How to Reuse an Old Candle

Have you ever had a candle that just didn’t burn like it was supposed to? There is a solution to make that old candle burn like new.

Steps

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    Take out the candle you'd like to reuse.
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    Plug the candle warmer in the socket and turn it on.
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    Place the candle in a jar, if it's not already in one.
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    Put the candle on the candle warmer hot plate. Exercise caution while working with the hot plate.
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    Allow time for the old candle to completely melt.
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    Dip the new wick into the melted wax. Be careful while doing this, as you can easily burn yourself.
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    Give it a few minutes to dry. It should do this relatively quickly.
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    Dip the wick again in the melted wax.
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    Let it dry for a few minutes. Make sure the wick is well coated.
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    Place the wick into the empty jar. You should wash your hands after this, because your hands are probably covered in wax.
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    Pour the wax into the jar with the wick. Make sure the jar doesn't overflow, because this can create a big mess. The melted wax will still be hot, so don't burn yourself. It's a good idea to use oven mitts for this part.
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    Take the wick out of the jar carefully.
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    Allow to dry and harden. This could take up to a day, depending on the temperature. For immediate drying, place it in the sun outside.
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    Place it in a safe area
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    Take a lighter, light the candle, and enjoy its fragrance.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What do I use if I haven't got a wax melter
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can use a double boiler, which is basically just a pot filled with water and a heat resistant bowl on top. You can put your wax in the bowl and stir slowly.
  • Question
    Should I use a double boiler to heat the wax?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, I would suggest using a double boiler.
  • Question
    How can I keep the "sinking" wick from being suffocated again and again?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    When you cut it, leave it longer so it has time to melt the surrounding wax before the wick is too small to burn.
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Warnings

  • Burn candle within sight. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Never burn on or near anything flammable. Keep wick trimmed to ¼” and wait to create a new one when the candle has burned down to a ½” of wax.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need

  • An old candle (the one you want to make like new)
  • 2 jars, if the old candle is not already in one
  • A pack of candle wicks
  • A candle warmer

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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 9 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 49,050 times.
39 votes - 95%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: March 29, 2022
Views: 49,050
Categories: Candle Making
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