Question
I have to soak my hands in molten wax three times a week as part of a treatment for arthritic hands. Sometimes the wax spills over onto the throw blanket I put under the pot while the wax is cooling. How can I remove these dried wax splotches? I believe the throw is flannel.
Answer
Wax can be easily removed from many fabrics by slightly heating the wax spot so it will transfer from the fabric and onto a brown paper bag. First you will want to scrape away as much of the wax as possible with a dull knife. Cut open a brown paper bag, but make sure the bag does not already have a wax coating. Next, place the bag over the wax spot and gently press the area with a dry iron on the lowest setting. You should start to see dark brown splotches appear on the bag as it absorbs the warmed wax. Reposition a fresh part of the bag over the wax spot and gently press again with the iron. You will need to repeat this until no more wax absorbs onto the bag.
If any wax remains on the fabric, pre-treat the stained area by applying Clorox 2® For Colors 3-in-1 Liquid directly to the stain. Wait ten minutes (set a timer to keep track of the time), and then wash the item with detergent and a little more Clorox 2® in the hottest water recommended on the care label. Make sure you air dry the item because it is very important to keep wax stains out of the dryer. Once fully dried check for success and repeat if necessary.
