12 ways to quickly remove wax from clothes at home
Unsightly marks are successfully removed from various things if you know useful little household secrets. You must first know what wax is in order to remove it from clothes. It is a natural substance, it is created in nature from an animal, vegetable and fossil species. But there is also a substance that has similar properties to wax, but is created by human hands. It's paraffin wax.
What is the difference between wax and paraffin
The material used for the manufacture of candles is paraffin, which is obtained industrially from oil and ozokerite.
Properties of paraffin:
- lack of smell, taste;
- oily to the touch, leaves traces on the hands;
- the consistency is similar to wax;
- melting point - 50-70°;
- insoluble in water.
It is used in medicine, for performing warming procedures, in cosmetology, in the manufacture of candles.The refined product is solid, white, very greasy.
The main difference between wax and paraffin is in their origin: wax is a natural and natural material while paraffin is man-made from the original components.
The wax melts but does not burn. This property is taken into account when choosing a method for cleaning different surfaces. The wax pieces are cut into regular bars; this property must be taken into account during mechanical cleaning.
The following properties are used in various wax products:
- Plastic;
- flexibility;
- candy.
The amazing natural properties of this substance allow it to be used in different areas:
- Pharmaceutical industry;
- perfumery;
- cosmetology;
- in the manufacture of candles for various purposes.
The natural character of the wax has an unpleasant side: it causes allergies in particularly sensitive people. And yet, given the natural properties of wax, zealous housewives know how to remove wax from clothes.
How to quickly remove traces of wax
By adhering to the fabric, the wax penetrates deeply into the structure of the material. Even if the candle was colorless, the mark may remain visible oily spots. In addition, the stains of colored candles cause the hostess a lot of grief. If you don't remove them quickly, it will be difficult to get rid of them later, because over time they become very resistant to any cleaning method.
The technology for cleaning wax or paraffin drops that have fallen on the material depends on the type of fabric from which the costume or dress is sewn.As soon as the wax drops harden, and this usually happens very quickly, it is not recommended to use a sharp knife, it is better to use a plastic knife to clean the adhering wax from the surface of the clothes. Do not press too hard with a knife to avoid damaging your clothes. At the same time, it is necessary to prepare paper or cloth napkins, heat the iron to a low temperature so that it heats up to a sufficient temperature and does not glow.
A soft cloth is placed under the place of contamination, a towel is laid over the stain, then ironed, while the lower and upper towels should be changed frequently. If traces of colored candles appear, it is recommended to pre-treat the cotton fabric with denatured alcohol and also iron it, changing the towels.
Then wash the stain with laundry soap that has been tested for decades. Then the clothes are washed in the usual way to remove the remains of chemical stain removers, if the stains were colored.
An important point: greasy wax and paraffin stains can be removed more easily on fresh tracks, if you don't put off cleaning until later.
Remove stains at home
Unpleasant stains are removed from all fabrics in different ways, each of which has its own nuances that are important for achieving a good end result at home.
Wax stains are removed by several methods:
- hot;
- cold;
- chemical;
- mechanical;
- combined.
Their knowledge will help a zealous hostess to remove stains and keep fabrics intact.
Natural fabrics
Surfaces of natural materials with permanent coloring, or simply white, are subjected to hot cleaning methods, followed by the removal of remaining oily residues with non-aggressive chemicals. Hot technologies are considered treatment with an iron, hair dryer, boiling water, steam. Thanks to their use, it is easy to remove traces of fresh wax.
After mechanical cleaning of wax drops, the stained white cloth should be repeatedly dipped in boiling water - the soaked wax will melt in the water. After that, the clothes should be washed in not hot water with laundry soap and rinsed well.
Positive results can be achieved quickly and effectively by using a food grade vinegar solution with salt. Table vinegar, table salt, baking soda are mixed in equal proportions. The mixture is ground until a homogeneous mass is obtained. It is applied to the remains of the stain, left to dry. After that, using a soft brush, the dried mass is thoroughly cleaned.
jeans
Wax grease is easily removed from jeans, since the fabric does not shrink, it is suitable for ordinary washing with different powders, in a typewriter. But first, according to the already worked out algorithm, you need to mechanically remove the wax drops, then rub the stain with a simple powder, leave for half an hour. Then regular washing. Machine washing with the required temperature regime is effective.
Denim can be cold cleaned to remove wax. To do this, wrap the clothes in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for an hour. Frozen paraffin particles crumble well and are mechanically cleaned from the material. Then, again, regular washing.
