theoldehearth Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I know this seems like a silly question and I cannot find any answers in the search but what do you guys normally do when cleaning aluminum molds especially votives. Is there an easier and quicker way of cleaning them when you have a large quantity?Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candle Man Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Place molds on a cookie sheet and place in an oven at about 200*F. Let heat for 10-15 minutes then using paper towels hold mold with one paper towel then wipe out mold with another paper towel. Be careful when wiping out mold the top edge is sharp. I don't use metal molds I use glass votive holders.I know some people line the cookie sheet with paper towels and place molds up-side down in the sheet. I don't like this idea, in case you get distracted the paper towel would catch fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILVCANDLES Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I just take my heat gun and when the wax starts to melt take paper towels and wipe the wax off. Be careful molds will be hot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane42 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I HATE cleaning the metal votive molds!! I use the method of paper towel on a cookie sheet, but each one still needs to be wiped out. My fingers are cramped by the time I finish with them. I have to really pay attention to what I am doing, or I end up with a sliced finger! There has GOT to be an easier way!! Candle Man, what glass votive molds do you use? I don't believe I have ever seen them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Upside down on a cookie sheet - when I bother to clean them - and wear gardening gloves! No sliced fingers, no burned knuckles.I usually warm the oven to 200-250, then turn it off and put them in. I worried about them catching on fire also. Set the timer for 8 minutes, wipe 'em out and ready to go again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryb44256 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 i dont have a large quantity, just 16 molds... but wife wont let me near the new appliances with my wax so i just put a paper towel under a few at a time and hit them with my heat gun... then use a couple of knapkins to wipe them out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 I place wax paper on cookie sheet, then paper towels on top of the wax paper to soak up the wax. Put my votives upside down on top of paper towels and place in a warm oven about 175 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.Never had a burning paper towel incident and the molds come out clean without wiping.Then I just lift out the soaked paper towels and wax paper off the cookie sheet I'm done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Double layer of paper towels on the cookie sheet. Use good ones, like Bounty. The cheap ones do not cut the mustard. I still have to wipe mine out.e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scented Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 I still wipe, but I dump all of mine into those aluminium tins that you can reuse and when they get cruddy, I get new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DONNAMAC Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 I must be an oddball. I tried melting them in the oven but after a few burned fingers from getting them out, I stopped that. I put mine in the freezer for a few minutes and the wax just slides off of them, then I wipe with paper towels. So much faster and safer for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmySue Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 hmm I will have to try the oven route too. What I normally do is use our tap water. Hubby has our water heater set real high so that I can clean some of my wax just by melting it away with the hot hot water. (not a ton of wax just a little) Then what I do is, while using rubber dish gloves, I hand wash each one. Sometimes I use a little bit of mold cleaner, but not very often. But boy does the oven method sound a lot easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldehearth Posted October 18, 2006 Author Share Posted October 18, 2006 THANK YOU Amy Sue! I was afraid to tell what method I was using before which was washing them by hot soapy water. Of course there were very very little wax on them but it was such a pain in the butt not to mention time consuming and alot of hand cream for my poor hands. (I hate rubber gloves so I don't wear them). I heeded their advice and tried the oven method and boy I tell you it's soooo much easier and and definitely saves alot of time. Why I didn't think of that before is beyond me because that's pretty close to how I clean my pour pot by wiping it out with paper towels when it's still warm after use.So thank you guys, you're all life savers! ( I still feel like an idiot though):embarasse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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