How to clean dishes from wax and paraffin: folk remedies and “chemistry”

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Candles... When you say this word, you immediately feel warm and cozy, the quiet flickering of the lights has a calming effect. But candles are not only a source of heat and light (especially during a power outage), but also a source of stains on dishes, furniture and clothes. So we’ll figure out how to remove wax from dishes, regardless of whether you were forced to use them in the dark during an accident at a power plant or for a pleasant time with your loved one.

What types of wax are there?

By habit, any candle material is called wax. However, this judgment is not entirely correct. Specifically, wax is now used in the cosmetic and medical industries, but candles are made from paraffin and stearin.

Important! In the Western analogy, waxes are considered to be the entire class of wax-like substances, but TSB gives a division into waxes of natural and artificial origin.

Natural materials include:

• Beeswax. Produced by bees to build honeycombs.
• Lanolin. Otherwise, wool wax, which protects the skin or wool from an overly aggressive environment.
• Spermaceti wax. Extracted from spermaceti oil of sperm whales.
• Various plant waxes that cover leaves, seeds and other parts of the flora of our planet and protect them from influences.

Important! Jojoba oil, widely used in the cosmetics industry, is also a natural plant wax.

• Epicuticular wax. Most plants are covered with it and reflect the invisible spectrum of radiation.
• Fossil wax (ozokerite). Most often it consists of saturated hydrocarbons.

The most famous artificial ones are paraffin and stearin. In principle, if you need to wash wax melt from dishes, then the actions will be similar. In some cases, only certain features are possible.

Review of household cleaning products

Soot, wax, and plaque are more difficult to remove from old dishes. It is difficult to eliminate carbon deposits that are 5-10 years old. You can use silicate glue and soda ash. Follow these instructions:

1. Fill a container with water, rub some laundry soap into it when the water boils.
2. Reduce heat and add half a cup of glue and soda.
3. Without allowing the liquid to cool, lower the dishes into it. Leave the container for 3 hours.
4. After removing the dishes with carbon deposits, proceed to mechanical cleaning. You can take an abrasive sponge or scraper and remove the carbon layer; it will come off easily.
5. Rinse dishes with cold water and open windows. When boiling, soda and glue will emit an unpleasant odor, which can cause a sore throat and dizziness.

This cleaning procedure allows you to wash stains of any complexity. Removes adhesive and baking soda even from old wax drips on porcelain and glass.

Along with food, there may be residues of household chemicals that settle during the washing process; use folk remedies for cleaning. They give the same effect as modern gels and powders and have a beneficial effect. Mustard powder will help remove grease from any type of dishes. It allows you to get rid of soot, traces of soot, wax, and unpleasant odors.

Mold will be eliminated with peroxide or baking soda. The components are diluted with water, the container with mold is treated, and after rinsing there are no stains or odor left. If epilation has been carried out, drops of paraffin can be easily removed from the skin with vegetable oil.

What is paraffin?

Paraffin is a waxy mixture of solid hydrocarbons made from petroleum. The melting point of the substance is 45-65 degrees, which makes it possible to actively use this material not only in the production of candles, but also in the composition of lubricants of various designs, food and cosmetic industries.

In some cases, paraffin is confused not only with wax, but also with stearin.

Stearin is a solid and greasy substance to the touch, translucent in appearance with a melting point of 53-65 degrees.

Important! It is advisable to know the specific name of the material before cleaning a contaminated item, as you can see that the temperature of change in the physical state is slightly different.

Stain remover

Read about: how to wash grease from clothes at home.

If, after removing wax and paraffin, a stubborn grease stain remains on the fabric that cannot be removed with soap or dishwashing detergent, you can use a special household chemical.

Stain removers now come in the form of powders, gels, sprays, sticks and soaps. There are even specially designed for removing stains from grease, bitumen, machine oil and wax. They contain a combination of surfactants and solvents. They soften and break the hardened wax into small pieces and prevent them from sticking together again, then they are easily removed with water.

The product is applied directly to the contaminated area and left to act for a certain time (specified in the instructions). Then the product is washed and washed with powder.

How to remove wax from dishes?

In most cases, removing wax droplets requires a physical action - scraping with a knife and rinsing with water. But how to remove wax from dishes that cannot be treated with brute force (complex carved candlesticks, crystal glasses or Teflon dishes)?

Depending on the volume and condition, you can use one of the methods presented below.

Method 1

To clean stains without damaging or scratching the dishes, you must simultaneously degrease and remove the substance itself:

1. Fill a large saucepan or other large container with water.
2. Add detergent to water and stir.
3. Immerse the dirty dishes and place them all on the stove.
4. When the water boils, all the wax will melt and fall off, and the product will not allow it to stick back.

Important! This option is as gentle as possible on products even made of glass, crystal and the finest porcelain.

Method 2

Another way to clean a pan from wax is to treat it with steam or boiling water:

1. Boil water in any container; it is safest to use a kettle.
2. Take the dirty dishes and hold over the steam those parts that need to be cleaned.
3. After the procedure, carefully wipe off the melted wax with a clean, dry cloth or soft absorbent cloth.

Method 3

If you are far from the benefits of civilization, you can use any source of fire (fire, burner, stove, etc.):

1. As carefully as possible, immerse the container in the fire and heat the wax.
2. Remove the melted substance using available materials.

Important! For this processing, it is better to use heat-resistant tongs or at least gloves.

Boiling water and hot steam

Not every housewife knows how to wash dishes if there is no detergent. You can remove paraffin from dishes using boiling water or hot steam. The cleaning process consists of several simple steps:

1. We put water in a kettle or pan and wait for it to boil;
2. We place the contaminated dishes over the steam, the hot fumes should act on the areas with wax;
3. At the final stage of work, wipe off the remaining substance with a soft cloth or napkin.

