As there is always a risk of getting wax on your clothing, don't wear anything you aren't willing to throw away! Old T-shirts make good aprons — loose but not floppy enough to catch on pot handles. Smocks are available for cover-ups. Popovers — loose, shapeless dresses — are also good. Make sure your clothing is not flammable. Cotton is a good choice. Old jeans and denim shirts also work well.

How to Remove Wax from Clothes

Suppose you do get wax on a garment you don't want to discard. What to do? Here are some suggestions:

• Remove the garment and let the wax cool. If you get a small spot of wax on a washable garment, use an ice cube to freeze it. If the spill is large, or on a “dry-clean only” garment, put the garment in the freezer. Examine it — if the wax has not penetrated the fiber of the fabric, you can usually snap it off by bending the fabric around the wax.

• Iron the fabric with a warm iron using several layers of paper toweling on both sides. The iron will melt the wax and the paper towels will absorb it. You may have to repeat this procedure, changing the paper towels each time.

• Freeze the garment until the wax is brittle; then chip it off.

• If all home remedies fail, take the garment to a good dry-cleaner. Advise the dry-cleaner that it is a wax stain.