How to Keep a Wax Warmer Clean in 4 Easy Steps

Wax warmers are a wonderful addition to any home, adding cozy scents without a candle's open flame. Waxes are often a cheaper way to try out new scents as well. But wax warmers require some maintenance that candles do not—cleaning.

Thankfully, cleaning your wax warmer does not take long and is an easy task to do when needed. Keep reading to learn how often to clean your wax warmer, what you'll need, and how to keep it clean longer. You'll have a ready-to-go wax warmer in no time so you can keep enjoying all of your favorite scents.

How Often Should Wax Warmers Be Cleaned?

Wax warmers should be cleaned whenever the wax inside them has reached the end of its life. You'll know this has occurred when the wax inside them no longer gives off any scent. Additionally, if you go a long time between wax warmings, leading to a large build-up of dust, you'll need to clean your wax warmers before use.

What You'll Need

You won't have to use much to clean your wax warmer. Here's what you'll need.

• Cotton balls
• Paper towels
• Sponge
• All-purpose cleaner
• Clean cloths (preferably microfiber)
• Mineral oil
• Spoon
• Freezer (optional)

Step 1: Prep Your Wax Warmer

Before you begin cleaning your wax warmer, gather your supplies and ensure your wax warmer is off. A warmer that's still on not only creates a larger mess, but can burn you too. If the wax in your warmer is still warm, keep reading. If it's cooled down and hardened, head to step four.

Step 2: Remove Warm Wax

If the wax inside your warmer is still warm and in liquid form, place a cotton ball or scrunched-up paper towel inside to soak up all the excess wax. You may need to let this sit for a minute or so to do its job. Once most of the wax has been soaked up, discard the cotton balls or paper towels in the trash can. Never pour hot wax down a drain.

Step 3: Remove Residue

There will probably still be some remaining wax residue inside your warmer. To get rid of this, grab a sponge and some all-purpose cleaner to scrub the residue away. For tough stains, break out the melamine sponge.

Use a clean cloth with a few drops of mineral oil to wipe away any drips on the exterior of the warmer. Dry both areas with a microfiber cloth.

Step 4: Remove Hardened Wax

If your wax has come to the end of its life but is hardened, you have two options to remove it. Option one is easier, but takes longer, while option two is faster, but involves a bit more elbow grease. For the easier, but slower option, place your fully-cooled wax warmer in your freezer for 15 minutes. The icy-cold air will cause the wax to shrink and pull away from the sides. Once the warmer is out of the freezer, take a spoon and gently push on the wax from the side to pop it out.

The second way you can removed hardened wax is by turning your warmer back on! Leave it on for a few minutes in order to heat up the bottoms and sides of the wax, allowing it to loosen up. Next, take a spoon and gently scrape the slightly-warmed wax away.

For both of these methods, clean away any wax residue using the methods in step three as needed.

How to Keep Wax Warmers Clean Longer

If you're looking to save time and reduce the frequency of your wax warmer cleaning sessions, consider two things. First, high-quality waxes will last longer in wax warmers, thereby reducing how often they need to be discarded and your warmer needs to cleaned out. Though low-quality waxes may be cheaper, they're a greater headache when it comes to cleaning.

Second, consider buying a reusable wax warmer liner. These liners are silicone-based 'poppers' that sit on top of the warmer and allow you to simply pop the wax out after it's been used. You may need to clean the liner occasionally, but it will be a much less frequent clean than using a warmer without one.