How to remove wax from a candlestick?
After a romantic candlelit dinner, the question arises - how to remove wax from the candlesticks. This task can be challenging at times. Especially if the item is made of bronze or silver.
General recommendations
Everyone in the house has items such as candlesticks. It can be glass, copper, plastic, silver, bronze or ceramic products. After the candle burns out, wax remains on the candlesticks, which must be removed so that the product does not lose its aesthetic appearance. Of course, it is much easier to get rid of it right away, while it is still not frozen. But even old stains, drops from a molten candle can be easily removed. The key is to choose an effective and suitable cleaning method.
It is important to remember that cleaning a candlestick at home, for example, made of brass or ceramics, cannot be done using one method... Since you need to take into account the features of the material from which the accessory is made. For example, a glass product can be easily cleaned with hot water. But if the candlestick is iron, then you can get rid of paraffin using another folk method that will not harm the product. In this case, it is important not only to effectively clean the accessory, but also to protect it from oxidation.
When choosing the most effective cleaning method, remember to remove the largest frozen droplets first. Hard-to-reach places of the accessory can be cleaned with the most common toothbrush or toothpick. Sharp objects made of metal, for example, a knife, should not be used, otherwise the appearance of the product may be spoiled. It is also worth abandoning the use of hard metal sponges, cleaning agents with abrasive particles.
Glass and ceramics
Since the wax begins to melt quickly at elevated temperatures, many people use the most common hair dryer to clean the product. It is enough to heat the accessory with a hair dryer for a few minutes only. - as soon as the wax becomes soft, remove its residues with a soft dry cloth. This method is great for accessories made from a wide variety of materials, not just glass. Thanks to this method, it will be possible to easily clean candlesticks of an unusual shape, with complex decorative elements and carvings.
Using the most common toothpick, you can easily get rid of wax drops from the accessory. This method is great for glass and ceramics. You can use this cleaning method for metal products, but only if there is no spraying on it. Typically, the wax can be easily scraped off a flat and smooth surface with a sharpened toothpick. In addition, decorative elements and curls can be easily cleaned.
Using hot water you can quickly clean your glassware. To do this, you need to heat the water and water all those places where the wax has accumulated most. Hot water will melt it and you can easily clean the accessory. This method is ideal for glass candlesticks.
Ceramic products are usually coated with glaze and, due to the high temperature, small cracks may appear on the surface of the accessory. Therefore, it is important to remember that the water temperature should not be too high.
You can use a microwave oven to quickly and effectively remove wax from a glass accessory. The product needs to be warmed up a little, and then it is easy to remove the remaining wax with a clean and dry napkin.
Metal accessories
Accessories made of various metals require more respect for themselves. Some products may corrode from contact with water. In order to avoid these problems, it is worth using other methods, which we will discuss below.
The metal accessory can be easily cleaned by sending it to the oven beforehand. TThe temperature should not be higher than 90 °. As soon as the wax begins to melt, you can remove the product from the oven and start cleaning.
Cleaning is most convenient with a dry cloth or paper towel.
Bronze items can be quickly cleaned using toothpaste. It should be noted that for this method, only an ordinary white paste is suitable, which does not contain abrasive particles that can leave micro-scratches on the surface of the product. The contaminated surface must be treated with toothpaste, and then proceed to cleaning. You can clean the surface using a soft cloth, cotton pad, or soft toothbrush.
Brass or bronze accessories must not be cleaned using mechanical methods. Therefore, it is better to use the most common gel dishwashing detergent. Various chemical compounds, which are in the composition of such products, help to easily dissolve the remaining wax on the candlestick. Apply a little of the product to a soft sponge or soft brush and start cleaning.
Fine items made of precious metals such as silver or gold should be cleaned very carefully. In order not to spoil their appearance, it is best to use the freezing method. Place the contaminated accessory in the freezer for 3-4 hours. Then you can remove the dirt with a toothbrush or toothpick. Then be sure to process the product using a special polish.
A here is another method that works for silver accessories... First, soak a clean cloth in hot water and scrub the entire surface of the candlestick. This will help soften the wax a little. Repeat this procedure several times until all serious contamination is removed. Then apply the toothpaste on a soft brush, treat all hard-to-reach places and rinse the product with cold water.
Next, cover the bottom of a deep saucepan with foil, add one small spoonful of fine table salt and baking soda. We put the accessory in a saucepan and pour a few liters of water, put it on the fire and bring it to a boil. After 5-6 minutes, carefully remove the product, wipe it thoroughly with a soft cloth, and dry it completely. In these few minutes, all residual wax will disappear, and the candlestick will shine clean.
It is best to soak gold items in hot water using washing powder. Soak the accessory briefly, and then treat its surface with a soft cloth, removing wax residues.
Gilded candlesticks can be soaked in warm water using liquid soap.
Useful Tips
Finally, we have some useful tips, which will help you quickly and effectively clean your favorite accessories from wax residues.
- If you are using plastic or glass candlesticks, then this tip will definitely come in handy. Before installing the candle, spray a little oil on the inside and outside of the candlestick. With this simple trick, you can easily remove wax stains later. You can use baby cosmetic oil.
- Try not to wait until the candle burns out to the very end. As soon as it reaches the minimum level, remove it from the product. Then you don't have to spend a lot of time removing the remaining wax from the base of the candlestick itself.
- If you decide to use a method that requires heating, then remember that for a glass product, the temperature should not exceed 50-60 °. Otherwise, the candlestick will burst.
- In order to easily remove the remaining wax after the candle burns out, it is recommended to add a few drops of water to the bottom of the candlestick.
This trick will not work for metal products that are prone to corrosion.
For more information on how to remove wax from a candlestick, see the next video.
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