# Wax Removal **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2000, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473 "2000-06-25T17:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![saucy\_potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@saucy\_potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucy_potato)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/1 "2000-06-25T17:25:00Z")
I need help… How can I remove dried wax from a frying pan? It’s caked on enough that it won’t simply peel off. Any suggestions? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Holly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/48db29/32.png) [@Holly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Holly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/2 "2000-06-25T18:19:20Z")
I would try putting paper towels in the pan, then heating over low heat. Change the paper towels as needed until all the wax is removed. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/3 "2000-06-25T21:09:30Z")
Well fo starters I would use a hair dryer set on hot (do this outside because wax will spatter everywhere) to melt and blow away the majority the wax. If possible then submerge the pan in extremly hot water. Allow to cool. peal wax off surface of water and repeat as needed. You will need to reseason the pan and possily use steel wool to remove rust. Make sure the pan is wax and steel wool free before heating it in or on a stove. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/4 "2000-06-25T22:31:32Z")
Use Holly’s suggestion except newspaper will soak up the wax.It’s a lot cheaper. Before you do anything I would try putting the pan in the freezer and when it is very cold try peeling . By the way if you get a drop of wax on your carpet put newspaper over the wax and Iron the newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/5 "2000-06-25T22:46:17Z")
if there is any wax on the outside do not heat it on a stove. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2000, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/6 "2000-06-25T23:55:42Z")
Or you can just put it in the ice box & itll flake off later. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/7 "2000-06-26T06:37:46Z")
If it’s cast iron, have it bead-blasted. Of course, you’ll have to re-season it. If it has a finish on it, don’t bead-blast it. You could probably try taking it to one of those high-pressure car washes (the ones with the pistol-grip wands). Set it on wash, and it’ll probably strip the wax off pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/8 "2000-06-26T06:47:57Z")
It just occured to me. Wax floats. Just boil water in the pan and skim off the wax. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/9 "2000-06-26T13:07:09Z")
I just want to emphasize how important it is to be careful. Hubby caught a waxy pan on fire once. Watch it carefully. You don’t need to bring the pan to a boil. Doing so may cause splatter that can catch fire. You do not want to have to get wax off of the stove either. ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/10 "2000-06-26T16:56:16Z")
To add to the notes of caution, you do not want the wax to get above 250(degrees F), as it will produce toxic fumes and may catch fire. Work in a well-ventilated room and have something ready to smother any flames which may occur. ---
**Author:** ![fluffinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@fluffinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluffinator)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/11 "2000-06-27T02:42:16Z")
Ok, I admit it, this is one I’ve never encountered… just exactly how do you get a waxy buildup on your pans in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/12 "2000-06-27T02:57:49Z")
well, i was putting a beeswax finish on some wood work once. making candles another time. ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/13 "2000-06-27T08:57:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > well, i was putting a beeswax finish on some wood work once. making candles another time. > \*\* Oh, so this pan is designated as the wax pan. Which presumes that you decided to use it for that at the time and were not worried about the wax buildup, since you have had wax on it for some time. Now I’m curious. Why do you suddenly have the need to reconstitute the pan? Will it still be used for wax, or do you intend to cook oysters in it? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wax-removal/23473/14 "2000-06-27T12:48:44Z")
I did not post the OP. I needed the pan clean because i use differenr types of wax and also hubby dropped the pan in a bunch of melted wax so the outside was waxy as well.