Wax-encrusted candlestick

[Dilbertian]

I have an intricate brass candlestick - more a candelabrum, really - and it's encrusted with wax drips. And the candleholder 'cups' are solid with wax and wicks. What is the most sensible way to clean it? I used to just pour boiling water over it, but not since I learned about fatbergs.

A couple of years ago I tried pouring water over it in a washing up bowl, theorising that the wax would float and solidify. Then I would just strain the wax off as I poured the water out. Ha-bloody-ha. The wax solidified on the sides of the washing up bowl, which I ended up binning because i couldn't clean it!

So, what's the best way to clean it?

If you get it very cold (will it fit in a freezer) will the wax just crack off?

I'd imagine the metal would shrink more than the wax (loosening it) and the wax would become more brittle.

This is based on D grade A Level Physics in 1995.

Could you put it in the freezer so the wax is really hard and then chip it off?

Put it in a container so you can completely cover it in water.
Fill it with very hot (if not boiling) water. The wax will float to the surface and as the water cools, the wax will harden. You can then remove the layer of wax and put it in the bin.

@Sideswiped

Put it in a container so you can completely cover it in water. Fill it with very hot (if not boiling) water. The wax will float to the surface and as the water cools, the wax will harden. You can then remove the layer of wax and put it in the bin.

Tried that. Bad result. See my OP.

Can you heat the wax with a hairdryer?

I'll try the freezer trick, but I don't hold out much hope. It's intricate, lots of little depressions and grooves. Plus, if the metal shrinks more than the wax, how will that deal with the wax-filled 'cups'?

@Dilbertian, you might need to remove any excess you can (what you can confidently do without risking damage), but my advice remains the same. You might need to do it several times. As long as the water you use is hot enough, eventually the wax will melt and float off.
If a kettle-full isn't enough, you could try also boiling pans full of water on your hob.

Oh, and to avoid damage, you could use a wooden toothpick or similar to remove excess wax from the indentations.

Or maybe the reason the washing up bowl trick failed last time is because the sides of the bowl were cooler than the water in it.

So you put it in a bowl of boiling water, and place the washing up bowl in your sink also full of boiling water, then once it's done put ice cubes in the washing up bowl, the the bowl water will be cooler than the sides of the bowl and the wax should solidify in the water.

D grade A Level Physics in 1995 strikes again.

Line the washing up bowl with a plastic bag? Or do as you have been and rinse out the bowl outside using a kettle of hot water and pouring the bowl contents on to an old newspaper to catch the wax then you can bin the lot.

Could you line the washing up bowl with a large carrier bag/bin liner, pour the hot water water into that, then place the candelabra into the bag. Once the wax is off and the water is cool, poke some holes in the bag to drain the water, put the wax and bag in the bin?

@Dilbertian

I'll try the freezer trick, but I don't hold out much hope. It's intricate, lots of little depressions and grooves. Plus, if the metal shrinks more than the wax, how will that deal with the wax-filled 'cups'?

Hopefully the wax in the cups will just pop off...hopefully.

I will caveat this with saying I have very limited candelabra cleaning experience, but maybe you could oil up your washing up bowl first? Then you can use the tried and tested method, and the wax won't stick to the bowl?

Failing that, lube and a fish slice.

Will it fit in your oven? In which case line a large roasting pan (or whatever) with tin foil, place the candlestick in it and pop into a warm oven until the wax has melted off. Take the whole thing out and wipe it down with kitchen roll while it's still warm.

Let the wax cool down in the tray and just roll up the foil and chuck it in the bin.

(I have lots of candelabra and candlesticks)

Had to reply, try the freezer!
I put all my old candle jars in the freezer (that makes them sound like there's loads, there's not) to get the stuck on wax off so I can reuse/recycle and the wax comes clean away, every time. It sort of falls away from the container.

Freeze then use a toothbrush to get the details clean.

It is INCREDIBLY satisfying.

@NandoLorris

It is INCREDIBLY satisfying.

Should I ask for this thread to be moved to Sporner Corner?

@AmandaHoldensLips

Will it fit in your oven? In which case line a large roasting pan (or whatever) with tin foil, place the candlestick in it and pop into a warm oven until the wax has melted off. Take the whole thing out and wipe it down with kitchen roll while it's still warm.

Let the wax cool down in the tray and just roll up the foil and chuck it in the bin.

I actually wonder whether this has been found to it before it came to me, as it does not stand quite steady. It has a slight rock.

I put mine in very hot water in the washing up bowl. Wait a couple of minutes and then the wax should slide off. Don't wait too long. If the water cools, the wax hardens again. Then dry and clean as normal.

Heat the wax with a hot hairdryer and dab the melted wax off the candlestick with small pieces of kitchen towel.

I hold my sticks over a gas ring on low and wipe the wax off as it melts. Or sometimes a cooks blowtorch if I need to get wax out from a stick where the candle has melted right down.

I collect brass candlesticks, I have many and these are my go to methods. Keep old t shirts to cut down for candle cleaning rags when melting off wax too.

@Dilbertian the candlestick doesn't have to be upright. You can plonk it in the oven any old way, so long as the wax will drip/melt onto the foil.

Use boiling water and dedicate a washing up bowl to getting covered in wax? Shame you threw out the old one