Nothing finishes a well-dressed table quite like a candle (or, better yet, more than one), but we need to choose our pieces carefully. Take it from Martha Stewart, the lifestyle guru famed for her unrivaled dinner parties. Stewart has decorated dinner tables for decades, but one rule remains: She never uses colored candles.
We've recently spent more time than we care to admit watching back-to-back archival Martha Stewart footage, and among them is a clip in which she restores her linen after hosting. First, she shares her cleaning tips for tackling red wine stains, but she later addresses candle wax – a mark that's even more stubborn.
'So many people ask me: How do you get wax out of a beautiful linen cloth? Let the wax completely harden; don’t try to scrape it off while it’s still hot, and then try to peel it off,' Stewart says.
Stewart, who is proud of keeping her linens beautiful, then explains that she keeps her candles uncolored to avoid damaging her material.
'The reason I don’t use colored candles is that some of the dyes used in the candles are absolutely deadly to fine fabrics. They penetrate and stain, and then you have a difficult time – or an impossible time – getting them out. So, I don’t use anything but pale white or off-white candles,' she explains.
I keep these easy burn ivory taper candles on repeat order from Amazon. They look so elegant on a table and the smoke-free, odor-free design is perfect for entertaining.
Add dimension to your tablescape by alternating tall and short candles for a complex and stylish look.
Just like the traditional taper candle – with a (literal) twist. This light-hearted take on the conventional brings just the right amount of interest to a minimal tabelscape. It also (crucially) won't damage your linen if you end up with a wax leak.
Opting for a neutral candle saves your linen from permanent color damage, but it doesn't prevent a notorious wax leak. If this happens, however, Stewart has you covered. You just need to be patient through the process.
'Sometimes, it’s a little bit more difficult to get off. Some people suggest putting it in the freezer – you can, just to chill a little bit. I find that by gently coaxing it off the fibers, you’ll get most of it off. Have patience; don’t rush,' she says. Stewart then shares how she washes the table linen in her kitchen sink.
'I am going to fill my sink with what I wash my linens with. I use Tide Free [available on Amazon] or another laundry detergent. 'Make sure you unfold the napkins so the soapy water touches all parts. Let them soak for an hour or two; don’t rub them hard, just let them sit here, then move them around with your fingertips. You can let the water out when you’re ready to rinse.'
After rinsing them well, Stewart recommends air-drying napkins and linens on a traditonal rack. 'You can use an old laundry rack like this. Let those dry in the sunlight, and you’re going to have very beautiful, brilliant white linens.'