The wax is wiped off in the initial phase of its melting. To completely clean surfaces, you need to use several wipes. When working with glass products, the dishes must first be soaked in hot water to prevent cracks from appearing on them as a result of exposure to steam. Be careful when performing such operations; careless handling of utensils can lead to burns to exposed areas of the body.

How to remove wax and propolis from furniture?

In order to remove wax from dishes, you can scrape them with a knife and boil them in water with detergent, but using such methods to clean furniture risks buying new furniture or repairing it, at a minimum.

Therefore, we act in one of the following ways.

Option 1

If the sofa upholstery is dirty, then you should do the following:

1. Iron the fabric through clean medium-weight paper or a paper napkin.
2. Raise the pile with a brush.
3. Clean the textiles with a suede brush soaked in a solution of water and ammonia (3-5 drops per glass of water).

Option 2

If wax spills onto wooden surfaces, then:

• You need to physically remove the droplets with any plastic object (kitchen spatulas or even a store discount card work great).
• Treat the same area with a hairdryer.

Important! Do not use too high a temperature, as the material may deteriorate.

• Wipe the heated wax with a napkin or soft paper.
• Polish the surface with a soft cloth.

Option 3

To remove the substance from a tree, you can also:

1. Cover the stain with paper towels.
2. Until the paraffin is absorbed into the paper, treat the area with a slightly warm iron.
3. Wipe the former stain with a rag soaked in vinegar while it is still warm and wipe dry.

Important! Furniture coated with varnish must be treated with polish after removing stains.

Rules for cleaning dishes

It is difficult to keep kitchen appliances perfectly clean. Poor-quality detergent, haste when washing, hard water - affects the appearance of kitchen utensils, leaving a yellow, sticky coating. It should be removed carefully; each type of coating or material requires an individual approach.

Glass

Glassware is the most difficult to wash; mechanical action leaves a scratch, and when using detergent powders, stains are noticeable. The set must be washed with a new, soft sponge. Old washcloths may contain grease left over from cleansing. Glassware should be cleaned in cold water; hot water dulls the glass. This can be noticed by rinsing the glass in hot water. Foam from laundry soap is added to the cold liquid. This is an ideal option, the soap is made on a natural basis, does not contain chemicals, and is easy to wash off.

Ammonia added to the water will help in washing fat from glass plates. This method helps clean large quantities of glassware if you don't have a dishwasher. You can wipe off plaque and grease from glass utensils with a narrow neck with soapy water with the addition of eggshells and pieces of paper.

Coffee grounds will help remove unpleasant odors and sunflower oil stains from glass. It is enough to apply it to the devices and wipe with a washcloth. Rinse under cold water. You should not wipe glass utensils after washing; they must dry on their own, otherwise streaks will remain.

Plastic

Plastic utensils have become commonplace in the home; many people use them for picnics, for preparing and eating food at home.

Not all plastic is resistant to high temperatures, otherwise you will encounter cracks.

Old grease from plastic plates can be removed with detergent, but an odor remains that is embedded in the plastic after use. It is more difficult to wash food-grade plastic from an unpleasant odor than cast iron, steel or glass. To eliminate aroma, wipe dry dishes with a slice of fresh lemon, mechanically clean with activated carbon or a solution of potassium permanganate. If the plastic is white, do not use potassium permanganate; a purple stain may remain.

How to remove wax after depilation?

For ladies who decide to remove excess hair using wax depilation, the issue of cleansing wax residues from the skin is relevant. If the procedure is carried out independently, then it is necessary to treat the skin with wax as carefully and accurately as possible, and after removing the strips, immediately use a special lotion or napkins.

If wax remains on the skin, you can do the following:

1. Soak a napkin or cotton pad in slightly warmed oil, then wipe away the effects of depilation.
2. Apply the thickest cream or lotion to the adhered substance, leave it for a while, and then remove everything with cotton wool.
3. A very effective, but dangerous way is to treat wax residues with a hairdryer.

Important! There is a risk of injury and burns, be careful!

Useful tips

1. Handle hot water carefully to avoid scalding.
2. Observe safety precautions when using electrical household appliances.
3. When using chemicals, ventilate the room.
4. Use personal protective equipment - gloves.
5. To avoid irritation and other allergic reactions when removing wax from skin:

• Do not wash off the wax with hot water.
• Do not scrub your skin with a hard washcloth.
• Don't use acetone.

How to remove paraffin from carpet?

When drops of paraffin get on the carpet, many people get scared and act incorrectly, and there are also several cleaning methods:

1. If the composition allows, then you can use the same method as for cleaning fabrics, with the exception that the paper is placed only on top.
2. Sometimes heat is critical for the carpet material, then you need to replace it with cold:
   Place ice wrapped in cellophane on the stain.
3. When the stain freezes well, clean the surface with a knife.

Important! After removing the trace of colored paraffin, wash it with a standard carpet stain remover.

Is it possible to wash dishes with soda ash?

There are two types of soda: baking soda and ash. Both substances contain sodium, baking soda contains sodium bicarbonate, and soda ash contains sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is used in cooking. It is completely safe for the human body. Soda ash is not used; it is a technical product. The substance can be used for industrial purposes, for washing. The product contains a large amount of alkali, it easily copes with stains and dirt of any type. Soda ash can be used to treat all types of dishes; it does not leave behind toxic substances and perfectly removes odors and outdated plaque. The main condition is to use rubber gloves when working with the substance, otherwise you risk getting a skin burn.