First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Scrape off the surface wax with a dull knife while it is still hard.
- Sponge the remaining wax with solvent from the wrong side.
- If the cloth is dry-clean only, stop there and take it to a cleaner.
Candle wax on a tablecloth is a solid that melts with heat but won't dissolve in water, so an ordinary wash won't lift it. Colored candles often leave a dye mark once the wax is gone, which means you may be dealing with two stains at once. Plan on several passes rather than one.
Lift as much wax as you can first, since water won't loosen it. A prewash stain remover stick is the right tool for the colored mark left on a cloth tablecloth. Linen tablecloths get the same careful order, so take your time with each pass.
Before you start
What tablecloths & napkins can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Dull knifeLifts hardened wax off the surface without cutting the weave.
- Dry-cleaning solventLifts the oily part of the stain. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white clothsLets you work the solvent from the back and shows when wax stops lifting. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid laundry detergentRubbed into the mark before washing. (opens Amazon)
- All-fabric oxygen bleachTreats the dye left behind once the wax is gone. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Scrape off the surface wax
Hold a dull knife nearly flat against the cloth and lift off the wax sitting on top, working from the edges toward the middle. Lift it in small flakes while the wax is still firm, since soft wax smears into the weave. Brush off any loose bits before you move on.
Tip. Lay the cloth flat on a hard surface so you can see the wax lift cleanly.
Careful. Don't press hard with the knife, which can snag or cut the threads.
Step 2 of 5
Sponge the wax out with solvent
Turn the tablecloth wrong side up and slide a clean white cloth under the stain. Sponge dry-cleaning solvent onto the mark from the back, blotting rather than rubbing, and move to a clean part of the cloth as the wax lifts onto it.
Tip. Keep going with fresh cloth until it stops picking up wax, then let the spot dry before you check it.
Careful. Use dry-cleaning solvent in a well-ventilated room away from flame and sparks.
Step 3 of 5
Wash with liquid laundry detergent
Rub a little liquid laundry detergent into the mark, then wash the tablecloth at the warmest temperature its care label allows. Rinse it well so no detergent or solvent is left behind.
Step 4 of 5
Treat the dye with oxygen bleach
Test all-fabric oxygen bleach on a hidden seam first, then mix it as the package says and sponge it onto the colored mark. Leave it no longer than 15 minutes, then rinse the area well with plain water.
Tip. It is the gentler choice for colors and fabrics, so it is the first bleach to reach for.
Careful. Colored fabric that isn't colorfast can change color, so skip this treatment unless the test passes.
Step 5 of 5
Air dry and check in daylight
Lay the tablecloth flat or hang it to air dry, and check the spot in daylight once it is dry. If a faint colored tint remains, repeat the washing and bleaching, then let it air dry again.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for candle wax on tablecloths & napkins
Pick a dry-cleaning solvent sold for spotting and an all-fabric oxygen bleach. Check each label to confirm it is made for fabric.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on tablecloths & napkins, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
You'll know the wax is gone when a clean white cloth stops picking up wax during sponging and the fabric no longer feels waxy. A faint colored tint that remains after the wash is the dye, and that is the part the oxygen bleach treats.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your tablecloths & napkins
Cloth tablecloth
If the care label says washable, follow the whole process as written, including the wash at the warmest temperature the label allows. Expect the dye to take the most passes, so repeat the oxygen bleach before deciding it has set in.
If the label says dry-clean only, skip the wash and the bleach, and stop after the solvent. Take the tablecloth to a professional dry cleaner promptly and tell them it is a candle wax stain with dye.
Linen tablecloth
Linen's tolerance for bleach isn't something to guess at, so if the label doesn't clearly allow it, leave chlorine out entirely. Stick to the oxygen bleach after a test on a hidden seam.
Sponge the solvent only on the plain area and keep it away from embroidery or a printed border. Blot gently so the weave isn't disturbed, and keep the solvent off any decorative stitching.
