How to Remove Wax From Leather

Wax is one of the most difficult substances to clean from cloth or clothing, and it's worse when the stain is on something you can't wash normally, like leather. If the wax is still liquid when it drips onto smooth-surfaced leather, a quick wipe followed by buffing with terrycloth usually will remove it. In more drastic situations, like set-in stains or wax on suede or other rough leathers, you must extract the wax and soak it up.

• 1

  Wipe away any soft or melted wax with paper towels. Start at the lower edges to prevent it from spreading further.

• 2

  Press a cloth-wrapped, zippered plastic bag of ice against the remaining wax. This encourages rapid solidification and prevents the wax from soaking into the leather.

• 3

  Scrape off any obvious wax residue with a soft plastic spatula or disposable plastic knife. Pull the leather gently taut as you work, if necessary. Do not scrape the leather, even if wax is in the grain.

• 4

  Lay a heavy-duty paper towel over the remaining wax. Lightly press a warm iron on the paper towel for 10 seconds. Pull away the paper towel and check for any change in the leather. If you see a color or texture change in the leather material, stop immediately. Have a professional remove the wax.

• 5

  Look on the leather side of the paper towel for an oily spot: This is wax residue. If you don't see one, apply the iron to the towel at a slightly higher temperature for 15 seconds. Repeat until you start seeing wax residue on the paper towel. Keep the iron at that temperature. Continue, using clean paper towels, until you no longer see wax residue when you lift the towels from the leather.

• 6

  Apply just a touch of leather cleaner on the terry cloth if there is still wax remaining on the warm leather. Wipe the cloth on the leather in a gentle, circular motion, periodically reversing the direction until the residue is gone. Allow to dry.

• 7

  Rub the entire leather area, whether it's a glove or a couch, with a good leather conditioner. This will even out any residual discoloration.