How to Remove Dissolved Candle Wax Film on Glass
Candle wax glass stains occur in a wide variety of situations, including leftover burned candles in votives and holders or on flat surfaces and candle splatter from carrying recently used candles or from blowing candle flames. In addition, many people work with candle wax in craft projects and use glass containers and surfaces to melt and/or mold glass. Even after a person removes the bulk of the wax, a dissolved film remains. To remove this film, you must break down the wax and transfer it to another surface. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Solvent
- Soft white cloths
- Heat source (optional)
- Brown bag paper (optional)
- Ice (optional)
- Plastic glass scraper (optional)
- Plastic spoon (optional)
- Hot water
- Dish detergent
- Glass-safe scrubbing pad
Instructions
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1
Remove the wax film with a solvent such as 70 percent rubbing alcohol. Apply the solvent to a cloth, and blot the wax. Wait 10 minutes. Blot again with the same cloth to try to transfer the film to the cloth. If the film remains, apply solvent to a second cloth. Place the cloth at the edge of the wax stain, press on the cloth/surface with medium pressure and wipe across the stain. Repeat with solvent and another cloth as needed. If the wax doesn't come off or the stain spreads, proceed to Step 2.
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2
Heat the glass surface, and transfer the wax onto cloths or brown bag paper. Heat the glass in a microwave or with a hair dryer or steam iron set on "Low" and placed approximately 2 to 3 inches from the surface. Once the wax begins to melt, place a cloth or piece of brown paper bag on it. Wait 30 seconds, and lift the cloth or paper away. Repeat as needed. If the film doesn't come off completely or if you're dealing with a thick film, proceed to Step 3.
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3
Freeze the glass and scrape away the wax film. Place the glass in a freezer for an hour or rub the wax-stained surface with ice until the wax freezes and becomes brittle. Scrape the wax away from flat glass with a plastic scraper. Scrape the wax away from non-flat glass such as jar or votive bottoms with a plastic spoon.
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4
Wash the glass with hot, soapy water when finished to clean and/or remove any remaining residues. Rub the surface with a soapy cloth. If necessary, rub a glass-safe scrubbing pad across the surface to lift any remaining wax. Rinse with hot water, and dry thoroughly.
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Tips & Warnings
If the stain enlarges with the heat method outlined in Step 2, place the cloth or paper--whichever works best based on the surface size or glass shape--on the surface first, and apply the heat. Repeat with a dry, clean cloth or paper until the wax transfers from the surface completely.
Never use colored cloths or paper to remove wax as the dyes in the fabric or paper can transfer to the wax or surface when heated, creating colored stains.
Never use high heat or place a heat source too close or in direct contact with wax. Wax can not only transfer to your heat source possibly damaging it, but certain types of wax contain additives that smoke or burn when exposed to high heat. In addition, you can spread the wax stain with high heat or close heat proximity. For example, a hair dryer held too close to the stain or set to "high" can spread hot wax by blowing it in beads across a surface.
