How to Clean Wax Off of Candlesticks

It's inevitable that taper candle wax will drip onto the surface of your candlesticks. These unsightly wax drippings on your candlesticks often present you with a dilemma on how to remove the wax without damaging the finish. Removing wax as soon as possible will help protect the finish of your candlesticks as well as make the wax removal job easier.

Things You'll Need

• Rags
• Paper towels
• Plastic knife and fork
• Freezer
• Hair dryer
• Hot water
• Mild dish detergent
• Can of compressed air (keyboard cleaner)
• Glass cleaner

Instructions

1. Remove candle wax for glass, brass, silver, wood and cooper candlesticks by placing the candlesticks into the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Once the wax freezes, you can pick off the wax easily. Use a plastic knife for fork to remove bits of wax from detailed areas of the candlestick. Rinse the candlesticks in a solution of mild dish detergent and warm water. Dry thoroughly and polish the candlestick to bring back the shine.

2. Clean hardened wax from cracks and crevices by placing the candlestick under hot tap water or in a pot of boiling water. If you choose to use hot water, make sure to plug the sink first since bits of wax will clog your sink drain. It's much better to run water into a pot and dip the candlestick into the hot water. The wax will soften for easy removal. Use a plastic knife to prevent scratching the surface of the candlestick.

3. Tackle the problem of wax in edges and cracks of candlesticks by using step 1 to freeze the wax. Then use a can of compressed air to blow out the bits and pieces from the crevices of the candlestick. The compressed air is cold enough to make the wax brittle and works better in cracks that are too small for a plastic fork or knife.

4. Wrap the candlestick inside an old towel. Set your hair dryer to a medium setting and blow hot air onto the candlestick. The wax will melt and adhere to the towel. If you prefer, use a paper towel to absorb the wax as it melts.

5. Spray ammonia-based glass cleaner on glass candlesticks to help loosen and soften the wax. This method is great if you're in a hurry but make sure to use a plastic knife or rubber spatula to push the wax free so you don't damage the glass surface.