Kind of a nostalgic look back at a very effective solvent that is rapidly becoming unavailable in the US due to recent treaties banning such clorinated hydrocarbons. I have about 20 pints of it left, too valuable to use on a common candlewax situation.

1,1,1 triclorethane and its close cousins used to be considered a safe alternative to carbon tetra cloride, and was used extensively to clean electronic components.  One unique feature of these solvents that had a clorine atom attached was an otherwise dangerously explosive or flammable chemical was thus rendered nonflamable and nonconductive to electricity.  This class of chemical, though not as dangerous (directly) to humans as the former solvents they replaced, or the newer solvents that are in turn replacing them, were however implicated as a catylist in the atmosphere that facilitated aggressive destruction of our protective ozone shield against the sun's powerful UV radiation.  That darn chlorine atom, so useful on the ground, can be otherwise when let on the loose.

More....

Thanks,

Lee

ps. there are better ways to get rid of the wax involving a hair dryer and regular paper.