How to Remove Wax Stains

In Orthodox worship practice, candles are an essential attribute. Inevitably, drops of liquid wax from these candles will find their way to the vestments, and cloth coverings of the altar, lecterns and other objects.
With help from Nun Agrippina – whom you already know from the previous letter – our team has tested some of the most common methods of wax stain removal from the surfaces of different fabrics. Here are some results, with comments from Nun Agrippina.
Looking ahead, some stains will need to be removed by washing, but that will depend on the result of the less radical methods.

No two stains are the same
In choosing a method, we need to consider several factors. The first among them is the composition of the wax. Varieties with higher contents of bee wax typically melt at higher temperatures, and the greater the temperature, the more persistent the stain. Furthermore, wax darkens the detergent mix, making the stains even more lasting on white fabrics. Coloured candles may leave permanent stains, which cannot be removed without damaging the fabric.

The type of fabric also matters. Black inner cassocks are the easiest to clean. Thick patterned fabrics with colour contrasts can usually be cleaned with few traces. Stains on lighter fabrics, by contrast, can leave visible permanent traces.

The rule of thumb is to remove the stains as early as possible to prevent lasting damage to the colour and texture of the fabric. We also recommend inspecting your vestments and fabrics thoroughly before washing and ironing. That way, you can notice and remove thick wax stains and achieve better results. Any wax that remains after the washing will melt again when ironed, and the wax stain will reappear.

Stain removal methods

1. Mechanical (scraping it off)
   Wax may not penetrate deep if its temperature is low enough and it drops on a smooth surface. If that is the case, crumble the fabric gently without touching the stain. If the stain begins to peel off, you may have success at removing it manually from the edges.
   If not, try another method. But be careful: never remove a wax stain manually on velvet and other worsted fabrics. It is seldom possible to get rid of the stains without damaging the fabric. For instructions on removing wax stains from velvet, scroll down to the end of this material.
2. Ethyl alcohol
   Mother Agrippina heard about this method but has not used it very much: in many monasteries, cologne and alcohol are rare, and their use is discouraged. Having tested this method on different fabrics, we recommend that you always keep a small flask of cologne on reserve in your altar. Alcohol is even more effective than cologne: the latter may leave a stain from the substances dissolved in it.

Alcohol is perhaps the easiest and quickest method to remove a wax stain, or at least to make it less visible. Apply the alcohol (or an alcohol-containing fluid) on the stain, and rub the fabric on itself, as in hand-washing. Alternatively, use a piece of cotton soaked in alcohol. Both options will cause the wax to flake off. At a minimum, your stain will become less visible. The method is very effective for black fabrics.

However, we also found that alcohol rarely removes a stain completely – some residues will remain in the fabric. You can get rid of them by ironing over a paper towel or a piece of cloth. For other fabrics, first decide how soon you will wash them. If the washing can still wait, put the iron aside. The wax flakes will melt under it and leave oily stains, possibly more visible than before the ironing. If the stain is still fresh or washing your garment is still a long time away, try alcohol to make it more visible.

before and after using alcohol

3. Ironing over a paper towel
   If alcohol is not within reach, or your need to wash your garment immediately, removing the wax becomes the priority. You can do so by ironing over any kind of absorptive material. Blotting paper, a paper towel, or toilet paper will do well. Nun Aggripina recommends fine, single-layered paper with good soaking properties (paper quality may vary). Fine paper is more effective at conducting heat and gives you more control over the process that separates the wax from the fabric and does not allow the stains to grow while keeping the fabric under and around the stain intact.

Put one piece of paper under the fabric and another over the stain. Gently apply the front part of the iron to the stain over the paper (do not let the back part touch the fabric under any circumstances). That will cause the wax to melt and soak into the paper. Move the paper to a clean section, and apply the iron again. Repeat several times, and check if the paper under the fabric has absorbed any wax. If yes, move to a clean section immediately. Do not press on the iron: you may speed up your progress, but the stain may grow in size, and the fabric may deform. You can press harder only after the paper has almost stopped absorbing any new wax.

If washing is imminent, here is another tip from Nun Agrippina. Mark the stain with some coloured thread different from the colour of the fabric. Check that the dye of the thread will not seep into the fabric of the garment during washing. We use marking to track the location of the stain, which may become invisible on a wet surface. That will allows you to pre-wash the area more thoroughly or apply some extra detergent to it.

Handling velvet safely
Velvet is beautiful, but also delicate.
Always resist the urge to scrape a wax stain off the velvet.
It does not seem to respond well to alcohol: it releases the dye and damages the pile, causing visible defects.
Ironing works much better, but only if you iron it from the seamy side.
If your iron has a steam function, turn it on for better results. Put the velvet face down on a paper towel (if possible, use several layers), cover it with a single layer of paper and apply the front end of the iron to the stained area. Check and move the paper on both sides to a clean section. You may press on the stained area with the tip of the iron at the end of the process. However, be careful not to put your iron over any other area of the velvet. Velvet is delicate. Handle with care.

…the final victory over wax stains

So, ironing or ethyl alcohol can remove almost all of the wax in a stain, but some residual quantities will remain, appearing like a greasy spot. There is only one way to remove it completely: using a detergent solution.
We will need some common dishwashing liquid – like Fairy – and 70-72% household soap. Nun Agrippina believes this regimen will give the best result. She also recommends using a dish sponge for nonstick pans. You can use them to rub the fabric without damaging it excessively.

The process is simple. As we recommended, mark the stain with a few stitches of coloured thread before you begin. Also remember to check that the thread will not lose colour, or you might not locate the spot. Soak¹ the garment or its stained area in water, then put several drops of the dishwashing liquid on the stain.
Wet the sponge, soak it in household soap and rub the stained area by moving the sponge in multiple directions. The duration and intensity of the rubbing will depend on the fabric, but as a general rule, it should not take more than several seconds.
¹ St. Elisabeth Convent requires clothes and vestments possibly stained with the Precious Blood or other sanctified gifts (e.g. Myrrh or Holy Oil) to first be rinsed in clean water. The water must then be discharged into a clean well not connected to the general sewer system.

For fragile or worsted fabrics, use a softer sponge, applying it gently to put foam on the stained area. Sometimes, it helps to wait for a few minutes to let the detergent work.

When finished, rinse the fabric with running water.
Washing the garment in the machine would be a good idea. If that is not possible, you can either hang the article outside or use a hair dryer to dry the wet area. These are all suitable options if you need the garment now, and its outward look is satisfactory.

For stubborn stains, you may need to repeat the procedure before putting the garment in a machine. Amway SA8 stain removers, for example, are also effective in Nun Agrippina’s opinion. Put some on and around the stain before washing or soaking.

…Never dry a velvet fabric by wringing
Last time, we explained how to remove a wax stain from velvet. If successful, the process will make the stain invisible on the face side, but the stain will still be present on the reverse. Follow the above procedure to wash it, but only rub the seamy side, and exercise extreme care if the garment has no lining.

The following details are important to remember at this point. You can rinse your article in running water immediately or leave it to soak in a conditioner for wool or silk to help the fabric preserve its original look.

But you must never dry a velvet fabric by wringing. Instead, fold it in two and press on it with your hands to expel the water, repeating the procedure as many times as possible. You may also press the water out by putting the garment between two towels.

When finished, spread the article over a terry cloth towel. After initial drying, hang the garment on a rack to dry completely. Do not iron from the front.

With these tips, you can successfully remove wax stains without risking any damage to your vestments.