CLEANING CANDLES AND WAX

How do I clean my candle?
What causes soot?
How can you get rid of soot?
How do I clean wax off my candleholder?
How do I remove spilt wax from bench tops?
How do I remove wax from wood ?
How to remove candle wax from carpet?
How to get candle wax out of tablecloth?

How do I clean my candle?

• Clean candles with a piece of nylon or a dry or damp soft cloth.
• Don’t clean candles while still warm.

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What causes soot?
Soot is produced when incomplete combustion occurs. The flame does not burn efficiently and carbon particles (soot) are produced. Several factors affect combustion and contribute to this occurrence.

• The length of the wick. Keep your wick short!
• The wick’s access to oxygen. Jar or container candles can reduce the air flow. Ensure a good air flow around the candle with drafts.
• Elevate the base of hurricane or lamp globe with a coin or small thin object to allow air flow around the candle from the bottom
• Clean jars or containers with hot soapy water between uses (orange/citrus cleaners are great)
• Impurities in the wax. Soy candles generally produce the least soot, beeswax and palm wax also produce little soot if good quality is used. Paraffin commonly causes soot unless highly purified. Choose good quality candles!
• Impurities in the fragrance/dyes used in the candle. Choose good quality candles!
• Too much fragrance oil - Good manufacturers have the right balance worked out.
• Technique & implement used when lighting the wick. When the candle is deep inside the jar, small matches tend to smoke a lot causing soot build-up on the glass…. Dropping matches at the base of the candle that are not retrieved cause result in high level of impurities and uneven burning which causes soot…not to mention destroying the look of the candle. Try long fireplace matches or long handle lighters and work quickly. Extinguish the flame and remove dropped matches.

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How can you get rid of soot?

Very hot soapy water…... Natural orange/citrus cleansers are best. If tough, use a mild detergent and scourer.

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How do I clean wax off my candleholder?

• Remove wax from holders by running very hot water over them.
• Try placing the candle holder in the freezer. This will allow the wax to shrink and easily pop off when the candle holder is removed from the freezer. Gently tap the holder.
• If the holder wont fit in the freezer, take a pack of frozen peas from the freezer and wrap around the holder. The wax should shrink and pop off.
• Don’t use knives or a sharp objects to remove wax drippings from a glass holder; the glass may get scratched, weakened or broken…. the glass also may break upon subsequent use.
• Votive candles will clean easily if you add a few drops of water to the glass before inserting the candle.
  • Only add a few drops
  • Only add the water immediately before you intend to burn the candle (otherwise the wick could absorb the moisture and the not burn).

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How do I remove spilt wax from bench tops?

• Let the wax cool. Use a plastic spatula to scrape off as much as you can. Then a and a mild abrasive cleaner very gently to remove the rest

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How do I remove wax from wood ?

• Use a non sharp implement (soft plastic spatula) to remove the larger pieces of wax. Be careful not to scratch the wood finish. Heat the wax with a hairdryer and cover with paper towel. Press to absorb the wax. Repeat till wax is removed.

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How to remove candle wax from carpet?

• Let the wax cool. Carefully remove larger pieces of wax. Place a paper towel over the spill and use an iron (on low setting) to heat and absorb wax (a hairdryer can also work). Change the paper towel repeatedly.
• Turpentine will dissolve paraffin wax. It also may take the colour from your carpet so be very careful
• Try the turpentine on a piece of carpet out of main view or in a corner first
• Place a small amount on a clean rag and gently blot the area
• Use detergent and water to remove the turpentine

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How to get candle wax out of tablecloth?

• Firstly do not rub and pick it out (you may destroy the fibres and get rub marks)

Let the wax cool. Remove large pieces carefully. Place a paper towel over the spill and use a warm iron (or hair dryer) to heat and absorb wax. Change the paper towel repeatedly. (Check the manufacturer’s instruction for fabric treatment first). Prevent this occurring by have sensible candleholders with large bases.

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