How to Remove Wax from Glass with Everyday Items

Who doesn’t want their glass tabletops, candle holder, windows or mirror to be shiny and sparkly clean. One substance can dull the brilliance of shiny glass is wax. Wax is widely used in cosmetics(lip balms,creams), adhesives, candles and even car waxs. So its easy   to get on your glass items.

Wax’s nonpolar structure makes them water-repellent, so you cannot use a regular cleaning method. If you have ever removed candle wax from a jar similarly you can use these methods on other glass surfaces.

So if you are struggling to remove wax from your glass tabletops, windows, mirrors or any other glass item then this guide is for you.

In this guide, we will explore different easy DIY techniques on wax removal from glass surfaces, especially uneven, curved and hard-to-reach areas. Don’t worry we will also focus on delicate glass items that you want to avoid scratching or damaging.

Scraping Method

You can remove wax from flat surfaces or easier-to-reach surfaces using a simple scraping method. You might ask what’s the right way?

This is the method we tested-

Remove large chunks of wax with a plastic scraper, right? No.

First, soak a sponge in hot water, we want to moisten the wax by wiping it with the soaked sponge. Then get a razor blade, a kitchen knife will do. With gentle strokes while avoiding unwanted scratches scrape off the wax until none left. You can moisten the wax again if it gets hardened. Then simply wipe with a clean cloth to remove any remainings.

Freezing Method

For small glass items like candle jars place them in the freezer. When you see it is hardened, use a plastic scrapper or butter knife to chip away the wax gently. You might ask ” What is the point of freezing then? Because when you try cooling or freezing the wax it becomes brittle and easy to chipped or scraped off.

If the item is too big to fit in the freezer then place a few ice cubes in a plastic bag then place it over the wax for cooling. After it becomes brittle scrape it off. This method is easier if the surface is flat.

Be careful glass is sensitive to sudden temperature changes especially thin glass. Some experts say freezing tempered glass and coated glass could lead to damage.

Heating Method

If you don’t like the freezing method try heating instead. There are a couple of ways to do that. For glass containers, normally candle jars, pour hot water onto the jar for the wax to melt, let the melted wax float to the top. Leave it and let it cool until the wax has solidified, you can then peel off the wax. If the wax on the bottom is too thick you might need to do the process a few more times. After that scrape off any leftover wax with a butter knife if there are any.

If the glass is a flat surface like a window use a hair dryer or heat gun to melt the wax. Then simply scrape it off with a plastic scraper, some people even use credit cards. So use a tool that doesn’t leave a scratch on the glass, avoid metal ones. Be careful to set the hair dryer to lowest setting, then increase the heat when the wax melts slowly, so you don’t damage the glass. This method also works on uneven and curved surfaces.

Solvent Method

Wax is normally hydrocarbon, so will common solvents like alcohol or acetone dissolve it? Rubbing alcohol will dissolve the wax, nail polish remover(acetone) is stronger and harsher than rubbing alcohol, so it could damage some glass or leave some residues. 

First, you must let the wax harden. Then scrape off most of the wax in large chunks with a plastic scrapper or credit card. When you are left with thin filmy wax, apply rubbing alcohol and leave it to dissolve. Then wipe with dish soap and water

Tip: Test the solvent by applying it to a small area to see if it doesn’t damage the glass.

You could also soak a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently rub on the filmy wax in a circular motion.

For any leftover wax residue, you could apply a mixture of vinegar and water. You could ask will this mixture damage the glass? No, vinegar is acidic and glass is resistant to acid.

Remember, the key is to regularly clean the glass with the right method and right materials, using a wrong cleaner can leave a streak. use microfiber cloth instead of paper towels, because paper towels can leave lint.

Always use high-quality glass cleaner that doesn’t have harmful chemicals like Windex Ammonia-Free Glass Cleaner or make a DIY cleaning solution at home like water and vinegar or water and dishwashing solution, which are easy to make.