Help with cleaning wax from candlesticks?
Asked by
Jeruba (
56106
)
November 27th, 2008
I have a pair of lovely candle holders that look like this
http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/8/optimized/268848_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=327&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg
and that have accumulated a quantity of wax from some very drippy candles. How am I going to get them clean?
I am soaking them in hot water to soften the wax and then digging it out with a plastic knife to avoid scratches. But it is not getting down into the crevices. And the water is not hot enough to remove the dull waxy coating that has formed on the crystals.
If this were a cheaper pair of glass candlesticks, I would put them in a small saucepan and bring them to a gentle boil, and eventually all the wax would float to the surface where I could skim it off. But I am afraid to boil these for fear of destroying whatever adhesive is holding the crystals in place.
Any suggestions besides making me promise not to do that again?
Contrite thanks for any help…
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11 Answers
You might try a kitchen torch (like the kind used to make créme brûlée).
Use a soft cloth in conjunction with ammonia. That should do the trick.
Ammonia! Really? Wow, I will. Thanks, @AstroChuck. (Does it also work for wax splatters on tablecloths?)
But—I can’t reach down into the crevices. That’s what the boiling water is good for. Do you think I’ll ruin these if I try that?
@Jeruba
If they’re made of glass boiling water shouldn’t hurt
@aanu: but she’s worried about the adhesive.
I usually go with putting the candleholders in the freezer to harden the wax, and it pops off fairly easily. I don’t know that it’ll do the trick in those crevices, though. Maybe you could use a sewing needle or a dental pick to get down in there.
Hey Jeruba. I believe freezing is the right idea, but it might still be hard to get into the crevices like august mentioned. You could try a can of compressed air used for cleaning keyboards/ electronics. The cold liquid might freeze the wax and blast it away at the same time. Maybe even freeze it in the freezer first, then blast it. Just make sure you don’t squirt it back into your eyes, sleeves, etc.
Place them on a rag or towel, and run a medium hot hair dryer over them. Eventually all the wax will run off. I do this all the time.
I either freeze candlesticks, which causes the wax to get really hard, and break away from the surface easily, or run them under the hot water faucet until the wax melts off.
Freezing also works with tablecloths. You can then crack most of the wax away. Then, pour boiling water from a height of 2–3 feet through the wax stain, forcing it through the fabric. This also works for berry stains on table cloths.
@breedmitch: hairdryer! Brilliant! I’ll try this first. Thank you. If that doesn’t do it, I’ll go to the freezer methods.
@Alfreda, thanks—sounds like you have the knack with the tablecloth. I tried boiling water, but not from a height. I’ve also tried ironing onto a paper towel, with limited success. It’s right down in the weave. I don’t think I could get my tablecloth into my freezer.
There was a time when I didn’t own any clothing (including nightgowns) that didn’t have inkstains on it. These days I don’t have a single tablecloth without wax spills. Somehow it seems that I can just never achieve a zenlike harmony with my environment: too many collisions and too much gravity.
So there is something call “Goo be gone” which looks really… like a cheap prop from a movie or something, but works REALLY WELL on candle wax. I was obsessed with candles through all of middle school and it was a lifesaver. Possibly literally, as it kept my mom from realizing what a mess I made.
Freezing always worked for me
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