Synthetics
Synthetics are not cleaned with hot technologies. It is much more difficult to remove wax stains. These materials are very sensitive to chemicals in the form of various aggressive preparations. There's a little secret to cleaning these materials: you should use a mild dishwashing detergent like Fairy or Vanish stain remover. The liquid should be applied to the remaining grease, allowed to dry, and then washed as required by the fabric.
To wash off paraffin and wax stains, you can:
- "Triple" cologne;
- ethyl alcohol;
- wine vinegar and apple cider.
When treating with these products, it is recommended to wash things with laundry soap. Effectively cleans paraffin stains, pharmacy hydrogen peroxide stearin, it does not damage synthetics. The solution is applied to the contaminated area, the thing is wrapped in a plastic bag and left in the dark for an hour. Traces of contamination disappear completely.
Delicate materials
Cleaning traces of wax on delicate fabrics is done with alcohol or liquids containing alcohol such as cologne. A well-absorbent towel should be placed under clothing; then apply alcohol directly to the stain; Quickly dab the contaminated area with a towel. After that, wash the item as usual.
Stains on delicate fabrics can be easily removed with hydrogen peroxide. This is done as follows: the contaminated area of \u200b\u200bthe fabric should be put on a plastic bag, moisten the place of traces of wax with hydrogen peroxide and cover the place with another bag, a thick towel. Leave on for an hour, then wash the garment as usual.
Fur
Fur products are cleaned using different methods, depending on the length of the hair and the degree of penetration of the wax into the structure of the fur. The first stage of cleaning remains unchanged - the mechanical removal of hardened wax particles. On the fur, they can be removed well with stiff brushes, and residual fat - with an iron and paper, as when cleaning suede items.
Sweden
Suede is cleaned of wax contamination using special technology. First, mechanically remove the pieces of wax, then cover the oily stain with clean paper and iron the stain with a hot, not a hot iron. Paper towels should be cleaned several times.
There is an important point here: the suede is pressed against the iron, but the iron is not laid on the clothes, otherwise the surface of the material may deform. Suede can acquire an unpleasant shine by ironing it with an iron. Suede products are well cleaned by steam treatment, they can be cleaned with ammonia. The recipe for such cleaning is special: only 0.5 teaspoons of ammonia are taken per liter of cold water.
Leather
Leather products are cleaned of wax only when it hardens. Then you can knead the contaminated place with your hands, the wax particles will go away on their own. It is recommended to gently wash the remaining greasy traces with cotton pads soaked in soapy water, changing the pads frequently. Then rinse the place of contamination, dry the product.
Unstable coloring
Fabrics with unstable stains are treated with talc, chalk powder, potato starch.
Cleaning algorithm:
- permanent mechanical removal of solidified upper wax particles;
- the remaining wax particles are densely coated with the selected powder material;
- the paper is superimposed on top;
- a small load is placed for an hour and a half, dishes with water are suitable here, the bottom of which completely covers the place of pollution;
- after cleaning is carried out with a non-hard brush.
In conclusion, the clothes are washed by hand or in the washing machine on a delicate washing cycle. Mandatory requirement: the water must be lukewarm, but not hot.
colored wax
Wax "accumulations" are easily removed, but after colored paraffin and wax, oily stains remain, which are not very easy to remove. It is not recommended to use an iron here, as for cleaning other fabrics, but to use various stain removers. At the same time, in order not to get a nasty halo, it is important to wet the space next to the stain with clean water before cleaning the oil pollution, and to clean the accumulation of grease herself with white cloth napkins, changing them often.
It absorbs well the oily substance dissolved by the stain remover and the foam sponge, which must be moistened with clean water.
Exposure to heat and cold
To remove wax stains from clothes, housewives use cold or hot cleaning technologies. To do this, you need to know which fabrics can be cleaned by one method or another. Hot and cold cleaning methods differ significantly in their effect on different fabrics. At home, it is available to effectively get rid of oily wax stains using both methods.
hot iron
Iron is used to clean stains from simple fabrics according to the algorithm already described.The contaminated place is warmed up several times, with a change of towels. After the heat treatment, there is still one more step to do: wash the clothes in warm soapy water using laundry soap to clean the remaining grease. It is therefore important to rinse your clothes thoroughly under running water.
Freezer
Only small items can be placed in the freezer compartment. They should be wrapped in a plastic bag and kept in the chamber for at least an hour so that the wax drops freeze well. Then they are easier to remove with a knife, scraper or brushes. Cold processing will be followed by cleaning with special liquids to remove the greasy stain. This method is time-consuming, but it is justified by its effectiveness.
