How to Remove Wax Without Making a Gigantic Mess

BrightNest
by BrightNest
Whether you’ve just finished celebrating the Festival of Lights or you simply love some luminescence at the dinner table, candles are popular during the holiday season. While the flames may be beautiful, the melting wax they create is kind of a pain to remove.
If you always seem to make a huge mess when you remove wax from your candle holders, it may be time to update your strategy.
Here are three easy tricks for removing wax from your favorite fixtures:
For Glass and Plastic - First, place your wax-covered candleholder in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Cold temperatures make candle wax contract, so once it’s frozen, wax is easy to scrape off with a dull knife. For any remaining wax, use a soft cloth and a little bit of baby oil. Don't forget to swab the inside of the holder, too! Tip: Spray a small amount of cooking spray on your menorah right before you begin lighting your candles – the wax will be much easier to remove.
For Metal - Wax that’s melted on metal holders can be more stubborn than wax on other materials. Bring a pot of water to a boil on your stove, and then turn off the heat. Place your candleholders in the pot and allow the water to fully cool. As the water cools, the wax will begin to slide off of the metal holders. Carefully remove your metal holder and wipe it with a soft rag. Note: If you’re nervous about putting your heirloom metal menorah in hot water, try placing it in your freezer, instead.
For Silver - Silver is always in style – except when it’s covered in wax! When you’re removing leftover wax from silver, it’s important to be gentle. Place the silver in your freezer for at least 20 minutes. Use your fingernail (not a knife, as this may scratch the surface) to delicately remove the wax. For any remaining residue, dab a cotton ball with silver polish or rubbing alcohol and gently swab the area until it’s clean. Note: Switch cotton balls frequently, otherwise you’ll only be reapplying the wax you’re trying to remove.
As for the rest of your home, you can’t always control where candle wax will land, but you can safely remove it from your furniture, jars and floors. In most cases, all you need is some newspaper and an iron!
More great clean-up tips here: http://bit.ly/IwilQL
BrightNest
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