Ben Carter
Removing a candle from a glass votive can be a tricky task. Whether you've burnt down your favourite candle or simply want to reuse the votive, there are several methods to help you get the wax out without breaking a sweat. From freezing the votive to using hot water, prying the wax out with a knife, or melting it with a hairdryer, there are a variety of ways to tackle this problem and ensure your votive is good as new.
How to remove candle wax from a glass votive
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Place a teaspoon of water under the candle before lighting it |
| Freezing | Place the votive in the freezer for at least an hour, then gently pry the wax off with your finger or tap the glass into your palm |
| Boiling water | Boil water and fill the votive about 2/3 full, or pour boiling water into the votive until it's half full, then wait for the wax to melt and rise to the top |
| Alternatively, place the votive in a pan of warm water until the wax starts to soften, then lift it out with a knife | |
| Oven | Turn the votive over and place it in a disposable foil container, then heat to 250°-300°F in a pre-heated oven. After it cools, wipe out the wax film with a paper towel and a small bit of solvent |
| Dishwasher | Scoop out the wax and put the votive in the dishwasher |
| Soap and water | Clean the votive with hot water and dish soap, or baby oil and soapy water |
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What You'll Learn
Freeze the votive to remove wax
To remove wax from a glass votive, freezing is one of the most popular methods. It is a clean and safe way to get wax off glass without causing any damage.
Firstly, place the votive in the freezer, ensuring it is sitting flat. Leave it for at least an hour or even overnight. The wax will contract and begin to separate from the sides of the glass.
Once the wax is frozen, take the votive out of the freezer. Turn the votive upside down and hold it against the palm of your hand. Tap the bottom of the votive gently to dislodge the wax. It should pop out easily. If there are any remaining bits of wax, use a knife or your finger to scrape them off.
To remove any waxy residue, use a cotton swab or a paper towel soaked in baby oil, vinegar, or a solvent like lighter fluid or rubbing alcohol. You can also use a warm, damp cloth to wipe down the glass.
Freezing works best for small votives or candle jars, and it is important to avoid using this method on tempered glass or glass with sensitive coatings as rapid temperature changes can cause damage.
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Use hot water to melt wax
Using hot water is a quick and easy way to remove candle wax from glass votives. It is a good alternative to freezing the wax, especially if you do not have enough freezer space or need a quicker solution.
First, use a butter knife or spoon to scrape off as much excess wax as possible. Then, cut slits into the remaining wax to break it up into smaller chunks. Next, boil some water in a kettle and pour the boiling water into the votive until it is about two-thirds or half full. Make sure that the wax is fully submerged. The wax will start to melt and float to the top of the water. Allow it to cool for several hours. Finally, pop the wax out and drain the water. Repeat the process if any wax remains.
You can also use a double boiler to melt the wax. Place a tea towel on a flat surface and put a saucepan or large heat-resistant bowl on top. Place your votive on the tea towel and fill the saucepan or bowl with boiling water, ensuring that none gets inside the votive. Continue until the water is high enough to cover all of the wax. Let the votive sit in the water until the wax begins to soften. Be careful not to let the wax melt too much, as liquid wax can be difficult to clean up.
If you are removing wax from a delicate votive, you can try running very hot tap water into the candle until the wax becomes malleable. Then, use a butter knife to pry the wax out. If this does not work, you can try boiling the water and using a knife to slice up the wax.
After removing the wax, wash the votive with soapy water to get rid of any remaining wax residue.
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Use a butter knife to remove wax
Removing wax from a glass votive can be a tricky task. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to use a butter knife to effectively remove wax from your glass votive:
Preparing the Votive
Before using a butter knife, you can prepare your glass votive by melting the wax. This will make it easier to remove. Here are some options to melt the wax:
- Boil water in a kettle and pour it into the votive, filling it about two-thirds full. The hot water will melt the wax, causing it to rise to the top.
- Place the votive in an oven at a temperature between 250°F and 300°F. Put the votive upside down on a baking sheet lined with aluminium foil. After about 15 minutes, the wax should melt and pool on the foil.
- Use a hairdryer on low to medium heat to soften the wax. Be careful not to get too close to the wax to avoid damaging the glass.
Using the Butter Knife
Once the wax has melted or softened, it's time to use the butter knife:
- Let the wax cool and solidify. This is important, as handling hot wax can be dangerous.
