How to Melt and Clean Up Beeswax

Bees produce beeswax to seal their comb.

The natural wax from the comb of a bee colony is an ingredient in several crafts. Beeswax is frequently used by those who enjoy making candles and beauty products at home. It is the main ingredient for personalized candles and an emulsifier for homemade lotions and creams. Having a special melting pot exclusively used for melting beeswax is helpful so that you only have to clean one pot or simply reuse it when needed.

Things You'll Need

• Double boiler pot
• Paper towels
• Thermometer
• Spoon or spatula

Instructions

Melt Beeswax

1. Add 2 or 3 inches of water to the bottom pot of the double boiler and bring to a boil.

2. Reduce heat to a simmer at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Add the beeswax to the second pot immersed in the pot with the hot water.

4. Stir the beeswax while it melts and monitor the temperature, which should be between 140 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Pour in a small amount of water to replace evaporating water in the bottom of the double boiler while melting the wax.

Clean Beeswax

1. Pour excess melted beeswax into a storage container. Use a spoon or spatula to remove as much as possible from the item to be cleaned. If the beeswax is already hardened, heat it up in a double boiler.

2. Wipe away the excess beeswax with paper towels. Keep wiping until all of the wax is soaked up by the paper towels.

3. On a flat nonscratch surface, scrape the beeswax off with a spatula.

Tips & Warnings

• The flashpoint of beeswax is relatively high, 400 degrees Fahrenheit, but for extra safety keep a fire extinguisher handy while melting, do not leave unattended and always monitor the temperature of melting beeswax

References

• Cajun Candles and Soap Making Supplies: How to Clean up Candle Wax
• General Wax and Candle Company: Melting Wax
• Peak Candle Supplies: Wax Melting Instructions
• Surf City Wax: What is Beeswax