Hot water
A simple way is to dissolve the wax with hot water. This method is good for getting rid of wax marks from items made from plain white fabrics. The contaminated place should be immersed in practically boiling water and held for no more than a minute. You can soak the fabric several times in boiling water, observing the gradual disappearance of the stain.
Then you should wash the item in warm water with laundry soap and rinse well. Not even a trace of the stain will remain.
To smoke
Steam treatment is an alternative hot method. At home, you can use a regular temperature-controlled hair dryer. An iron with a steamer works well. The hair dryer melts the wax residue embedded in the structure of the material. It can be gently removed with paper towels, a soft cloth, applying light pressure. Then remove the remaining grease with napkins previously moistened with alcohol-containing products.
We remove the remains
Sometimes getting rid of residual fat is more difficult than removing wax drippings. Contaminated items are treated with household soap, dishwashing liquid and various stain removers. The choice of product depends on the type of clothing material.
Ammonia
Traces of wax grease are removed from simple fabric objects using ammonia diluted with water. The mixture is made at the rate of 3-4 drops of ammonia per glass of cold water. This solution is used to treat a piece of clothing contaminated with grease residues. It is recommended to carry out treatment with an ammonia solution in rubber gloves to avoid skin burns. Ammonia fades quickly, so immediately after using it, things should be washed.
Kerosene
By itself, this substance contains fatty components, however, with its use you can effectively remove oily residues of wax and paraffin. There is a small nuance in the use of kerosene: it has an unpleasant smell, therefore, after using it, clothes should be weathered and washed with conditioners.
Unleaded petrol
You can buy unleaded gasoline at any hardware store. This is important because it does not contain oil. The treatment of oily residues must be carried out with soft and well-absorbent towels, without using heat treatment with an iron. Many housewives like a special solution to get rid of oily wax residue. The solution consists of: 50 milliliters of pure unleaded gasoline, to which are added 10 milliliters of wine alcohol, 3 to 5 drops of ammonia. Even stubborn oily stains can be wiped away with this mixture.
Acetone cleaning
It is permissible to remove residual grease from durable materials with acetone, if the type of fabric allows. It is necessary to abundantly moisten a soft cloth with acetone, wipe the place of the residual stain. If necessary, reprocessing with clean towels is carried out.
Turpentine
A soft cloth should be moistened with turpentine, carefully wipe the place of contamination, then wash the item of clothing as usual.
To note! When turpentine or solvents are used to clean the stain from traces of wax, it is necessary to make a preliminary test on the corner of the fabric - how it will react to such an effect.
Solvents
Various solvents quickly and effectively remove greasy wax stain residue. This method of cleaning belongs to cold technologies, the slightest heating can lead to deformation of the structure of the tissues. A cotton ball should be moistened with a technical solvent, gently wipe the place of contamination, after half an hour repeat the cleaning steps. The clothes are then washed in the usual way. Depending on the chosen solvent, if it has a strong technical odor, washing should be done with perfume and rinsed thoroughly.
Cleaning with synthetic detergents
To remove stain residue from delicate fabrics, mild liquids are used, which are synthetic detergents. They are not aggressive to fabrics, do not spoil their structure and color. One such product is Vanish Stain Remover. A slurry is made from it, applied to the place of pollution, then Vanish is added to the general wash at the rate of 1 measure per washing machine. In this way, you can remove the remains of greasy stains.
Cleaning with dishwashing detergents
A variety of dishwashing liquids are good for removing stain residue.They should be applied generously to the stain, left until completely dry, and then washed off in the usual way. When the stain is still completely visible after the first wash, you can repeat the treatment.
Useful tips
In order to safely get rid of wax stains from the various fabrics from which clothes are sewn, it is important to take into account some aspects of the removal process, the properties of the materials.
Here are the main nuances of the cleaning process:
- take into account the properties of the material from which things are made; this is important, because some fabrics cannot be heated, others should not be cooled;
- it is important to remove already hardened wax particles so that they do not spread even further on the soft tissues;
- prevent wax particles from sticking to clothes; do not postpone the process of cleaning the fabric, clean it immediately after putting on a dress, suit, carpet;
- treat the immediate place of contamination, it is only after having cleaned the stain that the whole garment can be washed;
- when using chemicals, solvents, it is recommended to try their effect on the material of the garment, so as not to spoil it with industrial substances.
Particular attention should be paid to the removal of stained wax stains. It is removed from clothes, then chemical stain removers will be needed.