Comments on: Wax on, wax off

Question: Wax on, wax off

mudpuppie — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:56:02 -0800

How can I safely remove candle wax from metal baking sheets so that a) the surfaces of the baking sheets don't get scratched, and b) they're food-safe again?

An extended power outage required the used of dozens of tealight candles (a bag of one zillion can be had at Ikea for $2!). Said candles were deployed on metal, nonstick cookie sheets. Hindsight tells me that I should have covered the cookie sheets with aluminum foil, but hey -- it was really dark.

Now, how do I remove the wax from the cookie sheets without marring the nonstick surface? I can scrape the big clumps off with a piece of wood, but residue remains. I'm worried that boiling water will just make the localized wax residue become a generalized wax film. I've read that metal can be frozen to remove wax, but will it really get even the tiny little bits leftover? (Yes, I could just try it, but sticking a cookie sheet in the freezer first requires emptying the freezer, and if there's another efficacious method, I'd like to try it first.)

By: HuronBob

HuronBob — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:59:16 -0800

I don't believe that candle wax is toxic. I would do the best I can and then not worry about it... But, then, I eat dirt too... :-\

By: that possible maker of pork sausages

that possible maker of pork sausages — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:01:16 -0800

Heat the cookie sheet in the oven, and when the wax softens wipe it off with a cloth. Or if you want to attack each blob by itself, aim a hairdryer at one section of the sheet at a time for the same effect.

By: gramcracker

gramcracker — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:03:19 -0800

Plastic spatula? Don't know about your specific candles, but candle wax is supposed to be safe.

By: Stewriffic

Stewriffic — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:06:37 -0800

I'd think freeze and then mildly twist the cookie sheets or nudge the wax with a credit-card type implement. Should pop off.

By: breezeway

breezeway — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:07:16 -0800

Freeze it. It should pop off in clumps. A bit of wax may remain embedded in the non-stick surface, but candle wax is edible, and the tiny amount you'd be eating shouldn't affect your cookies' flavor any more than the tiny amount of non-stick surface you've been eating does.

By: Elsa

Elsa — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:07:57 -0800

I used an iron to remove a big wax spill from a wooden table; I imagine it would work equally well on baking sheets.

Place several layers of paper towel over the wax blobs. Over that, place an iron on low heat; gently sweep the surface of the paper towels, peeking now and then to see how quickly the wax melts. The paper towels will soak up the melting wax.

You might need to crank up from the lowest heat to a slightly higher one, but resist the urge to bump it up to highest heat. I don't know how hot irons get, but I wouldn't expose a non-stick surface to intense direct heat.

Careful! The baking sheet will get hot! Do this on a heat-proof surface, and use an oven mitt to handle it.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:09:20 -0800

Once you get the worst chunks off, why not just run the thing through your dishwasher? (If you've got one?)

By: Elsa

Elsa — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:09:31 -0800

P.s. - Now I see why you're not putting the sheets in the frezer. But if you place something freezing cold (a bag of frozen peas, a cooling pad, a whole tray of ice cubes) over the wax, it will harden nicely. Worth a try!

By: TDIpod

TDIpod — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:13:43 -0800

Pour boiling hot water on them. Do it outside so the wax won't go down a drain. Then clean normally with a scrubby sponge.

By: MeetMegan

MeetMegan — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:18:38 -0800

i did somthing similar once. dropped a candle on a baking pan. put it in the freezer overnight and everything will just pop off. may be some residue but that will scrape off with a credit card. scrub it with a brillo type sponge, soap ad hot water and you're golden!

By: qvtqht

qvtqht — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:25:27 -0800

Spread several layers of paper towels and use a clothes iron.

By: twirlypen

twirlypen — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:51:05 -0800

Seconding the iron and paper towels.

By: clh

clh — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:03:54 -0800

Cook Bookhouse's pork on it.

By: Holy foxy moxie batman!

Holy foxy moxie batman! — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:04:38 -0800

I too back up the freezing which is also a great way to get wax out of votives

By: deCadmus

deCadmus — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:36:49 -0800

Nthing the freeze, and if anything remains you can use a hot iron and paper towels or a newspaper to blot up the rest.

By: Catrissa

Catrissa — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:45:54 -0800

We had the same problem. Just heat the sheet in the oven until the wax liquifies and wipe off. It's really not hard to get clean.

By: cheeken

cheeken — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:15:33 -0800

I absolutely second, third, whatever, the iron and paper towels trick. This also works perfectly if you've ever had to take wax out of carpet. (I was the star of a church function once because I used this trick...they carried me around on their shoulders and shouted adulations!)