Wax on... wax off
December 1st 2010 One of the most frequently dealt with spots and stains around this time of year is candle
wax with it often ending up on carpets,upholstery and even curtains. Paul Pearce,
technical director of the NCCA tackles the issue of getting wax off
You might think that in this day and age we would be content
with the electric light, but no,many people enjoy the warm
glow from a lit candle and the aroma from specially prepared
products.Of course we don't just use candles for light.Many are used
for effect. Christmas time seems to bring them out.They are used to
hide the meals put in front of us in some restaurants.Candles are also
frequently used in aromatherapy, among other things.
However, the molten wax can create problems for the house
owner, restaurateurs, aromatherapists and even the carpet cleaners of
this world. In our trade we have many fibres to deal with, but the
most problematic ones are the synthetic fibres, especially if your
remedial method is going to be an iron and brown paper.This would
be used after the wax has been broken down using a blunt
instrument and vacuumed away.The trick here is to keep the iron and
paper on the move at all times, ensuring it is just hot enough to only
melt the wax and not the fibres.Do not use the flat of the iron either,
just lift it up from the back and use the front 30mm. Once the wax
has been removed you will need to rinse the grease residue away to
ensure re-soiling does not occur.
Coloured waxes present more of a problem because when the wax
has melted the dye or pigment is also released, which will
permanently damage the item.My suggestion in this situation is to
break up the wax with a blunt instrument like a spatula as much as
possible and vacuum away.Then use a solvent, such as an odourless
mineral, and apply sparingly. Special care is required if the carpet is of
tufted construction as this will cause the secondary back to come
away.As with the use of any dry solvents you would need to ensure
the proper use of PPE and adequate ventilation. All open fires should
be extinguished and fish tank oxygen pumps should also be turned
off.Children, pets and indeed everyone else should keep out until the
item is dry.
Candles can also present other problems. Although not necessarily
recognised as dangerous in the quantities we see, they emit various
toxins such as acetone, benzene, lead and even mercury.They can
also leave dark shadows of soot on walls, ceilings and furniture.
Advise your clients that if they are using candles to keep the wicks
short, as a long wick will obviously create a brighter candle, but will
also produce more soot. More articles from National Carpet Cleaners Association: | 
