An old restaurant trick for your summer entertaining today……
1// when wax is cool and hard, break up with a knife.
2// scrape sides with knife and dump out.
3// boil water and pour into the candleholders, melting any bits that remain.
let sit for about a minute or so.
4// discard water from candler holders*
5// wipe out excess wax and soot with a dry paper towel.
And voila!
the trick is the boiling water; hot tap water melts some of the wax but requires you work harder 🙂
*repeatedly pouring wax down the drain can lead to clogged pipes. I throw the water outside, but you can also pour the waxy water from the candle holders into a bowl and allow to cool, then strain solids out and throw in trash. Water can then go down drain without hardening on pipes.
This same principle is true when discarding cooking oils – allow oil to harden, strain off other liquids and discard solids in trash instead of rinsing down your sink.
A two-for-one QTT! What a bargain!
xo lovelies!
Jenny says
Love your quick tips Lisa! Another great one to file away for future reference here! 🙂
Andrea says
I love this little series too. Great tip. I often use half a bottle of goo be gone on these darn things. This makes way more sense.
pam {simple details} says
Oh you smart girl, great idea to boil the water. I usually pop mine in the freezer for a bit and the clump of wax comes right out, but I'll definitely use your trick for finishing it off. Thanks!!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
Great tip! I currently have about 30 little votives that have been waiting for 4 months for me to clean them out. Just put them in the freezer the other day to pop out the candle, but this will work great for the leftover wax!
laura Madalene says
Thanks for sharing today! These photos are gorgeous and inspirational. Putting them in my mind's memory bank.
A Wonderful Apartment
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says
do you know if this works with soy, too? i have the worst time cleaning soy!!!!
Kimberly Lemmon says
Aha! I knew there had to be a better way to do that! Thanks for sharing smart lady!!
Vel Criste says
GENIUS! I always have a hard time cleaning mine hence I hardly use them! Thanks Lisa!
Miss Kitty says
Thanks for those great tips on cleaning votives…I might just use my votives more now that I know it won't be such a pain to clean them afterwards. I'm pinning this!
Kris @ Driven by Décor says
I love your QTTs and have some candleholders that can definitely benefit from this one!