Before you try to flush wax down the toilet, you should know that it’s not safe. It can harden and get stuck in your drain pipe. So how, then, should you dispose of wax?
Some people may think that you can flush wax down the toilet, but this isn’t the case. Pouring hot wax down the drain isn’t the best idea because the wax will solidify almost immediately and jam into the “S” bend.
Instead, snake out the toilet and remove the clogged area by pushing the wax down the drain. If this doesn’t work, remove the trap and flush it. You can buy a small snake at your local hardware store or use a wire coat hanger bent to fit through the trap.
If you have a partially clogged drain, you may try pouring acetone or isopropyl alcohol down the toilet. This method will work, but it will take some time.
You can also pour the alcohol into a partially clogged drain, which will make the wax soften and flow through the toilet on its way to pollute the waste system. But it’s best to use a toilet plunger, which can remove the clog quickly.
Can You Pour Candle Wax Down the Toilet?
Yes, you may flush candle wax down the toilet. It can, however, obstruct your toilet outflow. If your sink, bathtub, or toilet is blocked with wax, here is a simple hack you should try:
Dump boiling water down the drain. It could take some time for the water to drain entirely. Repeat as needed to ensure that the wax is completely removed from the pipes. You may also flush the pipes with hot water as the blockage melts.
You should not pour petroleum-based solutions down the drain because they can corrode plastic pipes and potentially fire. To clear the obstruction:
- Do not use a drain unclogging solution.
- Do not try to clear the wax blockage from the drain.
- When removing a wax clog, do not use an air gun.
Can Candle Wax Clog a Drain?
Yes, candle wax has the potential to block your drainage system. Even a minimal bit of wax can clog a sink or cause it to drain slowly.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to dislodge once the wax lodges in the drain.
You can try to dislodge tiny particles of wax by plunging your sink, but you will most likely be unsuccessful. Even the most abrasive drain cleaners will not remove the wax. Attempting to dissolve the clog with hot water is also not advised; this merely pushes the wax farther into the drain, where it will solidify again.
The only method to extract wax is to use a drainage snake with chopping blades that match the width of your drain. Because this tool may be difficult to find, you’ll most likely need to hire a plumber to unclog your drain.
What Will Dissolve Candle Wax?
Wax may be found in a variety of forms in the average home. It spills on several surfaces, including garments, floors, and various items. Hot wax can sometimes be poured downpipes.
Many chemicals may dissolve wax, but the right temperature is essential in wax removal. The best removal methods are determined by the surface on which you spilled the wax.
1. Floors
If hot wax drops on the floor, do not attempt to remove it when it is still hot. To reduce the temperature of the spilled wax, place something cold over it. When it is cold enough, remove as much as you can by hand before launching a chemical assault.
Linoleum should be cleaned using a mild solution of oil-based soap and water. Remove the chilled wax from the carpet using a putty knife or credit card, then vacuum up the residue.
Clean up wax remnants on hardwood floors using a mix of vinegar, furniture polish, and a gallon of water. The basic vinegar to polish ratio is 1 cup vinegar to two tablespoons furniture polish.
Place a clean cloth with no pattern or color over the stains and iron it; the wax will stick to the fabric. If this fails, try using a professional spot cleaner, mild detergent, or a dilute vinegar solution to remove the wax.
2. Clothes
To remove wax from cotton garments, employ a method similar to that used to remove wax off carpet. Professional spot removers for textiles are far more plentiful than those for carpets.
Cover an ice lolly in cellophane and freeze the wax stain to eliminate it; it will shatter and fall off. If the wax gets on a garment that needs to be dry-cleaned, take it to the laundry and point out the wax stain.
This is because laundries use unique wax removal that is not available for purchase.
3. Objects
The best technique to remove wax from many intricate artifacts is to immerse the object in a hot tub and allow the wax to float to the top. If the object cannot be immersed, physically extract the chilled wax before adding chemicals.
After removing the wax and wiping the area with a clean towel, wash the object with your preferred cleaning agent. Use a small quantity of nail polish remover to clean minor spillages on tough-to-clean surfaces such as mirrors.
4. Pipes
Pouring hot water into a pipe should be done just once because it might destroy your pipes if you overdo it. Running boiled water down the drainage pipe can frequently dissolve the wax.
Some types of wax can also be dissolved using bleach or alcohol. Disconnect the trap (curved pipe part) while scraping the trap out for stubborn obstructions before initiating a chemical treatment using drain snakes
Can Wax Evaporate?
