CANDLE CLEAN-UP HACKS and REMOVING WAX FROM SURFACES

CANDLE CLEAN-UP HACKS and REMOVING WAX FROM SURFACES – As seen on 3TV/Phoenix – Good Morning Arizona – Monday, December 9, 2019 – 8:45am

First some tips on cleaning candles, burning them and what to do instead of blowing them out.

To clean candles, whether in glass container or free standing, use rubbing alcohol. Use a cotton pad, , cotton ball or paper towel moistened with rubbing alcohol to remove dust and dirt and clean them.

Make sure you keep the wicks trimmed to ½ inch so they don’t smoke as much. You can use a special wick trimmer or just scissors.

Don’t blow candles out. That can splatter wax and create smoking which created soot. Use a wick dipper, sold where candles are sold, or an old piece of silver wear that you keep for that purpose. Dip the wick into the melted wax and then stand it up again. The candles will be easier to light and won’t smoke as much.

REMOVING WAX FROM GLASS, QUARTZ COUNTERS, & NON-POROUS MATERIALS

Scrape away the excess, and then apply heat with a blow dryer set to MEDIUM, wiping off the wax with an old rag or paper towel as it softens. Remove all that you can. Wash the area with hot, soapy water to remove residue.

REMOVING WAX RESIDUE FROM WOOD

Mix 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup of water, and use a nonabrasive cloth to rub it on the table in the direction of the wood grain. Keep rearranging the cloth as wax rubs off and discolors it. Change cloths when necessary. Keep rubbing until the wax no longer discolors the rag. If there is a large amount of wax from a spill, use a dull straight edge to gently scrape it off. Use care not to damage the wood. The product De-Solv-It also is very effective on candle wax. You can use it on wood, carpet, clothes, counters, and much more.

REMOVING CANDLE WAX FROM CARPET

Let the wax dry completely so you don’t do any further damage. Place a plastic bag of ice on it to firm it. Use a knife to scrape off any excess. Place a paper towel over the stain, and run an iron on the low heat setting over the paper towel. Repeat with new paper towels until all the wax is absorbed, and follow up with a carpet cleaner if needed.

There is a great product called, Weiman Wax Away™, that will help remove any residue. Find at some home centers and Amazon.

WAX ON CLOTHES

Allow wax to dry and remove excess by scraping it off or by freezing the garment and snapping off the frozen wax. To remove any remaining wax, place WHITE paper towels (must not have any colored pattern) on the front and back side of the fabric and use an iron on a low, non-steam setting. Be careful not to leave the iron in one spot for too long. Goo Gone works particularly well on fabrics with candle wax on them. Be sure you remove all the excess wax you can before you use the Goo Gone™. Follow the directions on the label.

WAX ON NATURAL STONE SUCH AS TRAVERTINE

Scrape the Wax. Use a putty knife – preferably plastic- and carefully scrape up the majority of the wax.

Apply heat by putting down an old towel or brown paper bag and run a heated iron over the area.

If the stain is still there, buy a commercial wax remover such as De-Solv-It or Weiman’s Wax Away. This works very well on candle wax. Be sure to read and follow the directions for the surface you are working on. You can also try rubbing alcohol or acetone. Always test any product in an inconspicuous area first.