everyday chemistry - How to dissolve candle wax (paraffin)?

Wikipedia states that waxes can be dissolved by non-polar organic solvents.

I failed to dissolve candle wax in both acetone and ethanol, which are the only organic solvents I have at home.

I have some clothes with wax stuck on them. How can I dissolve the wax and drive it away without damaging my clothing?

Answer

Ethanol and acetone are not non-polar organic solvents. Each one has a slight dipole moment; due to the difference of electronegativity between $\ce{H}$ and $\ce{O}$ in ethanol and between $\ce{C}$ and $\ce{O}$ in acetone. Wax is composed of heavy, long-chain alkanes. And as "Like dissolves like" try to dissolve your wax in toluene or in xylene.