Spinoff: How do you clean wax off a silver menorah?

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Forum -> Yom Tov / Holidays -> Chanukah

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Chickpea

Wed, Dec 24 2014, 12:28 pm

How do you clean wax drippings off a silver menorah? It came from the candle that was used to light the oil in each lamp. I normally pour very hot water over it to melt the wax away, but I always get nervous about all this wax clogging up the sink drain.

zaq

Wed, Dec 24 2014, 4:33 pm

You are right to worry about pouring wax dwn the sink. That is asking for major clogerrific troubles down the road.

1. Get yourself a nice little heavy plastic or metal container like a dishpan and a fine-ish strainer or an old pair of nylons.
2. Use an old credit card or a fingernail to scrape off as much wax as you can.
3. Put the menorah in the dishpan and pour boiling water over it.
4. Use a pot holder to lift the menorah out of the water
5. Dry it off with a soft cloth, buffing away any residual wax.
6. Leave the hot water in the dishpan till it cools and the hardened wax floats on top of it.
7.Pour the water through the strainer or the nylons, or even a plain old cotton rag, to catch the wax.
8. Discard the wax and let the water go down the drain.
9. Use an old credit card to scrape off any wax clinging to the sides of the dishpan if you want to use it for any other purpose.

zaq

Wed, Dec 24 2014, 4:37 pm

Or, if there is only a little wax and it is on a smooth surface, not an ornate repousse design, aim a hot blow-dryer at the wax to soften it, then use a credit card to peel off the wax. Finish by buffing away any reside with a soft cloth.

amother

Wed, Dec 24 2014, 4:38 pm

zaq wrote:

I tried this and it left dark spots

amother

Wed, Dec 24 2014, 4:40 pm

zaq wrote:

the hair dryer caused black spots

Dolly Welsh

Wed, Dec 24 2014, 4:42 pm

Scrape away with a plastic spoon. The kind people use at picnics. The plastic is too soft a material to scratch the silver. Just keep scraping and throw the pieces in the garbage not the sink. Pick any residue off with your fingers.

luppamom

Wed, Dec 24 2014, 4:46 pm

How do you get the oil grease off of it? We don't have any wax issues this yr. Smile

imasinger

Wed, Dec 24 2014, 8:25 pm

I blocked the drain with paper towels, ran hot water, then let the area cool before draining. The wax residue ended up either on the paper towels, or coating the sink, which came up with more paper towels (a bit Cat in the Hat-ish, but it worked.)

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