Dear Heloise: Your method of removing wax from candlesticks for Stacy M., in Royal Oak, Michigan, was to use a hair dryer on medium heat. I find that putting the candlesticks in the freezer (usually overnight) allows you to remove the now frozen wax with a flick of your nails. Good luck with this idea! — Vicky L., Hendersonville, North Carolina Vicky, yes, freezing wax is another method that works well. — Heloise SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise@Heloise.com ALARMS FOR THE HEARINGIMPAIRED Dear Heloise: Reading the letter from Margaret, in California, about being able to hear alarm clocks reminded me that smoke alarms can be hard to hear when individuals remove their hearing aids to sleep. However, solutions to this problem are available: There are alarms that flash bright lights as they sound. There are also devices called bed shakers that are activated when your alarm sounds. These are available commercially, and in many communities, they are available for free through corporate grants to fire departments or the American Red Cross.