Oops! How to deal with candle wax spills and stains.
Carpet emergency advice from Lymington's John Cooper Carpets

Aim to catch the spill quickly and in the right way to avoid long-term damage.
Here are some tips from Lymington carpet and flooring experts, John Cooper Carpets.
To remove the wax:
- Scrape up excess with a blunt knife or plastic spatula.
- Vacuum up the pieces to avoid rubbing the carpet.
- Dampen a white cotton towel, fold it in half and place it over the wax.
- Press an iron set on “high” over the towel for 10 seconds. The heat will draw the wax out of the carpet and into the towel.
- Repeat until the wax is gone (you may have to hold the iron in place for up to 30 seconds). If the towel dries out, rewet it, and if it becomes loaded with wax, grab another one.
- DO NOT use paper with the iron as it may overheat and burn the carpet.
To remove the stain:
- DO NOT rub the surface of the pile.
- Blot with surgical spirit* (available at chemists).
- Then use a detergent vinegar solution*, a little at a time. (Mix up one teaspoonful of gentle detergent for washing woollens, to half a pint (0.3 litres) of warm water. Then add one teaspoonful of white (not malt) vinegar).
- Work from the outer edge of the stain inwards and frequently blot with dry cloths.
- Spray ‘final rinse solution*’ over the stained area. (Spray bottle containing one-part white vinegar and four parts water).
- DO NOT over-soak the stain (try to keep the carpet as dry as possible)
- Blot dampened area (do not rub) to remove excess moisture.
- Spread white kitchen towel (stacked 6-8 sheets deep) or absorbent cloth over the affected area and place a weight, such as a heavy book, on top.
- Leave overnight and repeat if necessary
* as recommended by the NCCA (National Carpet Cleaning Association)
Some carpet stains will be more difficult to deal with, but according to the NCCA, the process outlined above should should help prevent some quite common and expensive DIY stain removal damage. Unfortunately, there can never be a guarantee of complete removal of a stain, but the correct routine will give a professional cleaner, if called in, the best possible chance of success.
You should always test any solution/detergent on an inconspicuous area of carpet prior to treating a stain and be sure to use detergents at recommended dilution ratios. Always apply the cleaning fluid to the absorbent spotting material not directly onto the carpet or fabric.
Peace of mind for the future
John Cooper Carpets recommend Stainshield, which forms an invisible shield around your carpets and furnishings, making spills and stains easier to remove. It will not affect the colour, feel or texture of even the finest fabrics, while still retaining fire retardant properties. Spillages are mopped up with absorbent tissues or sponge, whilst dried stains are more easily removed. Now with the added protection of Allergyshield, you can rest assured that your home is safe from dust mites, fungal mould and bacteria, and their allergens.
Whether your carpets and soft furnishings are new or about to be professionally cleaned, Stainshield will add years of life to your carpets and furnishings as well as giving peace of mind over that spilt cup of coffee, candle or glass of wine.
Get in touch with Alan at John Cooper Carpets for more information.
How to deal with wine spills and stains
The John Cooper Carpets sale will be starting in the New Year - don't fight the crowds for a Boxing Day "bargain,, take a proper break over Christmas and get better overall value here on our Lymington doorstep!.
John Cooper Carpets contact details - NB the showroom will be closed from Fri 23 Dec and will reopen on Tues 3 Jan -sale starts then!

If you have previously always opted for wool carpets, it’s worth taking a few minutes to consider the benefits of ‘modern lifestyle’ carpets.


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John Cooper Carpets offers a wide selection of quality carpets and floorings for domestic and commercial customers, from its display centre and showroom in the Lymington Enterprise Centre, Ampress Park, Lymington. Its easy to find - head around the one-way road towards Screwfix and you'll spot John Cooper Carpets set back on the right hand side.
John Cooper Carpets is a member of the Greendale Buying Consortium, a not-for-profit, mutual trading company owned by a group of over 130 independent flooring retailers located throughout the UK and N Ireland. By coming together to select and buy ranges of carpets and floorings, “members” enjoy a purchasing power equal to the big “out of town” multiples and indeed any of the large carpet and flooring outlets. This means there’s no need to make an expensive and time consuming journey out of the New Forest to find a new carpet and flooring for your home or office. You’ll do much better to stay local and take advantage of the excellent range, competitive prices and fantastic customer service at John Cooper Carpets in Lymington!
There’s been a revolution in carpet technology in the last 5 years. Where everybody used to think wool was the thing and the more expensive the better, nowadays modern polypropylene is bleach cleanable, comes in a fabulous range of contemporary colours and is suitable for the heaviest domestic use.
If you want a light shade of carpet it’s now possible to get a pale carpet with lovely finish and texture, which is also practical. There are also some new soft polypropylenes which look and feel fabulous whilst being just as hard wearing.
Peter Cooper Ltd is a family business, which for over 40 years has quietly continued to provide high quality removals, storage and restoration services to the fortunate people of Lymington and our New Forest area.
This is a true family business, it’s been in the capable hands of Peter and Jill Cooper for many years and Peter is still the expert in the Valuation and Restoration side of the business while Jill continues to run the front office, the hub for everything from estimating to logistics. Meanwhile son James set out some years ago to learn everything there is to know about removals and storage, by working for other successful companies around the UK. James has now brought his mass of accumulated knowledge back to the family business in Lymington and has set about the task to take it on to new levels of efficiency and customer service. Which makes it even better times, for those of us who choose to do business with Peter Cooper Ltd!
If you’re moving home or office, and for whatever reason can’t or don’t wish immediately to move everything to the new destination, all or some of your furniture and possessions can be stored for you on a short term basis. 


