i don't truly know the correct name for this procedure, but i understand
that it goes back many hundreds of years, or however long ago is was
that the flat iron was invented. women would take the nubs of their
candles, and put them on a board. the wealthy women got to use blocks
of parafim. they would heat their irons by the fire, then rub the hot
iron over the wax, and then press out their threadwork, or their
husbands shirt cuffs and collars, or anything that you wanted to keep
stiffer and dirt free. the wax actually acts like a light starch, and
naturally repels dirt (though not forever, of course). i was taught
this by an older woman when i was younger, and it works beautifully.
since i always have candles around the house (and they must be white
candles, not colored), and never have parafim, have just always called
this practice candling. give it a try, though i must admit that what's
good for the threadwork isn't so great for the modern iron! - mrs. claws