First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Let the pot cool until the wax is firm.
- Scrape the thick wax off with a dull knife.
- Wash the rest in warm soapy water, then rinse and dry right away.
Candle wax on cookware is the same greasy problem as fresh wax, only thicker. Once the pot has cooled, a dull knife will lift the thick layer, and what's left is usually a light film that warm soapy water removes. Soaking is fine on this surface, but chlorine and oxygen cleaners are a no, so keep them off.
Old wax from a wax pot that's scorched onto the base needs patience more than force, so keep your scraping light. Stainless steel and enameled cast iron respond differently, so test a small spot before you commit. If the wax still won't lift after a warm soak, set the pot aside rather than forcing it.
Before you start
What pots, pans & bakeware can take
Safe to use2
- Water
- Soaking
Use with care4
- Hot water
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid2
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Dull knife or plastic scraperLifts hardened wax without gouging the surface. (opens Amazon)
- Soft sponge or clothWashes the inside without scratching it. (opens Amazon)
- Dish soapCuts the oily film left after the wax is scraped away. (opens Amazon)
- Nonabrasive, non-chlorine cleanserMakes the paste for a greasy film on stainless. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaMakes the gentle paste for nonstick and loosens wax scorched onto the base. (opens Amazon)
- A non-abrasive sponge (opens Amazon)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Let the pot cool and scrape
Turn off the heat and let the pot cool until the wax has set hard. Lift the thick wax off with a dull knife, working from the edges toward the middle so it comes away in pieces.
Tip. Scrape over paper towels so the wax doesn't go down the drain.
Careful. Never put a hot pan under cold water, or cold water into a hot pan; it can warp.
Step 2 of 5
Wash in warm soapy water
Fill the pot with warm water and a squeeze of dish soap, and let it soak until the film starts to loosen. Wash the inside with a sponge or soft cloth, then wipe down the outside. On enameled cast iron with scorched wax, boil 2 cups water with 4 tablespoons baking soda first, then loosen it with a wooden spoon.
Step 3 of 5
Use the cleanser paste on stainless
If a greasy film stays on stainless, mix a nonabrasive, non-chlorine cleanser with a little water into a paste. Rub it in circles with a soft cloth, and let it sit if the film is stubborn before you rinse.
For cloudy white spots left after rinsing, boil 1:1 white vinegar and water. Skip the paste on nonstick and use the overnight soak instead.
Careful. Never use oven cleaners, steel wool, steel scouring pads, harsh detergents, or detergents containing bleach or peroxide on stainless cookware.
Step 4 of 5
Soak nonstick overnight
On nonstick, fill the pan with water and dish soap and leave it overnight. In the morning, rub any leftover film gently with a paste of baking soda and water, applied on a non-abrasive sponge.
Careful. Never use abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, steel wool or scouring powder on nonstick.
Step 5 of 5
Rinse and dry right away
Rinse the pot with warm water until no soap or film is left. Dry it immediately with a towel so no spots form.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for candle wax on pots, pans & bakeware
Look for a nonabrasive, non-chlorine cleanser for stainless, and a non-abrasive sponge for nonstick.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on pots, pans & bakeware, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The pot is clean when the inside feels smooth and no waxy patch remains when you run a fingertip across it. Stainless and enamel should look even, without an oily sheen at an angle. If a tacky or greasy patch remains, go back to the soap soak and repeat the wash.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your pots, pans & bakeware
Stainless steel
Stainless starts with the warm soapy wash, and the cleanser paste comes in only if a greasy film is left behind. Rub the paste in circles with a soft cloth rather than scrubbing hard.
If a faint dull patch remains after rinsing, repeat the paste once and let it sit before rubbing again.
Nonstick pans
Nonstick needs gentle treatment from start to finish. Begin with the overnight soak, and use the baking soda paste only for what's left, rubbed lightly on a non-abrasive sponge.
If film still shows after one round, repeat the soak instead of switching to a harder tool. Repeating the soak works better than pressing harder.
Enameled cast iron
Wash the interior with warm soapy water as usual, and lift wax with a wooden or plastic tool. If a stain stays after the wash, the bleach soak in the set-in section is the only option for this surface.
A small amount of staining is to be expected on enameled cast iron, and it doesn't affect performance, so you don't need to chase every mark.
Wax scorched onto the base
If wax has burned onto the bottom from the burner, run the baking soda boil from the wash step, then wash as in the main steps.
Watch the heat while it boils, since overheating can leave brown or blue marks on stainless.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old wax comes off the same way as fresh wax, because it re-melts when the pot warms. Let the pot cool, then repeat the scraping and wash until no more wax lifts off. Thick old layers may take more than one pass.
On the enamel inside cast iron, a stubborn stain can take a longer soak: 2 to 3 hours in 3 tablespoons household bleach per quart of water. Run it only after the wash, and rinse thoroughly with warm water when it's done.
On stainless, repeat the cleanser paste and let it soak before scrubbing again. Some faint marks can remain after long exposure above 500°F, and they don't hurt cooking, so stop once the pot feels clean.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on candle wax on pots, pans & bakeware?
Most household remedies won't cut wax, so this list is short. A few of these can harm the pot, and the rest either help finish the job or aren't needed.
Works3Helps1Avoid3
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't mix bleach with other cleaners
Bleach mixed with ammonia, vinegar, another acid or rubbing alcohol can give off toxic fumes. Rinse the pot with plain water between any two products, and only use bleach in the enamel soak.
Don't use bleach on aluminum, plain steel or chipped enamel
Those surfaces can't take bleach, so scalding is the way to disinfect them. Keep bleach to sound enamel inside cast iron, as in the set-in soak.
Don't leave an empty pan on the burner
An empty pan on a hot burner can overheat and warp, and nonstick can be damaged. Let the pot cool before you start cleaning.
Don't use metal utensils on enameled cast iron
Metal can chip the enamel. Use a wooden spoon or a plastic scraper when lifting wax or stirring the cleaning soak.
When to call a professional
If the coating is chipped or cracked, or the film still won't lift after the gentle steps, stop scrubbing. Replacing a damaged pot is safer than cooking in one with a loose coating.
Questions
Will old wax come out of a wax pot once it has cooled?
Yes, most of it. Old wax is removed the same way as fresh wax, since it re-melts, so scrape off the hard layer with a dull knife and wash the rest in warm soapy water.
Can white vinegar remove wax from a pan?
No. Vinegar doesn't cut wax, so it won't lift the stain no matter how long it sits.
Scrape off the hard wax first, then use the warm soapy wash for the oily film that's left. Vinegar only comes into play on stainless for cloudy white spots after rinsing, which is a separate problem.
Why is there a colored tint after the wax is gone?
Colored candles can leave a dye behind after the wax itself is gone. Use the cleanser paste on stainless or the baking soda paste on nonstick, and rinse well; if the tint stays, stop rather than reaching for harsher products.
Can I use bleach to clean the inside of my pot?
Only on the interior of enameled cast iron, as the long soak in the set-in section. Other pots are better cleaned with soap, water and the steps above.
Is baking soda paste safe on a nonstick pan?
Yes, when you rub it gently with a non-abrasive sponge after the overnight soak. Keep the pressure light, since the coating is what you're protecting.
What should I do if the pot still feels tacky?
Go back to the warm soapy wash and repeat it, since a tacky feel means film is left. If it still feels tacky after a second round, check the coating for damage before trying anything else.
Candle Wax on other materials
Other stains on pots, pans & bakeware
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.