Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Cleaning Hard Surfaces Using Heat
• Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Hard Surfaces with Chemicals
• Method 3 of 3: Cleaning fabric and carpet surfaces with an iron
• Tips
• Warnings

If your oven has melted kitchen utensils or a burning candle drips on your bedroom floor, the bulky stain of molten plastic or wax can be a huge problem when you try to remove it. It may even seem to you that the hardened substance is simply impossible to clean off. However, this article will provide you with several helpful and time-tested methods to remove even the most difficult and stubborn molten wax and plastic stains.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Cleaning Hard Surfaces Using Heat

1. 1 Heat plastic or wax. Use caution in this step as overheating the spot can make the situation worse. The point is to make the melted mass pliable, since it will be difficult to knock it out of place when it is frozen.
   • If the problem occurs in the oven, preheat it to the lowest possible temperature. Stay close to the oven during this time and make sure that the stain does not overheat or start to smoke.
   • If the stain is on another hard surface, such as a table or wooden floor, try warming it up with a hair dryer.
2. 2 Scrape off the substance from the surface with a curl or something similar. The heat will soften the plastic or wax and you can begin to peel it off the surface using an object with a flat and sufficiently sharp edge. You will have to work a little, but be careful not to scratch or damage the surface to be cleaned.
   • If you don't have a spatula handy, you can use a butter knife or razor blade instead.
3. 3 Clean the area where the plastic or wax stain used to be. If after the previous step there are practically no traces left on the surface, you can simply wipe it with a damp cloth and liquid detergent. For stubborn stains, you will need to use a stronger cleaner and a hard sponge or scraper.

Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Hard Surfaces with Chemicals

1. 1 Remove as much plastic or wax as possible from the stain. Gently heating the substance to the point where it becomes pliable and can be scraped off will help you in this. Removing dirt by hand as much as possible will ensure the best performance possible for subsequent cleaning agents. When you have removed most of the substance from the surface, let the residual traces cool again.
2. 2 Treat the melted spot with acetone. Plastic dissolves in acetone, so it can be useful for removing stubborn stains. Acetone is found in many nail polish removers sold in beauty stores.
   • Be careful as acetone can stain some types of surfaces. If you think acetone is the best way for you to remove a plastic or wax stain, first test its effect on the surface, preferably in a small, inconspicuous area. This can be the underside of the countertop or the part of the floor that is usually hidden under furniture. Take a look at how acetone behaves when it comes in contact with a surface before treating the stain with it.
   • After work, make sure that there are no traces of acetone on the surface. Acetone is extremely flammable, so if traces of it remain on the surface to be cleaned, especially on the stove or in the oven, you may have a more serious problem than a small spot of melted plastic.
3. 3 Scrape off the melted plastic or wax with a spatula or butter knife. As soon as the acetone permeates the remnants of the melted substance, they become quite malleable. If you put a little force on them with a spatula or knife, they should come off the surface.
4. 4 Treat the stain with WD-40. This will only be necessary if residual traces of plastic or wax are still visible on the surface. WD-40 is a penetrating aerosol lubricant that can be used to remove residual contaminants by dissolving the bonding bonds to the surface. As with acetone, test the effect of WD-40 on a small, inconspicuous surface area before proceeding. to the direct treatment of the stain.

Method 3 of 3: Cleaning fabric and carpet surfaces with an iron

1. 1 Take your iron and plug it into an outlet near the dirty surface. Set the appliance to maximum heat. If your iron is equipped with a steam function, turn it off. Dry heat is the best way to remove melted plastic or wax.
2. 2 Cover the stain with a paper bag. Waxed wrapping paper can be an alternative to a brown paper bag. Do not use paper that is too thin, as this can overheat the plastic or wax, which will aggravate the situation. Also, avoid using lettering paper as heat can transfer ink onto the fabric or carpet.
3. 3 Iron the stain gently through the paper. Do not push the iron too hard or hold it in one place for a long time, as it is necessary to avoid further penetration of the melted substance deep into the fibers of the fabric or carpet. The goal is to make the plastic or wax stick to the paper.
4. 4 Gently peel the paper bag away from the fabric or carpet. This should be done while the paper is still warm from the iron. The plastic or wax will remain on the paper and the stained surface will be clean.
5. 5 Repeat the procedure if necessary. If after this step, there are still bits of material adhering to the fabric or carpet, try treating the surface with a special carpet or textile cleaner. Residual marks can be removed with a little rubbing.

Tips

• If you don't want to use a powerful chemical like acetone to treat your surface, you can make your own cleaner using more natural ingredients. Sometimes baking soda and vinegar paste works just as well when rubbed into a melted spot of plastic.

Warnings

• Be aware that cleaning a hot stove or oven is dangerous. Be careful not to burn yourself.
• Burning plastic gives off a terrible smell and sometimes smoke from it can have a serious negative impact on human health.Open windows to create good ventilation in the area where you are removing the melted plastic stain and / or wear a face shield.