Tips for Wax Removal

[Lilias]

No, not that kind of wax. >_>

I bought a pair of simple but lovely jar candles some time ago, thoroughly enjoyed burning them, and now that they're almost gone I have decided I'd like to keep the jars as holders for votives or small pillars. That can't be, though, until I manage to remove the last layer of wax from the bottom and prise out the wicks. Any sneaky tricks?

[Oreo]

I used to boil mine in water and then crack the cooled wax from the top of the cooled water. Only down side is you need to make sure to use a pan that is only for crafts and such as you will then have a waxy pan. I never tried it with a telethon pan, that might work.

[Lilias]

I tried scraping the wax off with the blunt edge of a knife, and it came out surprisingly easily. Some hot water soaking took care of the rest, and after scrubbing with some kitchen roll, the jar is neat enough to drink out of! I suspect it has more to do with the quality of the wax than anything else.

[olive]

You can freeze the jar too, and the wax will come out pretty easily. It gets brittle and pops right out.

Boy was I surprised to see the context of this thread. Not at all what I expected. I thought "well she's finally done it...she's in over her head with the wax."  

[Oniya]

If you don't want your pan to get all waxy, just make sure that the water doesn't come up above the lip of the candle-jar.  You also don't need to bring it to a full boil - it'll take a little longer, but if you watch the edges, you'll see when the outside rim of the wax has melted, and you can scoop the rest of it out.  (Use a pair of tongs to lift it out of the water.)

[olive]

I tried scraping the wax off with the blunt edge of a knife, and it came out surprisingly easily.

Don't think because you've solved the problem that we won't keep on "helping." *nodsnodsnods* We're going to need you to put that wax back in and try a few more of our solutions before you declare "mission accomplished."

[Lilias]

You can freeze the jar too, and the wax will come out pretty easily. It gets brittle and pops right out.

Boy was I surprised to see the context of this thread. Not at all what I expected. I thought "well she's finally done it...she's in over her head with the wax."  

I may try that with the other jar, which still has some mileage.

That's why the initial disclaimer was necessary...

[Star Safyre]

+1 for freezing. 


And I was almost wondering why this wasn't in Ladies Only.

[InariShiftskin]

If you don't want your pan to get all waxy, just make sure that the water doesn't come up above the lip of the candle-jar.  You also don't need to bring it to a full boil - it'll take a little longer, but if you watch the edges, you'll see when the outside rim of the wax has melted, and you can scoop the rest of it out.  (Use a pair of tongs to lift it out of the water.)

Even better than this, is simply using something like a coffee can with some water in it, inside a pot with more water in it to double boil it. No need to worry about a waxy pot after, since you can just pitch the can.

I make a lot of candles using antique molds that don't open like the modern ones do, so they're a pain to clean. 

As already suggested, freezing also works just as well!

[Beguile's Mistress]

I was going to tell you that if you don't go dripping wax on people you don't gotta remove it.

[olive]

It's such a shame that while Lilias was thinking this:

How To Remove That Pesky Wax

We're all thinking this:

How DO I Remove That Pesky Wax?

It just perplexes me where we get such misguided thoughts. *coughs*

[Avis habilis]

Hey, who knows but that Martha needs to get wax off people now & again.

She'd leave 'em sated, squeaky clean & smelling fresh to boot.

[Beguile's Mistress]

As well as providing at least three uses for the left over wax.

[Lilias]

Sorry, I was away counting how many different colours and scents of wax I have for t'other use *shiftyeyes* That isn't hard to remove - you don't even have to take a knife to it! Most of the time...

[Elina]

But Lil... you like knives.

[Lilias]

Well, yes, but they're much more fun to use just because, than having a need for them... >_>

[Thufir Hawat]

Well, yes, but they're much more fun to use just because, than having a need for them... >_>

True, that, that's the proper use !

Also, ladies, since you're so helpful, how do you remove wax from a carpet, with the least damage to the carpet itself?
It got there exactly as your dirty minds would suggest you.

[Avis habilis]

Depending on what the carpet's made out of, you might be able to lay a few sheets of paper towel over the wax, apply a flat iron on very low heat to re-melt the stuff & let the paper towel absorb it.

I've only ever used that method to get candle wax that got on cotton during utterly mundane activities, but it ought to do the trick here.

[Lilias]

Also, ladies, since you're so helpful, how do you remove wax from a carpet, with the least damage to the carpet itself?
It got there exactly as your dirty minds would suggest you.

Iron it out. No kidding. Put some tissue paper over the wax and iron it on the lowest temperature. Wax melts easily and the paper will absorb it before the heat grows enough to damage the carpet.

I've done it on stockings, which are certainly more flammable, and it worked a charm.

[Thufir Hawat]

Iron it out. No kidding. Put some tissue paper over the wax and iron it on the lowest temperature. Wax melts easily and the paper will absorb it before the heat grows enough to damage the carpet.

I've done it on stockings, which are certainly more flammable, and it worked a charm.

Thank you, I can report it worked in this case, too !

[Elina]

That works with crayon, too.  I used a hairdryer for heat and dabbed it away with a Kleenex.