Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - How to remove wax before staining?

Hi,
My wife has a beatiful artisinal buffet with a natural finish but well waxed. We both agree it would be enriched with a nice stain and satin varnish (before I ruin it with food stains).

I guess I need to remove the wax. How should I do that and the prep the surface?

I stained and poly'd some new oak doors and they re wonderful so I'm confortable in stain and varnishing but I also know what can arise from waxes and oils...I don't want sticky bubbles forever.

Thank you,
Mark

I'm sure there are other ways but I usually sand and wash with paint thinner.

If you have a safe place to take it like outside or basement denatured alcohol and a semi ridgid brush works really well. Don't forget to lay plastic down first and have plenty of paper towels on hand to wipe it down.