How to Get Wax Off of Crystal Candlesticks

Crystal candlesticks make a beautiful decoration for tables and mantels. When lit, the candlelight is picked up and refracted by the crystal, sometimes casting a faint rainbow or prism effect. While dripless candles are the cleanest, generally without any messy wax drips, they may not be as easily found, and they don't have quite the color selection regular candles do. Once candles make a waxy mess on crystal candlesticks, the candlesticks have to be cleaned. Removing the wax is as simple as putting the candlesticks in the freezer.

Things You'll Need

• Crystal candlesticks
• Freezer
• Plastic scraper

Instructions

1. Place the wax-covered candlesticks in the freezer and leave them there for a couple of hours. Or leave them overnight. They must stay in the freezer long enough for the wax to completely harden and cool.

2. Remove the candlesticks from the freezer. The wax should break off in frozen chunks using just your fingernails. However, if the wax is stubborn, use a plastic scraper such as a plastic knife or windshield scraper, to knock off the wax. Don't use a metal knife as you might scratch the crystal.

3. Take a cloth and rub the rest of the candlestick clean to remove any last, thin residue of wax.

Tips & Warnings

• This method also works to get out the last bit of a votive candle from a glass candle holder. Simply freeze then pop out the frozen wax.

References

• Dripless Candles