Q. Wax from a citronella candle spilled onto my outdoor natural stone bench. Please advise on a remedy to remove this.
A. Candle wax can present a few issues. The candle wax that has melted onto the surface and into the pores of the stone will need to be removed. If any staining has been left behind, that will need to be treated, as well.
To remove wax from your exterior stone surface:
Begin by scraping solid wax material from the surface of the stone with a plastic scraper. Avoid using metal or any tool that can scratch the stone.
To remove candle wax that melted into the pores of the stone:
Use a hot clothing iron (preferably one you don’t mind getting wax on) and white paper towels to melt and lift any remaining wax. Place the paper towel over the stain and iron it with the hot iron. As the wax softens, it will be absorbed by the paper towels. Continuously replace soiled paper towels with fresh ones. Do this until no more wax appears on a paper towel.
Removing residual stains:
After you have scraped the wax off and used the iron and paper to absorb embedded wax, soak a clean cloth in water, wring it out, and apply a few drops of either degreaser or ammonia to the cloth. Wipe the stone with the cloth to eliminate the remaining candle residue. Finish by rinsing the surface with water and air dry.
If any staining remains, you will need to use a poultice to break down and draw out the stain. Try a poultice with hydrogen peroxide 40 volume (the kind you get in a beauty supply for processing hair color, not the kind you get in the drug store). A poultice draws the stain out of the stone over time. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to mix and apply a poultice correctly, check out our free Stain Management App. If the stain lifts at all, that means it is working. Reapply the poultice until the stain is gone.
If the hydrogen peroxide poultice doesn’t work after a couple of tries, use paint thinner as your chemical instead of hydrogen peroxide. Again, if the stain lifts at all, that means it is working. Reapply the poultice until the stain is gone.
The stone may appear to be darkened in the area where the poultice had been applied. This area should return to a normal appearance after all the moisture in the stone evaporates.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Hueston is the Chief Technical Director at SurfaceCarePROS.com and Director at StoneForensics.com. He is also the author of Stone and Tile Restoration: The Manual, a comprehensive online manual for stone and tile restoration contractors. [Learn more about Fred.]
Article ID: 800
Created: October 30, 2025
Last Updated: October 30, 2025
Author: Fred Hueston
Online URL: https://surfacecarepros.com/kb/article/how-to-remove-citronella-candle-stain-on-stone-800.html