- Hold the votive with an oven mitt to protect your hand from the heat.
- Gently scrape away at the wax with the butter knife. Apply light pressure and work your way around the edges and bottom of the votive to lift and remove the wax.
- Be careful not to use too much force, as glass votives can be delicate.
- If there is a large chunk of wax, you may be able to pop it out in one piece by pressing down on one corner with the butter knife.
Final Steps
After removing most of the wax with the butter knife, you might still need to deal with residual wax and soot:
- Use warm water, soap, and a sponge or cloth to clean the votive.
- For stubborn buildup, use an adhesive remover like Goo Gone.
- If there is still some wax residue, use a paper towel or soft cloth soaked in a solvent like window cleaner, rubbing alcohol, drain cleaner, bleach, or vinegar to wipe away the remaining wax.
Remember to work carefully and patiently when using a butter knife to remove wax from a glass votive. It may take some time and effort, but you'll be able to effectively remove the wax and reuse your votive.
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Place in the oven to melt wax
To remove candle wax from a glass votive, you can place the votive in the oven to melt the wax. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Preheat your oven to a low temperature, ideally the lowest setting, which is usually around 200°F (93°C).
- While the oven is preheating, prepare a metal baking sheet or roasting pan by lining it with aluminium foil. Make sure the foil covers the entire pan, including the edges.
- Turn your votive glass upside down and place it on the foil-lined pan. This will allow any melted wax to drain out.
- Place the pan with the votive glass in the preheated oven.
- Heat the votive in the oven for approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it and check periodically to see if the wax has melted.
- Once the wax has melted, carefully remove the pan from the oven using oven mitts or pot holders. Be cautious as the pan and wax will be very hot.
- Using paper towels or rags, wipe away the melted wax from the votive glass. Absorb as much of the liquid wax as possible.
- If there are any residual pieces of wax that didn't melt completely, you can reheat the votive in the oven for a few more minutes. Alternatively, you can use a hairdryer or heat gun to target those specific areas with heat and melt the remaining wax.
- After removing most of the wax, you can further clean the votive glass by boiling it on the stove in a pot with a small amount of water. This will help remove any remaining wax residue.
- Wash the votive glass with hot water and dish soap or a grease-cutting detergent to ensure it is thoroughly cleaned.
Remember to exercise caution when working with high temperatures and hot wax. Always use oven mitts or heat-resistant gloves when handling items from the oven, and be mindful of the flammability of wax at certain temperatures.
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Use olive oil or baking spray to prevent wax buildup
If you're a candle lover, you've probably dealt with the frustrating task of removing leftover wax from glass votives. Over time, wax can build up inside the holders, making them look cloudy and messy, and also difficult to reuse. While there are several ways to clean out the wax, such as boiling water, microwaving, freezing, or using a knife, these methods often leave residue behind or require a lot of scrubbing.
A great way to prevent wax buildup in your glass votives is to use olive oil or baking spray. Before lighting a new candle, coat the inside of the votive with a thin layer of olive oil, baking spray, or even cooking spray or vegetable oil. This creates a non-stick surface, making it much easier to remove wax later. With this method, the remnants will slip right out, and you can simply wash the votives.
Another tip to prevent wax buildup is to always place a teaspoon of water under the candle before lighting it. This ensures that the candle will come out easily, and you won't have to deal with stubborn wax residue.
Additionally, consider using candle inserts or tea lights instead of larger poured candles to simplify cleanup. Trimming candle wicks before lighting can also reduce excess soot and black stains inside the votive. By following these simple tips, you can keep your candle holders looking like new and save yourself time and effort in the cleaning process.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to remove a candle from a glass votive. One way is to put the votive in the freezer for at least an hour. Then, try gently prying the wax off with your fingers. If that doesn't work, use a spoon to gently loosen the edges.
Another way is to boil water and pour it into the votive until it's about two-thirds full. The hot water will melt the wax, causing it to rise to the top. Once it cools, the wax will solidify, and you can simply press down on one side, and it will pop out.
Yes, you can try using olive oil or baking spray. Apply a small amount to the votive, and the wax should slip out easily. Afterward, wash the votive with soap and water.
If there are residual pieces of wax, you can try boiling the votive on the stove with a small amount of water. The wax will melt and can be wiped away with paper towels or rags.
