How do you get candle wax off a wood floor?

Question

So...I got a bunch of candle wax on my wood floor and I'm scared to scrape it or heat it up because of the finish. HELP!

Answer 1

Hi DO NOT APPLY ANYTHING till the moment that you know what kind of finish do you have! to find out what kind of finish do you have you can go to

http://www.floorsincalifornia.com/whycho...
I will recommend you borrow a hand steamer and be care full remove the wax
if you can get a steamer put a spoon into boiling water, for about 10 minutes, be care full emty the water and care full removed the spoon cover the spoon very fast with a paper towel and apply in circular moves in the affected area , problably you only need to do it once but if still is more wax do the process again good luck!
what type of finish I have on my floor. This simple guide will help you determine if the finish is a wax finish, shellac or varnish finish or a surface finish.

If the floor was installed, or last serviced, before the mid '60s, you should assume the finish used was varnish or shellac. To determine this, scratch the surface with a coin or other sharp object in a corner or other inconspicuous space. If the finish flakes, it is probably shellac or varnish. Shellac and varnish are rarely used anymore and require full sanding to remove before application of a surface finish or wax finish.

Next, check the floor for wax finish. In an inconspicuous area, corner or behind a door, apply two (2) drops of water. If, within ten minutes, white spots appear under the drops of water, the floor has a wax finish. To remove the white spots, gently rub the spots with #000 steel wool dampened with wax.

If the finish does not flake from scratching with a coin and white spots do not appear from the drops of water, the floor has a surface finish and should be maintained accordingly

Answer 2

Yes I believe I can help you if you do this one simple step, Use a ice cube place it on the candle wax until it hardens, then just scrape it up with a rubber scraper the kind you use to scrape bowls or even back of butter knife gently pry off the hardened wax.For an extra handy tip; next time you use candles, place the candles inside a freezer for about 10-15 mins before using this will stop the candles from dripping alot and will make them burn longer Good Luck !

Answer 3

OK you are right about the scraping but it's the tool you use! try scraping with a plastic spatula (thing you use to smear the icing on a cake) in case you didn't know lol. hardened wax should come up or shatter when you start to lift it. i usually burn candles in ceramic containers that have the capacity to hold 1/4 of the candle contents in case of the wax running

Answer 4

try laying some grease-proof kitchen paper over the wax, then gently run a warm iron over the paper. The wax should melt right off without damaging the finish

Answer 5

dried candle wax on wood should just pop right up. if you use a spatula carefully should pop up really easy.

Or take a damp wash rag and just run it over the floor.

Answer 6

take a heating pad set on high and place it over a clean WHITE towel and allow the wax to heat up and then cool down and the clean towel should lift it without damage

Answer 7

Goo Gone works wonders, and it smells wonderful, too (citrus)
I had a candle drinp all ove my hardwood floors after forgetting to blow it out all night, and that stuff got it right off :)

Answer 8

Get out your iron, warm the iron,not hot. Put a piece of paper towel on top of the stain,and then iron,remove the paper and go to the next one and put a clean piece of paper towel each time.

Answer 9

Try pouring hot water over it.
Just try on a small patch - just to see how it works.
If it damages the floor - stop.

Hope it helps

Answer 10

Try using a hairdryer set to low and soak it up with a paper towel.