How do you get gum or candle wax out of carpet?

What are the CRI's steps for gum and for wax?

The CRI's general first step for any solid is to "break up solids and vacuum". Gum and wax are easier to break up when they are cold and brittle, so many people hold an ice cube in a plastic bag against them first. That is a common practice rather than a CRI step; blot up any meltwater before going further.

Which solvent, and how do I use it?

The CRI's solvent is "a non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent", and it names products such as Carbona, Energine, K2R and Goof-Off as examples. Its warning is the part that matters: "Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together." A carpet whose backing lets go can bubble or come loose, which is a repair, not a cleaning job. Use a little on a white cloth, dab, lift, and repeat.

Why nail polish remover for candle wax?

Because it is a solvent for the wax and, on candles, for the dye in coloured wax. The CRI notes two types of remover: one "contains acetone, a dry cleaning solvent", and the other "contains amyl acetate". Test it on a hidden spot first. Acetone can damage some synthetic fibres, especially acetate and similar fibres sometimes used in rugs; that last point is general fibre knowledge rather than part of the CRI's entry.

Can I use an iron and paper towel on candle wax?

It is a popular method, and it is not in the CRI's entry. Heat softens wax so a paper towel can soak it up, but too much heat can melt or glaze synthetic carpet fibres, which no cleaning fixes, and coloured wax can be driven deeper as it melts. If you try it, use the lowest setting, never let the iron touch the carpet directly, and stop at the first sign of a shine on the fibres. That caution is ours, not the CRI's.

What if a mark is left behind?

Wax often leaves a coloured shadow from the candle's dye, and gum can leave a grey patch of residue that attracts dirt. Rinse the area with lukewarm water and blot, since the CRI warns that "many spot removal solutions leave residues in the carpet that may attract soil". Whatever is still there after that is a job for a professional clean; tell the cleaner it was gum or wax and what you used. See home carpet cleaning, or for offices with a gum problem at the door, entrance matting.