How To Clean a Wax Melter
Reading Time: 10 minutes For a candle lover, there is nothing more satisfying than the soothing burn when the wax melts and you get to experience the calming sensation of the fragrance.
If you are someone who is into making their candles or using scented wax as an alternative then you will be familiar with wax melters and warmers. For those of you who are not familiar with it, wax warmers, also known as wax melters, are decorative gadgets that serve as a source of scent in your home or office. They’re not diffusers at all. They’re similar to oil burners. They are a more energy-efficient and environmentally beneficial alternative to regular candles.
The reason why you should be looking at these rather than candles is that the majority of candles are packaged in glass jars. These jars are thrown away once a candle is finished. Decomposition of glass takes millions of years. So, every time you burn a new candle, you’re just adding more glass to landfills, which will take an eternity to disintegrate. Whereas warmers not only save you a lot of money but you will be able to use different types of flavored wax melts after a good cleaning up of the warmer.
Even though certain wax melt warmers are constructed of glass, they are still far more eco-friendly than traditional candles.
Taking Care Of Your Warmer:
As amazing as wax warmers and melters might seem to be, they will not provide you the best service if you do not take care of them well or maintain it on a day-to-day basis. A common question from users is how often should wax melt warmers be cleaned. It is recommended that you clean your warmer every time the wax is changed. This is because once you use a particular wax the residue is left. Keeping the warmer clean at all times would mean that you will be able to appreciate the full fragrance of distinct scents rather than an odd blend of two, but your dish will also stay longer because it has been properly cared for.
However, getting rid of melted wax and hardened wax after every few days can be a hassle. To make the overall process easier, you can follow the simple steps to ensure the health of your warmer and keep enjoying the beautiful fragrances.
Easiest Way To Clean Your Electric Wax Warmer:
Electric wax warmers are one of the most commonly used warmers out there due to their convenience and durability factor. In addition to providing a Scentsy warmer experience, it is also easy to change your wax on these things from time to time. Coming to the cleaning part, electric warmers are the easiest type of melters to clean. Here’s what you will be needing:
- A roll of Kitchen Towel Tissue.
- A large size popsicle or a kitchen stick.
- Kitchen oil.
Step 1:
Take off the little bowl inside the warmer that holds the wax. It is also referred to as the warming plate. If your wax melt is almost finished then the remains of the used wax will be sticking to the pan. Chances are that the wax will be hardened completely depending on the type of melt you are using. The first step would be to plug your warmer in and turn the power to the highest. In this process, the residue left will start melting and form into sort of a liquid wax.
Step 2:
Carefully take the metal pot off after heating it in the warmer for a few minutes. Now, take your paper towel tissue and with the help of a popsicle stick guide the tissue around the dish and push it around so that it sticks everything to the paper towel. Keep in mind to use a paper towel that is thick and sturdy to get the best outcome possible. You can use cotton balls as an alternative too, but make sure they are not too soft.
Step 3:
Wiping the bowl with paper towels or using the cotton ball method will only clean the wax to a primary extent. If you want to get the best cleaning outcome possible then following the third step is a must if you want all the wax out of your beloved warmer. Pour some kitchen olive oil into your dish and then plug it in again. This time the remaining wax will warm up nicely with the oil and will be easier to take off. Apply the same stick and paper towel process as mentioned in Step 2. Now to finish things off, grab your dishwashing soap and pop a few drops into the bowl to clean it all up.
A More Detailed Process of Cleaning Your Wax Warmer:
It is a fairly simple and easy process when it comes to cleaning electrical wax melters and warmers as they provide more convenience. However, when it comes to non-electrical ones, cleaning them is not as easy as using a butter knife. To ensure the best performance from your scented wax, you must ensure that your warmer is clean at all times. If it is dirty then it won’t be able to absorb all the scents and will also allow the new wax to melt nicely. Here is the list of things you will be needing.
Things You Will Need:
- Cotton balls role
- Sponge
- Isopropyl alcohol
Step 1: Warm The Mix Up:
Old wax will always be easier to remove if it is in a liquid form. To do that you will need to turn the existing scrape wax into liquid. Heat the warmer up to the extent when the warm wax starts melting and taking a liquid wax form. Then put some cotton balls in and the balls will start soaking everything up. The size of the cotton pads you use will depend on the size of your warmer. If the initial pair is not enough then you can always use more. Once everything is soaked up make sure to use another cotton pad to remove all the gunk from the sides of the warmer.
Step 2: Spraying It On:
After clearing all the dirt from the wax warmer, put a few drops of isopropyl alcohol in there. If you are not able to obtain that then you can use normal hand sanitizer as well to make sure everything is disinfected.
Step 3: Swirling It Over:
To finish things off, you can use wax strips as well. To prevent burning your fingers, swirl a clean wax strip around the chamber with a disposable wooden applicator stick or a new kitchen spatula. Swabbing up the inner sides should be continued.
