fabrics.

First, you'll want to apply a small amount of the Goo Gone product to an inconspicuous area of the carpet or fabric to test for colorfastness. Once you are sure Goo Gone is safe to use on your fabric, just apply the product liberally to the waxy area and then wait for the product to work. Usually 20 to 30 minutes is enough time for the Goo Gone to work on the wax. After waiting, you will find that the wax has obtained a tacky consistency.

Once the wax is tacky, it is easy to remove it from the surface of the fabric using a knife, blade, or other straight, sharp object. The wax should all stick together in one clump, making clean-up a breeze. In all my years selling candles, I have never found a method better than Goo Gone to clean up spilled wax. If you have a waxy mess on your hands, head to your local store and give this common cleaning product a try.

**NOTE: Per FTC Disclosure Requirements: This is NOT a paid review. No money, free products, or consideration of any kind was received in connection with this post.