I have a black tablecloth. It doesn't say what it's made out of, but I would guess a mix of a lot of things, probably silk and polyester. I'm not really sure, honestly, but it's silky, yet fibrous at the same time.
Anyway, it has candlewax on it that has since dried. I have gotten the chunks of it off, but there is a lot still stuck deep in the fibers of the tablecloth.
Does anyone know how to get it out? Or at least make it less noticable?
2007-09-13 10:33:02 · 7 answers · asked by Weesy 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
Because it probably has man-made fiber, the iron method probably would melt it. But, if you use relatively low heat like an acyrilic, nylon or polyester setting, you may not cause a scorch but test an inconspicious area first. Put a piece of brown paper bag between the iron and the table cloth, using low heat and no steam, carefully move the iron over the wax never resting it for more than a few seconds until the wax is gone.
If the test area with the iron melts the fabric, try putting it in the microwave on a glass dish and nuke it for 30 seconds. Take it out, if the fabric got hot enough, place brown paper above and below the wax and put a heavy book on it right away. (If it isn't hot enough, repeat for a longer period of time.) Keep repeating the process until the wax is completely gone but moving the brown paper to clean sections each time. (I tried this in the conventional oven one time, but the lowest temp in mine is 200 degrees which melted, thus ruined the fabric. Don't go there...)
Because the wax is deep into the fiber, the ice cube method probably won't help extracate the wax. But, you can try the boiling water method. Stretch the tablecloth over a large bowl secured with a rubber band. Heat water to boiling and very quickly pour it through the fabric following it immediately with cool water. Continue to do this until the wax melts through the fabric.
If you are left with a residue (usually from the dye and fragrance in candles) you can remove it with Waxmans Wax Away which I have found at Michaels craft stores and large discounters, like WalMart. I keep it on hand for exactly these types of situations because I have candles everywhere and never know what the wax will get onto. Waxman's gets it off of anything and everything without doing damage to anything so far...
2007-09-13 10:35:57 · answer #1 · answered by eskie lover 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Test the hem with an iron to see if the fabric melts. Then, use white paper (or maybe old newspaper, since your cloth is black), and iron over the PAPER. The wax should melt, and go into the paper (you might line your ironing board with paper towels). Experiment with the heat of the iron.
If the fabric melts, though, you may be stuck with a splotchy cloth. Maybe you can put a patch or applique on top to cover up the spot.
2007-09-13 17:38:52 · answer #2 · answered by Madame M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Use a curling Iron and wax paper.
A regular iron can be used also but start on the lowest setting.
put the wax paper over the area and Iron until the wax in your table cloth melts into the wax paper
2007-09-13 17:42:18 · answer #3 · answered by kd5bel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a blow dryer on high heat to melt the wax. Then dab it off with a paper towel. Don't wipe the wax, or it will just smear.
2007-09-13 17:43:06 · answer #4 · answered by Paul in San Diego 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Candle wax is a tough stain to get out, most of the time it doesn't come out. You should just buy a new table cloth.
2007-09-13 17:42:54 · answer #5 · answered by Grasshopper 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have tried the iron method before and brown paper over it to absorb the wax when it melts, it worked for me!
2007-09-13 17:42:01 · answer #6 · answered by Mellywoo 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
buy a new one
2007-09-13 17:38:25 · answer #7 · answered by melas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