Things To Avoid While Cleaning Your Warmer:
There might be multiple articles, blogs, and videos on how to clean a wax melter. However, there is very little information on the things that you shouldn’t do during the cleaning process. These often involve rookie and beginner mistakes. While the issue might not seem to be big at first, it can surely develop and cause major problems to the health of the melter.
Do Not Heat Without Wax:
We have mentioned in the steps to heat your warmer to get a solid clean. However, do keep in mind that it is applicable only when there is existing hardened wax sitting on the dish. If there is no remaining wax at all and you end up heating the melter without it, then it will cause a severe accident. So, always be aware if there is clean wax or if the wax hardens on your melter or not.
Keep Away From Water:
If you do not want a fire starter accident at your house then make sure you aren’t getting the whole warmer poured in with water. Just take the pot out and clean it with soap water accordingly. There is no need to put the whole machine in the sink as it will not only cause a huge mess but will also turn into a severe accident. If you want to clean the mess that is on the pot then just take two cotton balls or a wet cloth to remove wax from and keep the machine nice and clean.
Keep In Mind Of The Oils You Are Using:
Considering how big the candle and wax industry has become, it is no surprise that the cleaning products that are made alongside it are top-notch as well. While you can still use basic kitchen oil to clean wax, no doubt using oils that are specifically made for cleaning wax will soak the remaining wax better and will keep your dish clean and smooth. However, before you go on to purchase one of these oils make sure to do your research so that you are getting a high-quality wax and not a substandard one.
Using The Freezer Method:
To ensure the best cleaning outcome, the freezer method can be applied as well. If the wax in your dish has already cooled completely, the freezer approach is ideal. To help remove the wax from your dish a little simpler, place it in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. The wax will shrink as a result of this. Remove the dish from the freezer and press the wax to the side with your thumb. It should just pop out.
The Liner Method:
If you haven’t used your warmer yet, and still want to keep your warmer dish nice and clean as a whistle then the linear method is the ideal one for you. Start by placing the wax melt liners in your dish to stop any scented wax from actually touching the dish itself. Then put your wax melter as you would, and once the scent is gone and you’re able to throw the tart out – you toss it alongside the liner. Then, add a replacement liner and a replacement tart – rinse and repeat!
There also are reusable liners called “poppers”. These are silicone dishes that allow you to begin the wax when it is time to vary your wax. They are available online and are not very expensive.
Conclusion:
The whole article has been compiled to give you an informative understanding of how to take care of and clean a wax melter. No matter if you are using a big melter to make large batches of wax or even if it’s your room warmer. You can use either of the methods mentioned to clean them.
Nevertheless, you must be aware of what type of wax you are using as well. For example- paraffin wax is easy to take off as you can pry it out with your hand. Whereas some other types of waxes might not be. Regardless, to keep your warmer’s health in check and keep its durability, you must always make sure to use high-quality wax scents as this will prevent your wax warmer from getting ruined or dirty easily. In today’s markets, there are multiple types of waxes with different scents. Choose the one that suits you the best and just go for it.
FAQS:
How do you change the wax in a wax warmer?
Now that you have fully learned about the process of keeping a clean wax warmer it is also important to know how to change the wax in a wax warmer as well. Traditionally there are two simple ways to do this. First is that you can pull out the wax melts altogether and refill them from scratch. This is usually called the hot or cold method. However, if your wax had turned to liquid then you can apply the cotton ball method to the used wax. Once it gets absorbed, you can refill it with a scentsy warmer. The second option is better suited for warmers that do not have removable lids or plugins.
How often do you change wax melts?
Warmers or melters, electric or non-electric are machines and appliances at the end of the day that works constantly for long periods to heat the wax and create a new scent and ambiance around your house. To keep it fully functional so that it can do its job to the fullest, the health and maintenance of the burner must be ensured. This can be done through regular cleaning. So make sure to keep your solid piece of warmer dishes clean at all times depending on how often you use it. The more you use it, the more often you should be cleaning it.
Are you supposed to throw away melted candle wax?
A common question amongst new candle or wax users is whether they can re-use this cleaned-up wax for later or not. The simple answer is yes, it can be reused. However, there is a little catch to it. Before you decide that you are not going to change your wax and use the old one, you will need to be aware that the worn-out wax will not provide as much of a fragrance as the initial stage. However, if you have more wax of the same scented wax then you can put it on your electric wax warmer and enjoy.
How Does A Wax Warmer Work?
Some new users often ask about the process of how to wax warmers or melters work in general. To put it into simple words, the way these things work is that wax melts are placed in the warmers, which emit their smells as they melt. They are melted by a heat source of varying types. Some warmers rely on electricity or light bulbs, while others rely on a tealight candle that must be blown out. Once the melting process is complete, make sure to turn everything off.
