Lava lamps are a nostalgic favorite for many people and can be fun to watch. But sometimes, the wax can get stuck at the top, preventing the lamp from working properly.
It is because when the lamp is on, the heat from the light bulb melts the wax, and it falls to the bottom.
If it’s cold in your house, the wax can harden and get stuck at the top.
It can be frustrating because you can’t turn the lamp off or on. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to fix this problem.
How to fix lava lamp wax stuck at top
If the wax has become stuck at the top of your lava lamp, there are a few easy methods you can do to fix it.
1. Pouring hot water
If your lava lamp’s wax is stuck at the top, don’t worry – you can fix it using nothing more than hot water.
First, make sure that your lava lamp is unplugged and cool to the touch. Then, fill a pot or saucepan with hot water and place it on the stove. Bring the water to a boil.
Once the water is boiling, carefully pour it into the top of your lava lamp. The hot water will loosen up the stuck wax and allow it to flow back into the lamp.
After pouring in hot water, give the lava lamp a few minutes to cool down before plugging it in and turning it on. The wax should now be flowing freely through your lava lamp once again.
2. Using a hair dryer
When the wax at the top of your lava lamp starts solidifying, it can be challenging to get it unstuck. You might be tempted to use a sharp object to pry it loose, but that can damage the lamp.
A safer and more effective way to free the wax is with a hair dryer.
First, turn off your lava lamp and unplug it from the wall. Then, use the hair dryer to heat the wax that is stuck.
Be sure to aim the hair dryer at the wax, not the glass bottle, as this could cause the glass to break.
After a few minutes, the wax will start to melt. Once it has melted, use a spoon or chopsticks to remove it from the top of the bottle.
Then, plug in your lava lamp and turn it on. The wax should now be melted and flowing freely down through the lamp.
3. Using a heat gun
If the wax inside your lava lamp has become stuck at the top and is no longer flowing down as it should, you may be able to fix it using a heat gun.
First, ensure that the lamp is unplugged and that you have some newspaper or other protection for your surface.
Then, hold the heat gun about 6 inches from the top of the lamp and turn it on to its highest setting.
Be very careful not to touch the hot wax – it will cause serious burns.
After about 30 seconds, the wax will start to melt. When it’s completely melted, use a spoon or chopsticks to remove it from the top of the lamp.
If there’s still some wax left inside, repeat these steps until it’s all gone.
4. Put in the freezer
Fixing a lava lamp with wax stuck at the top is a simple process by putting it in the freezer.
Put the lava lamp in the freezer for a few hours, and the wax will become brittle and fall off.
The cold will cause the wax to harden, and you can then remove it from the lamp.
Be sure to let the lamp warm up to room temperature before using it again.
5. Using a knife
A knife can be used to fix lava lamp wax stuck at top. The knife can help you get the wax unstuck and working properly again.
First, cut off the top of the lava lamp where the wax is stuck. Be careful not to cut yourself in the process.
After you have cut off the top of the lava lamp, take your knife and insert it into the opening.
Move the knife around until you loosen up the wax. Once you have loosened up the wax, remove the knife and replace the top of the lava lamp.
Now that you have fixed your lava lamp, it should be working correctly again.
Note: Be very careful not to cut yourself!
6. Use a chopstick
When your lava lamp wax gets stuck at the top, don’t panic! All you need is a chopstick to fix the problem. Here’s how:
- Use the chopstick to poke a hole in the wax blocking the lamp’s top. It will help release some of the pressure and make it easier to remove the wax.
- Melt the wax that’s stuck using a lighter or heat gun. Be careful not to get too close to the lamp, as this could cause a fire.
- Use the chopstick to remove the melted wax from inside the lamp. Be careful not to spill any wax on yourself or your furniture.
- Allow the lamp to cool down before turning it back on.
7. Using a vacuum cleaner
When the wax inside your lava lamp becomes too thick and stuck at the top, it’s time to take out the vacuum cleaner.
Put the vacuum cleaner tube over the opening of the lava lamp and turn it on. The suction will pull the wax down from the top so it can be melted again.
Be sure to use a powerful vacuum cleaner, or the wax may not come off. If still wax is left on the glass, apply a little pressure with your hand to help loosen it.
8. Using a spoon
A spoon can be used to help fix the wax that is stuck at the top of a lava lamp. The metal spoon can be inserted into the opening of the lamp and then used to move the wax around.
It will help break up the wax and make it easier for it to flow down through the lamp. Be careful not to break the glass.
9. Use a screwdriver
A screwdriver can be used to fix a lava lamp that has wax stuck at the top.
Simply insert the blade of the screwdriver into the hole at the top of the lamp and twist.
The wax will break free, and you can remove it with a paper towel. Be careful not to force anything, or you could damage your lamp.
10. Use a stovetop
If the wax inside your lava lamp starts to solidify and get stuck at the top, you can use your stovetop to fix it.
Please turn on your stovetop to its lowest setting and place the lava lamp on top. The heat will slowly melt the wax and allow it to flow back down.
Be careful not to let the lamp get too close to the flames, or it may catch on fire.
11. Use vegetable oil
The top of a lava lamp is the most important part because that’s where the wax and oil meet. It can be difficult to fix if the wax gets stuck at the top.
However, vegetable oil can help to get the wax unstuck.
Pour a small amount of vegetable oil into the top of the lava lamp. Use a paper towel to spread the oil around.
Wait for about an hour, and then turn on the lava lamp. The wax should move down to the bottom of the lamp.
12. Using a toothpick
Toothpicks can be used to fix lava lamps with wax stuck at the top. The wax is usually stuck because of a carbon build-up on the wick.
To fix the lamp, remove the cap from the top of the lamp. Then insert the toothpick into the opening.
Twist it around until you loosen the wax, then remove it from the lamp. Clean up any excess wax with a paper towel, then replace the cap on the lamp.
How to prevent the wax from sticking to the top
When your lava lamp is not used, the wax can form a layer at the top of the liquid. This wax can be hard to remove and cause your lamp not to work correctly. To prevent this from happening, you can follow these steps:
- Make sure you use a high-quality wax designed for lava lamps.
- Make sure that your lamp is clean before adding any liquid. Any dirt or dust at the top of the lamp can cause the wax to stick.
- Do not let the lamp sit for long periods without being used. The heat from the light will help keep the wax melted and stop it from sticking.
- If you notice some wax has built up at the top, use a spoon or chopstick to remove it. Be careful not to disturb the liquid too much, or it could affect your lamp’s work.
- Clean the top of the lamp with a damp cloth occasionally. It will help remove any built-up wax and will help keep your lamp running smoothly.
Conclusion
Wax stuck at the top of the lava lamp could be annoying. It can cause the lava lamp not to work properly.
However, using the above method, you can clean the wax that sticks easily. If these methods fail, you may need to get a new lava lamp.
Hopefully, this guide makes it easier for you to fix your lava lamp wax stuck at the top.
What Color Curtains Go With Brown Walls (19 Best Ideas)