Post-Hanukkah Cleanup Tips Using Natural, Non-Toxic Methods
With 2025 coming to an end, it's that time of year again when preparations for the eight days of celebrations for Hanukkah begin. Candles are lit every night, families celebrate with traditional food, and gifts are exchanged. However, with Hanukkah celebrations comes a lot of clean-up, from candle wax on menorahs to chocolate stains on clothing. So, we compiled our best natural cleaning tips to help you prepare for the aftermath of your Hanukkah celebration.
Cleaning your Hanukkah Menorah
Celebrating the festival of lights with a menorah candle for each night of Hanukkah is a holiday tradition. With a constant flow of lighting candles over the 8 days, Menorahs tend to gather wax, allowing for oils to build up, and depending on what your Menorah is made of, it can be pretty tricky to clean.
These days, there are some hacks, such as dripless candles, to help avoid cleaning a Menorah, but if you are using traditional candles, there are some tricks to help deal with candle wax cleanup. Candles can be frozen to slow their burn, making them last a little longer. Spraying your menorah with cooking spray will prevent the wax from sticking to the frame. Drip cups or trays are also great for protecting your Menorah and avoiding additional cleanup. Even consider experimenting with an electric menorah to reduce your cleaning time.
Depending on what your Menorah is made from, you can clean it in different ways. If your menorah is made of metal, placing it under heat will help melt the wax away. Using a hairdryer, placing it at a low setting in the oven, or soaking it in warm water should do the job. Be sure to put a sheet of grease-proof paper under the Menorah so it can catch all the wax drips.
Freezing the Menorah is another approach that will help clean the frame, as the cold will harden the wax, making it easier to crack off. If your Menorah is made of a more fragile material, be selective on what method you use to clean it. Glass or plastic menorahs could crack if the temperature is too hot or too cold.
If your Menorah is made of wood, cleaning it at high heat could warp it. It's best to keep the heat at a medium level to soften the wax and then remove it with a cloth. Use a mix of vinegar and water to remove any excess wax, and afterward, a touch of natural polish made with olive oil and lemon juice will restore the wood's shine.
Removing Candle Wax from Carpets
Removing candle wax from carpets or materials is almost inevitable during Hanukkah. One of the best ways to remove the wax is to let it harden, then gently scrape it loose with a blunt knife that won't damage the carpet. For any remaining wax, take a damp all-purpose cloth, fold it, and place it over it. Set your iron to high heat and press it against the cloth in 10-second intervals. This should help draw the wax from the carpet and into the towel. If a stain is left on the carpet, dilute white vinegar with water and a little salt as a DIY natural carpet cleaner.
Natural Ways to Clean Kitchen Grease After Hanukkah
A big part of commemorating Hanukkah is celebrating with food over the 8 days, which can make it hard to keep the kitchen clean. Dirty dishes pile up, grease splatters accumulate from frying latkes, loukoumades and sufganiyot, and burnt oil can be a disaster to clean from pots and pans. For burnt pans with a layer of blackened oil, it's best to soak them overnight in soapy water for at least 5/6 hours, then wash them in the morning with a spray of kitchen cleaner and a kitchen cloth. If those stains still resist, try sprinkling scouring powder over the stains and scrubbing to remove any remaining burnt bits.
To remove grease splatters that build up from frying traditional Hanukkah food, vinegar is a great natural solution with grease-busting properties. However, if you have marble or granite countertops, don't spray them with vinegar and leave them to soak, as the acid can etch the surface and make it look dull. Instead, spray your vinegar solution onto a microfiber cloth and wipe the surfaces, or use warm water with a bit of dish soap to remove any built-up grease.
How to Remove Grease Stains from Clothing
When it comes to Hanukkah, grease stains are a problem in more ways than one. Grease splatters in the kitchen can land on your clothing. Pre-treat any grease stains with natural dish soap or a natural laundry detergent and rinse the material with hot water, provided it won't damage the fabric. Add a little more soap or detergent to lather the stain, then leave it to sit for a while before putting it in the washing machine. If the stain hasn't been entirely removed after the wash, putting it in the dryer can set the stain and leave a permanent mark, so allow the clothing to air-dry. If a stain is still visible after washing and air drying the item of clothing, you might have to resort to stronger methods. For white or bright clothes, treatment with oxygen-based bleach might do the trick, but make sure the material allows it! For sensitive material or dark clothing, try an all-natural, eco-friendly stain remover. Wash and air-dry after treatment again to see your success.
Cleaning Chocolate Stains
When kids are involved in Hanukkah, giving Chanukah gelt, chocolate coins, can get a little messy with chocolaty fingerprints. If chocolate stains are on a hard surface, an all-purpose cleaner should help remove them. However, getting chocolate stains off garments, upholstery, and carpets can be a bit more difficult, so it's best to act fast. Refrigerate the garment for about 15 minutes to prevent stains from spreading, then lay it flat on a counter and use a sharp-edged knife to scrape away as much excess chocolate as possible.
Scraping away will only remove so much of the stain, so some materials will need to be pre-treated and blotted with a natural laundry detergent or a natural concentrated dish soap before washing.
Stains on carpets and upholstery can be cleaned with a vinegar-and-water mixture. Always remember to blot stains clean rather than rub them. Rubbing a stain into a carpet can push it deeper into the carpet's fibres, making it more difficult to remove.
Ask for help - When to Call a Professional Cleaning Service
Celebrating Hanukkah is always an enjoyable time for all involved. Preparing for the clean-up that's to come will give you more time to enjoy the festivities with your family, friends, and children. At the end of the day, AspenClean is always here to lend a hand; let us handle the cleanup so you don't have to. Book a post-Hanukkah cleaning (if you’re lucky enough to live around Vancouver, Calgary, or Toronto) on our website today, and let our AspenClean Team take care of the holiday aftermath.