Nothing quite sets the mood like candles flickering outside on a summer night. But the romance ends when you see ugly wax stains marring your beautiful patio or walkways. Dripping candle wax is inevitable, but getting rid of those pesky spots doesn’t need to be a nightmare.
How To Get Candle Wax off Concrete
Trust me – you can remove candle wax from concrete and restore your surfaces with some tried and true methods. So, don’t stress about the mess – this article will walk you through simple, straightforward steps to erase wax off concrete.
So before you get overwhelmed or make it worse, read on to get the wax out in no time. Let’s get started.
1. Scrape off any excess wax
The first step is to remove any chunks of dried wax that are easy to pry off the concrete. Take a plastic putty knife, old credit card, or other thin tool and gently scrape at the wax buildup. Try to remove as much as you can without gouging or scratching the concrete.
Go slowly and take your time working the wax free from the concrete. Scrape in different directions to break the wax free. Remove any wax debris and reassess if there is still more wax to be scraped off before moving on to the next step.
2. Heat the remaining wax
After scraping up the easy stuff, heat will help soften and melt any remaining wax on the concrete for easier removal. There are a couple of safe ways to melt candle wax on concrete:
Use a heat gun
A heat gun is the quickest tool for melting wax off concrete. Set the heat gun to the low or medium setting and slowly wave the heat back and forth over the affected area. As the wax softens, continue scraping it up with your plastic tool. Reapply heat as needed to remove all of the stubborn wax.
Be careful not to hold the heat in one place too long or it could damage the concrete. Keep the heat gun moving constantly to avoid scorching or cracking the concrete surface.
Try a hairdryer
If you don’t have a heat gun, a hairdryer will also work. Use the high heat setting and frequently move the hairdryer around to evenly heat the wax residue. Scape as the wax softens so none of it re-hardens on the concrete.
As with the heat gun, keep the hairdryer in motion over the area. Lingering too long in one spot could overheat the concrete. It may take longer to melt the wax with a hairdryer but with patience it will soften for removal.
Let the sun help
On a hot sunny day, the sun’s rays can naturally soften candle wax on concrete. Let the candle wax heat up for an hour or more, then go out and scrape away at the softened wax. This may take several rounds of letting it melt in the sun then scraping if there is a lot of wax buildup.
Position the wax-stained concrete in direct sunlight when using this method. Shaded areas won’t get warm enough to melt the wax. Time this wax removal for midday when the sun is highest and shadows are minimal.
3. Try boiling water
For wax deposited over a small area, boiling water can melt and lift it quickly. Boil several kettles-full of water then carefully pour the hot water over the wax patch. Let it sit for a minute to melt the wax then wipe away with rags. Repeat as needed, reheating water if the first pour doesn’t get all the wax up.
Use caution when handling boiling water to avoid injury. Wear gloves when wiping hot melted wax and pour slowly to control the scalding water. This method works best for removing wax from textured or porous concrete that traps wax in grooves.
4. Use baking soda
Make a thick baking soda paste with just a bit of water and spread it over the wax stain. Allow the baking soda mixture to dry completely. This could take 24-48 hours depending on the size of the wax stain.
Once dried, sweep away the baking soda. It will lift off taking the now brittle wax with it. For any wax left behind, scrub with soapy water to remove it from the concrete.
The abrasiveness of the baking soda scours the wax without damaging the concrete finish. Sprinkle on more dry baking soda after scrubbing if you need extra cleaning power to remove all traces of the wax stain.
5. Try ice cubes
Here’s a trick that seems too easy, but works surprisingly well for clearing candle wax from concrete. Take several ice cubes and press them directly onto the dried wax. As the wax chills, it will harden and chip away from the concrete easily.
Continue rubbing ice over all the wax until it has frozen up and can be swept away. Using ice cools and shrinks the wax so it detaches from the concrete surface below. This is an eco-friendly wax removal method that requires no chemicals.
6. Clean with soap and water
After removing the majority of the candle wax, there may still be a light residue or staining left behind. Make a bucket of mild soap and warm water to wash away any last remnants of wax. Use a stiff scrub brush or broom to work the sudsy water into the concrete.
Rinse thoroughly to get rid of all soap then let the concrete dry. If any wax remains, try one of the melting or softening methods again to free the concrete completely. A good scrubbing with suds lifts any leftover wax particles from the pores of the concrete.
7. Use a commercial wax remover
For heavy wax buildup, a store-bought wax remover may be needed to fully clean concrete. Look for a wax removing solvent made specifically for use on concrete. Apply the product according to package directions.
Typically, you’ll spray or scrub the remover onto the wax stain. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before wiping away the dissolved wax with rags or power washing. Avoid any wax removers that contain chlorine bleach or other harsh chemicals that could damage concrete.
8. Repair concrete stains
If candle wax has deeply stained the concrete, treat the discoloration with a concrete stain remover after the wax is up. Use a brush to work the stain treatment into the concrete pores. Let it dwell for 10 minutes before rinsing.
For stubborn staining, reapply the treatment following the product instructions. This can often remove candle wax discoloration that ordinary cleaning doesn’t address. The concrete should look fresh and free of wax once you’ve removed all the residue.
How to Prevent Future Concrete Wax Stains
After all that hard work removing wax, the last thing you want is to go through it again the next time you light candles outside. So, take a few precautions during candle time to curb future wax headaches. It’s worth taking a few extra steps to avoid stains in the first place.
Do what you have to do to keep wax in check. Whether it’s choosing dripless candles, putting down protection, or switching to battery-powered candles, you have options. We know you love your candlelit ambiance outdoors. But simple planning allows you to enjoy it without the waxy mess.
Bottom Line
Give your concrete a break by containing candles or catching drips before they happen. But if wax does escape again, no worries. Now you’ve got the inside scoop on getting it off concrete for good.
Remember – act quickly when wax drips before it hardens into a stubborn stain. And feel free to return to these tips anytime you need to remove new wax spots.