When wax burns, it evaporates. Burning wax provides the candle’s light and heat. When you ignite the wick, the flame melts a part of the wax, which flows up the wick and evaporates, leaving just wax vapor to burn.
The cotton wick burns as well, but the wax generates most of the heat. The puddles around the base of a candle are caused by wax that has spilled without burning.
Wax is made up of two elements: hydrogen and carbon. When a candle is lit, the hydrogen and carbon in the wax react with the oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide and water vapor. These two gasses absorb the majority of the substance in the candle.
Water and carbon dioxide aren’t technically safe — too much of either of them can be deadly — but at low concentrations, they are commonplace in the atmosphere. A candle produces a modest quantity of each gas, equivalent to the amount exhaled by another person in the room.
How to Get Wax off any Surface?
During the holidays, bright candle lights create a joyful ambiance, but the drips and puddles of wax they might leave behind are hardly a cause for celebration.
So, without harming your furniture or ruining your walls, here are some ways you can clean candle wax off any surface for good.
1. Wood
When extracting wax from wood, first solidify it with an ice cube and then gently brush it off with an expired credit card or a plastic ruler. Remove residues with creamy upholstery wax.
2. Vinyl Flooring
Soften the spillage with hot water for a few minutes, then wash away the wax with a dry towel. Repeat until the wax is gone, then use a multifunctional remover, such as Goof Off, to remove the residue.
3. Carpet
Apply a moist, lint-free white cloth over the wax and iron it on moderate heat. The wax will stick to the fabric. To eliminate the remains, clean with wiping alcohol. Alternatively, use an ice pack to solidify the wax, then break the hardened clump with a blunt item, such as the handle of a kitchen utensil. Before the fragments soften, vacuum them up.
4. Painted Wall
Set a hairdryer to moderate heat and melt the wax with it. Remove wax residues using a 1:3 ratio of vinegar to the water.
5. Linens and Fabric Furniture
Using a small butter knife, scrape away as much wax as possible. Spread the cloth between two plain bin liners and iron on moderate heat until the wax transfers to the bag.
Continue with as many bags as required. Finally, remove color stains with cell lysate alcohol.
6. Leather Furniture
Without burning the leather, use a blow dryer over the surface to warm the wax. Wipe away melted wax with a washrag, and apply a leather furniture polish. Alternatively, you can use a moist cloth with mild detergent to remove residue and prevent the suede from wearing out.
Ways to Reuse Candle Wax
Honey bees build beehives that contain beeswax. Because beeswax is a natural product, you must recycle it at least once. When you burn beeswax candles in a candle stand, it might be challenging to collect the wax later. However, scorching them on a flat surface simplifies the task.
Alternatively, you may insert greaseproof paper or a cotton towel under the candle stand. Hardened wax may be readily pulled off such objects, making reuse or disposal easy.
Once the wax has been gathered, it may be stored in an airtight jar for later use. To keep the wax safe, store the jar in a cool dark place, away from direct sunlight.
Storing wax in a cool place ensures that you can reuse it after a lengthy period. you can then reuse the wax for the following purposes:
1. Leather Items
One of the most acceptable ways to reuse beeswax is to use it as a leather polish. Natural beeswax is an excellent polish for all grades of leather. You may apply it to bags, boots, coats, and other leather items.
It forms a layer that fills up the wear and rips on the leather while also adding gloss to the surface. Organic beeswax also protects the leather from moisture and UV rays.
Regularly cleaning leather products with beeswax can extend the life of your leather goods and accessories.
Heating the beeswax gently before adding it to the leather might improve its effectiveness.
2. Shoe Shine
You can also use beeswax to polish footwear made from other materials besides leather. Melt the wax and mix it with any available shoe polish to make your shoes shine even more.
You can also apply warm wax directly to the shoe surface. However, use a small quantity at a time.
3. Cream for Your Feet
While beeswax is a common ingredient in creams and lotions, we do not advocate reusing beeswax for anything other than your feet.
Melt the beeswax in a double boiler, add a few drops of any aromatic oil of your choice, and thoroughly combine.
Transfer the beeswax cream into an airtight container and set it aside to cool before storing it in your bathroom cupboard.
You don’t have to heat this foot cream before each use. Before applying this foot cream on damaged heels, be sure to warm it up by rubbing your palms together.
4. Brand-new Candles
Reuse beeswax to make new candles. All you need is a new wick.
When transferring the molten wax to a mold, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Ensure that the wick is straight until the new candle settles.
5. Hinge Lubricant
Fix all your creaky window and door fittings with natural beeswax.
Melt some wax, dab it over the hinges with a brush, and there you have it!