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The wax left over after scented candles have burned out is perfectly acceptable, and highly recommended, to reuse. This is both environmentally friendly and economical, and allows
you to enjoy the fun of DIY. Below is a detailed explanation of how to reuse wax and some precautions.
Why Reuse Wax?
1. Economical and Environmentally Friendly: Avoids waste, especially for expensive brand-name scented candles.
2. DIY Fun: You can mix waxes of different scents and colors to create your own unique fragrance.
3. Making New Candles: This is the primary use; old wax can be reshaped into new candles.
4. Other Creative Uses: Besides making candles, there are other clever uses for it.
How to Reuse Wax to Make New Candles? It's a simple and fun process with just a few steps:
Step 1: Collecting and Cleaning the Wax
• Collecting the Wax: Make sure the candle has burned out and cooled completely. Use a small spoon or knife to scoop out the remaining wax from the container. If the wax is still in the metal candle holder, you can put it in the freezer for a few hours; the wax will easily detach due to thermal expansion and contraction.
• Remove impurities: Clean the wax block of wick residue, soot, and other visible impurities.
Step Two: Melting the Old Wax
Important Note: Never use an open flame to directly heat the container to melt the wax! Wax is flammable, and direct heating is extremely dangerous.
Recommended method: Use a double boiler:
1. Place the cleaned wax block in a heat-resistant container (such as a glass measuring cup or an old metal can).
2. Place this container in a pot of water.
3. Heat the pot, keeping the water at a simmer. Use the steam to indirectly heat the wax block until it is completely melted.
Step Three: Preparing the New Container and Wick
• Container Selection: You can use the original candle holder (make sure it is clean), or any heat-resistant glass jar, ceramic cup, etc.
• Installing the New Wick: It is strongly recommended to use a new cotton wick. Old wicks have already burned and their performance has deteriorated; reused wicks are likely to produce
black smoke or fail to burn completely.
• Secure the metal piece at the bottom of the new wick to the bottom of the container with glue.
• Use chopsticks or a wick holder to straighten the wick, ensuring it is centered in the container.
Step 4: Mixing and Pouring (Optional)
• Add Fragrance (Optional): The scent of the melted old wax will fade. If you wish to enhance the fragrance, after the wax has melted and is removed from the heat source, add a few
drops of essential oil and stir well. Be careful not to add too much; the general ratio is 5-10% of the wax's weight.
• Add Color (Optional): You can add special candle dye or scrape in a little colored crayon shavings to create a color.
• Pouring: Slowly pour the mixed wax into the prepared new container. Be careful not to move the wick.
Step 5: Cooling and Trimming
• Allow the wax to solidify naturally at room temperature, avoiding drafts, otherwise the surface may crack or become uneven.
• Once completely solidified (usually several hours), trim the wick to approximately 0.5-0.8 cm in length. An excessively long wick can cause an overly large flame and black smoke.
Other creative uses: If you no longer want to make candles, melted wax can be used in these ways:
1. Making tinder/fire starter: Pour melted wax onto crumpled dry paper towels, sawdust, or cotton and let it solidify. It makes an excellent fire starter when camping or starting a fire.
2. Lubricating squeaky hinges: Applying wax to door hinges provides excellent lubrication and reduces noise.
3. Sealing envelopes or letters: Seal envelopes with colored wax for a vintage and ceremonial look.
4. Rust prevention: Applying a thin layer of wax to tools can prevent rust.
Important Precautions
• Safety First: Always use a double boiler method when melting wax and supervise the process at all times, keeping it away from children and pets.
• Do not mix different types of wax: Soy wax, paraffin wax, beeswax, etc., have different melting points and fragrance-carrying capacities; mixing them may result in poor burning or separation. Try to mix materials of the same type.
• Scent may fade: Accept that remade candles will have a weaker scent than the originals; this can be compensated for by adding essential oils.
• Clean the container: Before reusing an old candle holder, be sure to thoroughly clean it with hot water and dish soap to remove any residual wax and ash.
In summary, leftover scented candle wax can be completely reused. As long as you follow safe procedures, you can easily give them a second life, whether by making brand new
custom candles or using them for everyday life hacks.
