How to clean a wax warmer: three ways to get old wax out

Step by step: how to clean a wax warmer

Safety first. Unplug the warmer before you handle the dish or wipe inside it, and let a hot dish cool before it goes in the freezer or under water, or it can crack. Melted wax burns skin, so use tongs for the cotton ball method. Never pour wax down a drain.

1. 1

   Turn it off and let the wax set

   Switch off and unplug the warmer, then leave it until the wax has hardened and the dish is at room temperature, usually 30 to 60 minutes. Cleaning cooled wax is safer and less messy than wiping it hot.

2. 2

   Freeze the dish to pop the wax out

   If the dish lifts off, put it in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes. The cold makes the wax contract and pull away from the sides. Press on the edge of the wax disc or slide a butter knife under it, and it should lift out in one piece.

3. 3

   Or soak it up with cotton balls

   For a fixed dish, turn the warmer on just until the wax melts, then unplug it. Drop in two or three cotton balls with tongs and let them absorb the wax for a minute or two. Lift them out with the tongs and repeat until the dish is nearly empty.

4. 4

   Wipe out the leftover film

   While the dish is still slightly warm but safe to touch, wipe it with a folded paper towel to pick up the thin layer of wax left behind. A warm dish wipes cleaner than a cold one.

5. 5

   Clean the dish with rubbing alcohol

   Dampen a paper towel or cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe the inside of the dish. Alcohol cuts the oily fragrance residue that soap often leaves behind, so the next scent smells true. Let it evaporate fully before you switch the warmer on again.

6. 6

   Wash removable dishes if the manual allows

   A removable glass or ceramic dish can be washed in warm soapy water and dried. Check the manual before putting it in a dishwasher. Keep the electrical base out of water entirely.

7. 7

   Dust and wipe the base

   Wipe the outside and base with a soft, barely damp cloth, and dust around the bulb or heating plate. Dust and drips of wax near the heat source are worth removing every time.

Which wax removal method should you use?

Use the freezer if the dish comes off, cotton balls if it does not, and alcohol to finish either way.

Warmer makers use the same methods. Happy Wax recommends 15 to 20 minutes in the freezer so the wax shrinks and pops out, or cotton balls or paper towels to absorb the wax while it is still warm but not hot. Scentsy sells cotton pads for the same job: you drop one in the melted wax when you change fragrance and swirl it around to collect the rest.

How do you get rid of the old wax?

Put it in the trash, wrapped in paper, or reuse it; do not pour it down a sink. Wax hardens as it cools and can block pipes.

• Happy Wax says its soy wax melts are compostable, and that wax with scent left in it can be saved and melted again another time.
• Wax-soaked cotton balls make handy fire starters for a fireplace or fire pit once they are cool.
• If you spill melted wax on clothing or a tablecloth, let it harden first; our guide to removing wax from clothes covers the rest.

Is it safe to clean a wax warmer while it is plugged in?

No. Unplug it every time you clean it, and unplug it whenever you are not using it. The US Fire Administration advises unplugging small appliances when they are not in use and replacing any appliance with a cracked, damaged or loose cord.

Replace a warmer if the cord is damaged, the dish is cracked, the bulb housing is discolored or the warmer gets much hotter than it used to. Keep it on a stable, heat-safe surface away from curtains, paper and the reach of children and pets, and never leave it running overnight or while you are out.

Mistakes to avoid

• Putting a hot dish straight in the freezer or under cold water and cracking it.
• Wiping out melted wax with the warmer still plugged in.
• Pouring melted wax down the sink.
• Switching the warmer back on before the rubbing alcohol has evaporated.
• Dunking the whole warmer, base and all, in water.