A deparaffinizing composition and method are provided for removing paraffin wax from biological samples. The deparaffinizing composition may include: a paraffin solvent that may be a first apolar paraffin solvent; a second apolar solvent that may be at least partially miscible with water; a first polar solvent that may be miscible with both water and apolar solvents; a second polar solvent that may be water; and a detergent. The deparaffinizing method may include the steps of: incubating the sample for a time period in a deparaffinizing composition; and rinsing the sample with an aqueous buffer. Preferably, the step of incubating the sample for a time period in the deparaffinizing composition may include heating the sample and the composition to between approximately 35 to 65 degrees Celsius.