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Cleaning Wax Poured Down a Drain?

Water going down a sink drain.
If melted candle type wax is accidentally poured down one of your drains there are a couple of common approaches to resolving this problem. One is to dismantle the plumbing or you can try hot water, vinegar, and perhaps the addition of baking soda. This is a page about cleaning wax poured down a drain.
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Questions

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February 23, 2006

One of our kids did a NO-NO and was playing around with a candle. The "excess" wax was poured down the bathroom drain. ARGH! The house is a rental, pipes are 70's vintage PVC. What can I do to remove the wax?



HELP!

Aardvark from VA

Answers

February 24, 20062 found this helpful
Best Answer

I personally wouldn't pour Boiling water down the drain, try a few ice cubes and ice cold water. that will make the wax hard. chances are it is sitting in the "P" trap (bent pipe under the sink) undo the P shaped pipe and take out the cold wax. chances are there is enough soap residue around the inside of the pipe that it hasn't STUCK on it.

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use some plumbers tape around the treads of the pipe and screw it back together, if not sure how to disconnect and reconnect the pipe, go to your local library and get a how to book on home repair. its not hard and can save you a lot of money! Good Luck!

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By jaxi3. (Guest Post)
March 3, 20061 found this helpful
Best Answer

I believe I would try a combination of baking soda and vinegar, which sets of a chemical reaction that will heat up. Then flush with hot water. You may have to do this a few times, but, I think short of taking apart the pipes, this might be a good idea.
Good Luck

Reply Was this helpful? 1
By Carol Churchill (Guest Post)
March 7, 20066 found this helpful
Best Answer

Pour down the drain:
one cup bicarbonate of soda
one cup white vinegar
one kettle boiling water, in that sequence.
Success guaranteed!

Reply Was this helpful? 6
September 2, 20160 found this helpful
Best Answer

I heated vinegar and baking soda brought to a boil, poured it into the candle wax which had seeped inside the kitchen sink drain with no relief previously from ice and snake attempts. I then followed by pouring boiled water, followed by some more bolied vinegar and baking soda, again bolied water then with wire hsnger continued to move it insid the drain.

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Did this several times. RESOLVED! I have a free flowing water drainage drain!

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November 28, 20161 found this helpful
Best Answer

This method did work. I really only had to do it once to clear the drain, but I did it twice to be sure - it's been 12 hours since I gave this method a try and the drain is still clog free. I like that this was a simple fix and didn't cost much or anything really since I already had the ingredients in my house. Thank you for your tip!

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By Annie (Guest Post)
February 23, 20062 found this helpful

Have you tried great quantities of boiling water ?
That might help - but it would take a lot

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Diamond Feedback Medal for All Time! 1,317 Feedbacks
February 23, 20060 found this helpful

move....? I would call a plumber and ask what
he/she would suggest you do...its a free call...

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Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 215 Feedbacks
February 24, 20060 found this helpful

pour lots of hot boiling hot water down the drain.

Zig

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By dylan (Guest Post)
March 6, 20060 found this helpful

Did you find a reliable method to fix the problem, Aardvark? Funnily enough I have this exact same conundrum right now and am hoping to avoid calling a plumber, too : /

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January 14, 20110 found this helpful

Thanks Carol the baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water worked perfectly. You saved the day, we're expecting house guests. :)

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Anonymous
January 3, 20160 found this helpful

This method worked with my kitchen sink eventhough the wax was trapped further down in the pipe. It unblocked it straightaway:)
Thanks for the brill tip.

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January 14, 20170 found this helpful

I will first like to say this can happen and there is a way to undo it. I happened to pour wax down a toilet, it was deeply a learning experience:). It was a nerve wreaking kind of thing but yes, hot water did work, a balanced amount. I would use the tub hot water to fill it a little, it helped reduce use of the toilet water which could possibly run over because of too much water.

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Then I would plunge the toilet slowly and a little pressure at times, "balance is key".

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January 23, 20170 found this helpful

It just happened to me!!! Melted hot wax accidentally seeped out of the box and went into the pipe on the kitchen sink. Called the maintenance guys, they tried n tried n tried, to no avail. Once they left, i heat up vinegar (i mix white and apple cider), then mix with baking powder (thats all i had!). Also boiled water. Poured the vinegar mix, then water. Then the mix, followed by water. I did this for 2 rounds, and walla! Not clogged anymore! Crossing my fingers. Even if it does, I'll do the mix again.

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June 4, 20170 found this helpful

This worked like a charm, just don't forget to prepare with lots of towels and a bucket

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December 23, 20171 found this helpful

Worked!! Let hot water run with vinegar and worked!!

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Anonymous
January 16, 20180 found this helpful

Carol u lifesaver

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February 17, 20180 found this helpful

I literally just done it now!! My daughter tipped candle wax down the upstairs sink and it was very blocked so I decided to boil the kettle and it worked sinks unblocked and it only took one kettle full! I may try again in a half hour just to top up any extra parts

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February 27, 20180 found this helpful

Ive just done this and still no luck

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March 8, 20180 found this helpful

The boiling water worked. Lots of boiling water. Like two hours worth.

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March 13, 20180 found this helpful

Hair removal wax down the bathroom sink! Ugh. It is so sticky. I dumped boiling water then baking soda then vinegar. Then plunged it twice. It worked!

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Anonymous
April 21, 20180 found this helpful

I used a metal kabob skewer and poked down the drain like a snake, worked for me!!

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April 21, 20181 found this helpful

I used a metal kabob skewer and poked down the drain like a snake, worked for me!!

Reply Was this helpful? 1
June 25, 20180 found this helpful

Thank you Carol. I didnt have enough baking soda, so I used washing soda and vinegar. Then boiling water. It worked! Result, marvellous! Wax gone!

Reply Was this helpful? Yes
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