Hair removal wax on a towel
Hair removal wax is a different product from candle wax, so the candle steps won't match it exactly. Start by scraping off whatever you can with a dull knife, then check the product label for its wax base.
The rest depends on that wax base and the towel's fabric, so our hair removal wax guide is the right place for the full treatment. Until you know those, leave the towel unheated and don't bleach it.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old wax comes out the same way, but it takes more passes. Repeat the solvent sponging with a clean cloth until no more wax lifts, then treat the oily mark that is left with solvent and then 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Dye that stays after the wash can be treated with chlorine bleach only if the cloth is colorfast, the care label allows bleach, and a test on a hidden spot passes. Apply the solution with a medicine dropper for no more than two minutes, flush with water after each application, then apply white vinegar solution and flush again. Don't use chlorine on wool, silk, mohair, leather or spandex, and never use it at full strength.
If the mark survived a trip through the dryer, the heat has set it, so expect a faint tint at best. If the dye still shows after about 15 minutes of bleaching, bleaching won't remove it, so stop there. Quit once the fabric starts to feel thin or changes color, since weakened fabric tears sooner.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on candle wax on tablecloths & napkins?
Most home remedies were made for food, ink or paint, so few of them belong near candle wax. The only one in the steps is an all-fabric oxygen bleach, and the rest are either alternatives for the dye or things to leave out.
Works1Helps1Skip4
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
Chlorine bleach + Rubbing alcohol
Bleach and rubbing alcohol can form chloroform, which causes dizziness, nausea and loss of consciousness.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) + Rubbing alcohol
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Stop and add nothing else; leave the area for fresh air, open windows and keep children and pets away; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if anyone has trouble breathing.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't put it in the dryer
Heat from a dryer sets whatever wax or dye is left, and a set mark is much harder to lift. Air dry the tablecloth until you're sure the stain is gone.
Don't mix bleach with vinegar or alcohol
Chlorine bleach gives off toxic fumes with ammonia, and it should never be combined with vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Rinse each product out with plain water before you start the next one.
Don't rub with bar soap or milk
Bar soap sets many fresh stains, and milk adds a protein stain to a wax mess. Stick to the liquid laundry detergent and the wash instead.
Don't let a product sit too long
A bleach left past its time can fade or change the dye, even on fabric that seemed safe. Set a timer when you start the oxygen bleach and rinse it out when it goes off.
When to call a professional
Take a dry-clean-only tablecloth to a professional dry cleaner promptly, and tell them the fiber content and the stain. Take any tablecloth to a cleaner if the stain covers a large area, the cloth is bulky, or the fabric is fragile.
Questions
Can I get wax off a tablecloth without heat?
Yes, that is the main method here. Scrape off what you can, then sponge the rest with dry-cleaning solvent from the wrong side until no more wax lifts.
Does candle wax leave a color behind?
Yes, colored candles can leave a dye mark after the wax is gone. Remove the wax first, then deal with the dye using the oxygen bleach step, which is the gentler option for colored fabric.
What if the tablecloth is dry-clean only?
Take it to a professional dry cleaner promptly and tell them the fiber content and that the stain is candle wax with dye. Stop the home treatment after the solvent step.
Can I use bleach on candle wax on a tablecloth?
Only as a last resort, on colorfast cloth whose care label allows bleach, and after a test on a hidden spot. Only as a last resort, on colorfast cloth whose care label allows bleach and after a hidden-spot test, since it is the strongest option.
Will an old candle wax stain come out?
Often most of it will, but old wax is harder than fresh, and some dye can stay. Repeat the solvent sponging until nothing lifts, then treat the oily mark with solvent and alcohol.
Can I use this method on hair removal wax?
Not exactly. Hair removal wax is a different product, so start with a scrape and check the label for its wax base. Then use our hair removal wax guide for the rest.
Candle Wax on other materials
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.