From furniture to floors, the average house has plenty of wood surfaces. That’s because wood is aesthetically pleasing and pretty easy to maintain. But caring for wood requires some special knowledge, especially when certain substances are involved — wax being one of them. So, what’s the best way to remove wax from wood surfaces?
To remove wax from wood surfaces, let the wax cool and scrape away the majority with a putty knife — or a credit card, if you’re in a pinch. You can then work at removing the remaining wax by scrubbing it with a rag and then cleaning the wood with a cleaner of your choice.
Let’s take a closer look at how to remove wax from wood surfaces, including the full process and the tools you’ll need. We’ll also go over some things that should never be used on wood surfaces.
Will Wax Stain Wood?
Unfortunately, wax can stain wood, and because it leaves behind oil and dye, the stains can be especially difficult to remove. Retouching the finish may be necessary.
There are several methods that work for removing wax stains, but you need to be careful and patient, as wax can sink into the wood and do some serious damage.
Which Products Are Best for Removing Wax From Wood?
There are a few products that work well to remove wax from wood. Turpentine (which you can buy on Amazon), for example, is great at removing furniture wax. You can put some turpentine on a cloth and rub the wax to dissolve it.
Mineral spirits and acetone (on Amazon) are also great for dissolving wax on wood.
Which Supplies Will You Need?
There are a few supplies that you’ll definitely need if you’re going to attempt to remove wax from wood.
The first item is something to scrape off the wax with. You’ll want to scrape off as much as possible once the wax has cooled (and before you go in with a cleaner), but you may need to soften it first.
The best thing to use for this is a putty knife (on Amazon). However, if you’re in a pinch, you can also use a credit card. It’s essential not to use something too sharp, as you could end up scratching the wood underneath.
You’ll also need your cleaner of choice. Vinegar and baking soda both work well, as do commercial wood cleaners.
Just make sure the cleaner you use is actually formulated for wood. Never use bleach or ammonia — regardless of the severity of the stain — as these chemicals can sink into the wood and damage it.
How to Remove Wax From Wood
Now that you know what you need to have on hand, here’s a step by step guide to removing wax from wood:
1. Let the Wax Cool
Although your instinct might be to try to remove the wax while it’s still hot, you should let it cool before attempting to remove it from the wood. Removing hot wax is not only tricky and messy, but it could burn you.
Resist the urge to deal with the wax right away. Instead, let it sit for a few minutes until it’s cool enough to scrape off.
2. Scrape Off the Wax
Once the wax has cooled down, you can use a putty knife or credit card to scrape it away. If you’re struggling now that the wax has hardened, you can use some acetone or turpentine to soften it.
The most important thing here is to be patient and gentle. Although it can be tempting to scrape hard at the wax with your tool of choice, this can scratch the wood underneath. Be slow and steady, and you should see progress.
3. Remove the Leftover Wax With a Cloth
You’ll then want to remove the leftover wax by scrubbing with a cloth. If you’re having difficulty with this, you can put some vinegar or acetone on the cloth and the remaining wax should come away easier.
4. Scrub With Your Cleaner of Choice and Let Dry
Afterward, you’ll want to scrub the wood with your cleaner of choice and let the wood dry. There are many great things that can be used to clean wood, including:
- Vinegar and water
- Baking soda and water
- Commercial cleaners
Just make sure the cleaner you use is formulated for wood, as we mentioned earlier. It’s important to note that hardwood floors are not as resilient as laminate floors, so anything made for them (or harder surfaces like tile) are not going to work well on your floor and could actually damage it instead.
If, when you’re done with this whole process, there’s still wax on the floor, you should repeat the process and try again.
Does This Process Work With Other Stains?
For the most part, you should research how to remove stains from wood based on what caused the particular stain you’re facing. Whether it’s paint, wax, dirt, oil, or water, each has a different method that works best; what can be used for one stain or problem may not necessarily work for another.
Nonetheless, it can’t hurt to try different methods, as long as you’re making sure that the products you’re using are appropriate for wood. Other than the substances like bleach and ammonia, you also shouldn’t use equipment that might scratch the wood — for example, steel wool.
Wood is its own material and needs to be treated with appropriate care. Otherwise, the stain (or stains) could end up in even worse shape.
The Final Word
All in all, wax on wooden furniture or floors is difficult to remove — but not impossible. The key is to let it cool first and have patience as you go about the task. Don’t scratch too hard at the wax or you’ll end up scratching the wood underneath.
If you’re doubting your ability to remove the wax without damaging the wood or if you’ve got a particularly terrible stain, you can always hire a professional contractor to clean the wood. They’ll have the training and equipment to do the job without causing any damage.