The Most Common Stain You'll Have to Remove This Holiday Season

Amid all the decorating and dining, the last things you may be thinking about are stains. But trust me, they will happen. So before you get caught up in the excitement of the holidays, here's everything you'll need to know to remove the one stain I get asked about most: candle wax.

From Fabric

For wax dribbles on tablecloths or washable clothing, let the wax harden and gently scrape off as much of it as you can with a dull knife. If the wax is colored, sponge the stain with a solvent-based cleaning fluid, like Guardsman, to remove as much of the dye as possible. Place clean paper towels on top of and under the stain and press the area with a warm dry iron. Rotate and replace the towels as they absorb the melted wax. Rub liquid laundry detergent into any remaining stain and wash the fabric in warm or hot water. Add chlorine or all-fabric bleach, if possible. To remove a wax stain from carpet or upholstery, follow the steps above. Instead of laundering, however, clean the area with your favorite carpet and upholstery spot remover. We like Bissell's Tough Stain Pretreat for Carpet and Upholstery.

Related: 12 Common Kid Stains -- Busted!

From Wood Furniture

If the candle on your coffee table has sprung a leak, let any wax that's settled onto the wood harden so it will be easier to remove without damaging the finish. With a plastic spatula or credit card, gently scrape up the brittle wax. Once the wax is removed, buff the area with a clean cloth and your favorite furniture polish to blend and camouflage the repair.

Related: Best Tested Multi-Purpose Cleaners

From Candlestick Holders

The secret to removing wax from the nooks and crannies of candleholders and menorahs is to either crank up or crank down the temperature. Immerse any water-safe holder in very hot tap water for about five minutes or give it a blast of hot air from a blow dryer. Once the wax is softened, peel or scrape it off. Another trick is to place the wax-covered holder in the freezer for several hours, then chip off the brittle wax. Finally, clean off any remaining film with a delicate scrub sponge and warm sudsy water. Rinse and dry. Wax will be easier to remove if you put a few drops of water into the holder before inserting the candle. Weiman's Wax Away also does a good job zapping wax from surfaces.

For help removing red wine and other stains, don't forget about our 24/7 online Stain Buster Tool.

- By Carolyn Forte

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