Ask A Scientist© General Science Archive

name         Sherri
status       educator
age          40s
Question -   How do you remove candle wax from a tablecloth?

It depends on the material of the table cloth:
Acetate, Burlap, Fiberglass, Rayon, Rope, Silk, Triacetate, Wool
Freeze to harden the wax.  Carefully scrape up as much wax as you can, then 
place an absorbent pad under the stain and flush with spot remover.  Allow 
to dry and repeat if necessary.

Acrylic Fabric, Cotton, Linen, Modacrylic, Nylon, Olefin, Polyester, 
Washable Wool
Scrape to remove excess wax.  Place the stained area between two pieces of 
white blotting paper and press with a warm (not hot) iron.  Change the 
paper as it absorbs the stain.  This stain can easily spread, so use care 
while pressing.  On colorfast fabrics, whit cotton, or linen, try pouring 
boiling water through the stain.  Allow to dry.  If any trace remains, 
flush with dry-cleaning fluid.  If any dye remains, sponge with 1 part 
rubbing alcohol mixed with 2 parts water.  (Do not use this solution on 
acrylic or modacrylic fabric.)  Rinse well with clear water and dry.

A good resource is How To Beat Housework  ISBN 0-88176-435-3

---Nathan A. Unterman
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One trick my wife uses is to place the cloth in the freezer for a few hours.  
Often, the wax falls right off in many cases.

Steve Sample
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