A white towel stained with brown wax

How to Remove Wax Stains

Wax stain removal can be a bit of a challenge, but it's definitely possible to save your garments from waxy ruin.

When removing wax drippings from your clothes, first things first - step away from the stain! Let the wax harden so it'll be easier to remove, instead of working it deeper into the garment's fibers. Once the wax is solid, you can remove the bulk of it easily. Next, you'll want to use the trusty iron and paper towel trick to heat any remaining wax and transfer it to the paper towel. Now, you can pre-treat using Tide Ultra OXI High Efficiency Liquid and a soft-bristled toothbrush before washing. Read on for Tide’s step-by-step guide to removing wax from clothing and take the hassle out of wax stain removal:

Removing Wax Stains

Step 1

Remove Excess

Allow wax to dry and remove excess by scraping it off or by freezing the garment and snapping off the frozen wax. To remove any remaining wax, place white unpatterned paper towels on either side of the fabric and use an iron on a low, non-steam. Be careful not to leave the iron in one spot for too long.

Scrape off any excess from the garment
Step 2

Pre-treat

If any oil spots remain from the wax, pre-treat by applying Tide Ultra OXI High Efficiency Liquid to the spot, work it into the stain by rubbing the garment together gently or by using a soft bristled toothbrush. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

Step 3

Dose

Use the cap to ensure you use the right amount of detergent, and pour it into the detergent dispenser if you have an HE machine, or directly into the drum before loading the clothes if you have a non-HE machine.

Step 4

Load

Without rinsing off the detergent, place the garment into the washer with other items. Leaving the detergent on the stain will give your wash that extra boost of cleaning power.

Load the garment into the washer
Step 5

Wash

Wash on the usual cycle, on the hottest wash temperature indicated. Always check the instructions on the garment’s care label.

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Wash on the usual cycle
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Step 6

Unload

A wax stain is hard to remove, but it's not the only tough stain out there. Unexpected stains like Shoe polish can also pose stain-removal challenges, but they're not impossible. The good news is that Tide can tackle the toughest laundry challenges with ease. Using a few of our tips and tricks, you can get even the most stubborn stains out of your favorites.

A laundry basket full of neatly folded, colorful gaments