Handle the lamp with care. The wax may be compromised if the lamp is run for more than 10 continuous hours or if the lamp is shaken or dropped. A murky liquid is a sign that the wax is compromised.
Unplug the lamp and let it sit overnight. Do not touch the glass of a recently run lava lamp because the liquid can be very hot. If this is not sufficient to solidify the wax, try one of the following steps.
Turn the air conditioning on. Set the air conditioner to the 60-degree range and run it for a few hours.
Leave the lamp outside. Check the weather forecast for expected temperatures; the ideal range is below 60 degrees and above 40 degrees. You may need to leave the lamp outside overnight.
Put the lamp in the refrigerator. Make sure the fridge is not on the lowest setting so the water in the lamp does not freeze. Refrigerator temperatures range from 30 to 48 degrees.