We have just had the pool of wax in a large candle spill - the side of the candle collapsed. Wax has run down the side of a veneered bookcase, dripped onto the shelves, and onto a wool carpet, with a few splashes on a leather armchair for good measure . Anyone got any ideas about how to remove it from these places? We have got as much off as we can whilst it was still soft, but its solidified now. Thanks.

TadC

Perhaps put some ice cubes on the spills to harden the wax, and then pick it off?

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By eck! ©

Surgical Spirit should help to remove it, maybe with some assistance from a hair dryer or heat gun on low: freezing and picking should work too.

Test the Surgical Spirit somewhere out of sight on the various finishes before using it willy-nilly.

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One day it will all be firewood.

The best method is an old iron and some kitchen paper. Lay the paper over the wax and iron over it until the wax melts and is absorbed into the paper. I've done this on a few carpets now and it leaves it spotless.

DO NOT use any spirits - they won't work and only spread the mess.

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This post may contain nuts

Iron and brown paper. Tried and tested that one a few times.
Only needs a cool iron, just use the tip of it, and keep moving to a fresh bit of paper.

Should be good on the carpet and leather, the veneered bookcase, is it a melamine type veneer, or proper polished wood?

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Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

ooo i did this on christmas day. moved candles. and spilt a load of wax on the carpet. best get some brown paper haha

Thanks for all the suggestions, much appreciated. This is what we have done so far.
Splashes on the leather came off easily with a bit of persuasion by a fingernail, followed by wiping with a rough towel.
The bookcase (veneered wood to answer Hitch's question). We put an ice pack (well, packet of peas) on the wax on the shelf for about 10 minutes. Then picked the wax off with a fingernail, and rubbed with the aforementioned towel. The vertical side we shall probably take the same approach, but I need to devise a contraption to hold the ice pack in place, as I don't fancy holding it for 10 minutes.
As for the carpet, tried the ice pack approach but it didn't work, the wax was still firmly stuck to the pile. Mrs C not too bothered because a) its behind the armchair so nobody much is going to see it, b) not really obvious because it's white wax on a pale carpet and c) she was wanting to replace the carpet in 2012 anyway. News to me.

TC

have an experiment with the iron and tell me if it works. mother stern isnt too impressed with me still lol

I notice you suggest to use an OLD iron. Implies to me that some wax will get on the baseplate of the iron. As Mrs C has only one iron, this might not be the brightest thing to do!

u know iron on edging stuff? i needed to put some on something and didnt have an iron. i got one from asda suitable for the job for like 3 or 4 quid. just small. and its only ever gonna be used for that so its no problem.

I just used the only iron we have, the paper absorbs the wax, just keep rubbing the iron tip on the paper until there is no oily residue visible.

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Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?