Chanukkah is on the way – Yay!
I love Chanukkah so much. I find sitting with the candles to be a relaxing way to spend my evening. I love to watch them all burn together and create a beautiful glow.
The thing about Chanukkah though is it’s kind of a messy holiday. The oil seems to get everywhere. If the oil missed a spot, the wax from the candles dripped there! So here are a few of my tips and tricks for making Chanukkah easier to clean up from!
We mostly use oil for our Chanukiot so wax dripping isn’t a huge deal but to light the wicks I found this USB-charged lighter works really well. Sure, you have to remember to charge it, but the charge lasts a long time, it should last you all 8 nights, and even give you some extra juice to light your regular Shabbat candles. No more matches everywhere, just one clean streamlined tool!
As a side note, if we do use candles – I make sure to gently coat the chanukiah in olive oil so that the wax comes off when I wash it in warm soapy water. I use a paintbrush to get into all the cracks and crevices, but you could also use an oil sprayer or a cooking spray of your choice.
If you’re using oil in the kitchen – investing in a splatter screen will help keep splashes in check – I like this fry shield because you can get different color handles to help you determine if it’s meat or dairy.
Many people buy pre-filled gel oil candles for Chanukkah.
I get it – it’s easier – but it’s also a lot of waste – consider glass cups instead. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with wicks. The metal wick holders can be recycled after use or you can reuse them next year and just buy new wicks.
For more on best practices to celebrate Chanukah pick up your copy of Organized Jewish Life and the Organized Jewish Life Shabbat and Holiday planner – they both make great gifts!