5

During Christmas I managed to drop some wax of a candle onto my woolen pullover. On most other types of cloth, I would just try to remove it by scrubbing it off, but this does not seems like an option here, since I would ruin my pullover this way.

How do I remove the wax now?

1
  • Decided to do the comment as an answer... see below
    – Bamboo
    Dec 28, 2015 at 12:55

4 Answers 4

4

Usual method to remove wax is to try to pick or peel off as much as possible, and then get some blotting paper or a couple of sheets of absorbent kitchen paper and a hot iron. Place the paper over the wax, and apply the hot iron to the paper - the trouble is, your jumper is wool, and that doesn't take too much of a high temperature, so its a bit of a risk. You need to melt the wax through the paper, which then absorbs it...without burning the sweater.

4
  • i'll give it a try, and then (depening on the result) accept this answer. Dec 28, 2015 at 13:09
  • Ooh, just make sure you don't get the hot iron actually on the fabric itself, only over the paper.... good luck!
    – Bamboo
    Dec 28, 2015 at 14:19
  • ISTR that brown paper (of the sort used to wrap parcels) used to be favoured for this technique. Good luck finding any these days though! Dec 29, 2015 at 19:12
  • Worked for me, thank you! For anyone who comes across this question/answer: I used absorbent kitchen paper and it did the job. Jan 4, 2016 at 6:56
3

Place the garment in the freezer for an hour or two, remove and break the wax off the garment. I would go this route first before trying to heat the wax. Heating the wax seems like it would make it get into the fabric deeper, making it harder to remove.

1
  • Since I already removed the wax I cannot test/confirm this, but it seems reasonable. +1 from me. Jan 4, 2016 at 6:58
0

After having to test exactly this over Christmas, I'd actually recommend using a towel rather than brown paper. Either a tea-towel or fine towel rather than a thick pile towel.

Yes, the towel then needs a boil wash, but it draws all the wax out of the jumper much faster, so you don't need to keep the jumper at a high temperature for so long. This could be critical for a delicate wool jumper!

0

I just tried this method with a dish towel (tea towel) and it worked perfectly. I put one tea towel inside the wool jumper and one on top of the wax stain, then ironed at a medium heat setting three or four times. Wax is gone.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.