I searched the web and found several tips. Don't know which to choose. Medium brown oak dresser, red wax.
It's some of the best furniture I own.
I know Sigforumers are the best knowledge base. It's not real visible but I would like to get it off. I don't want to make it worse.
Any advice, or should I hire someone who knows what they are doing?

I would go very gently with a NEW razor blade scraper, and then remove the rest with a paper towel and a hair dryer, getting it just soft enough to absorb.

Your other option is to get it really cold with ice packs, so it hardens, and flake it off.

The colder the better, as wax gets hard and flaky when cold. Looking at where you are, maybe you could leave the windows open for a bit early in the morning. Then use a hard plastic something, spatula or credit card, etc., and scrap at an extreme angle so as to get the was up but not gouge the wood. Make the scraping tool nearly parallel to the surface of the wood.

If it's on a flat surface it should flake up pretty easily. But this also depends on the condition of the surface when the wax dripped on it.

There could be some discoloration or damage to the finish due to hot wax dripping on it, but you don't want to make it worse by using any chemical removers. Anything that could dissove wax will certainly screw up your wood finish.

quote:

Originally posted by honestlou:
Anything that could dissove wax will certainly screw up your wood finish.

This. In spades.

Per The queen of Clean,
REMOVING WAX RESIDUE FROM WOOD

Mix 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup of water, and use a nonabrasive cloth to rub it on the table in the direction of the wood grain.

Keep rearranging the cloth as wax rubs off and discolors it. Change cloths when necessary. Keep rubbing until the wax no longer discolors the rag.

If there is a large amount of wax from a spill, use a dull straight edge to gently scrape it off.

Use care not to damage the wood. The product De-Solv-It also is very effective on candle wax.

You can use it on wood, carpet, clothes, counters, and much more.

Half is on the curved molding at the base of the mirror and the other half slid down onto the molding at the base of the chest. Fairly deep crevices
And no chemical removers.

I got wax off some furniture with a can of compressed air turned upside down. Quick, cold blast and it came right off.

It wasn’t super expensive furniture though.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Per The queen of Clean,
REMOVING WAX RESIDUE FROM WOOD

Mix 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup of water, and use a nonabrasive cloth to rub it on the table in the direction of the wood grain.

The product De-Solv-It also is very effective on candle wax.

Thank you Mr. Bendable. I will look for this.
I don't want to scrape the wood with anything.

I know you don't want to scrape on it, but I'll still offer up the idea of a plastic tool, something like this.

I worked at one of the really big box stores during college, and they used these for removing price labels from the shelves. They're rigid enough to transfer some force, but soft enough to (maybe) not damage your furniture.

(Heck, I'd drop by the nearby Walmart and ask one of the people stocking the shelves if they could spare one.)

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I know you don't want to scrape on it, but I'll still offer up the idea of a plastic tool, something like this.

Thanks, but I would be scared to death I would gouge the wood.

Cold plus compressed air would not have occurred to me, but it sounds like a great idea.

Moist towel and an iron. Warm it slowly until the wax melts and the towel picks it up.

quote:

Originally posted by Poacher:
Moist towel and an iron. Warm it slowly until the wax melts and the towel picks it up.

This sounds promising to get into the grooves of the molding. Maybe I'll carefully try this.

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:

quote:

Originally posted by Poacher:
Moist towel and an iron. Warm it slowly until the wax melts and the towel picks it up.

This sounds promising to get into the grooves of the molding. Maybe I'll carefully try this.

Moist heat is a fairly sure fire way to mess up the finish.

I’m telling you, cold and a hard plastic scraper at an angle nearly parallel to the woods surface. Use the corner of it for the cracks and crevices.

quote:

Originally posted by honestlou:

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:

quote:

Originally posted by Poacher:
Moist towel and an iron. Warm it slowly until the wax melts and the towel picks it up.

This sounds promising to get into the grooves of the molding. Maybe I'll carefully try this.

Moist heat is a fairly sure fire way to mess up the finish.

I’m telling you, cold and a hard plastic scraper at an angle nearly parallel to the woods surface. Use the corner of it for the cracks and crevices.

You've convinced me. I'll try it.

Always used a hair dryer (not heat gun) and paper towels. Wax melts at a lower temp than wood finishes. Heat until wax just liquifies. Wipe with paper towel. Remove residue with 50/50 white vinegar. Finish with furniture oil (polish) of choice.

These markers work pretty good to cover up small spots where the finish gets scratched.

https://www.amazon.com/Katzco-...83589111190220&psc=1

Pace40 suggestion is the safest to try 1st if it were me doing it.
Please let us know of your method and outcome.
Best of luck!

Hot or cold? What to do? I do think Pace40's suggestion sounds the safest. Try that first.
Now I need to buy a cheap hair dryer.

Neighbor or relative have a hair dryer? No need to buy for one time use. Unless if you hut up a good will, they always seem to have odd things like this very cheap.