Credit: The Candle Issue, Willow and Sage. Dec 2022.
Candles are the perfect finishing touch for a table centerpiece. They provide the perfect amount of warmth and coziness to a dinner enjoyed among loved ones. However, long after the guests have gone home and the flames have gone out, you may notice that the candles have dripped onto your tablecloth. While your first instinct might be to toss the tablecloth into the trash or tear it up to use as rags, you can very likely clean it using just a few simple steps.
You will need
· Ice
· Soiled tablecloth
· Old credit card
· Fabric/Paper bag/Paper towels
· Hair dryer/Iron
To clean
Before cleaning the tablecloth, you need to ensure the wax is hard; If it isn't, use an ice cube to speed up the hardening process. To do this, rub the ice cube on the wax until it has completely cooled. Next, use an old credit card to scrape off as much wax as possible.
Check to see if there is any wax remaining in the weave of the tablecloth; if there is, you'll need a transfer material: we recommend fabric, paper bags, and folded-up paper towels. Sandwich the tablecloth between the transfer material, ensuring the tablecloth is wax side down. Use a hair dryer or iron to apply heat until the wax melts and transfers. You may need to do this sometimes, repositioning the transfer material, until the wax has completely transferred. Launder the tablecloth as usual. If there is any oil stain remaining after using the transfer material, it should come out in the wash.
Note
Be sure to check what type of material your tablecloth is and adjust your iron’s heat setting accordingly.