Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle old candles?

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:13:01 +0000

Sand candles! Go to the beach, build a bonfire and melt your leftover wax in coffee cans. While they are melting, dig your “molds” in the sand. You can press in sea shells, rocks, driftwood, etc. You can poke your fingers into the sand to create “legs” and do all sorts of fun things. Then carefully place your wick in the bottom tied to a stick resting across the top. Carefully pour in your wax. Let harden. After they have hardened, dig them out of the sand and brush off the loose sand. You can “paint” melted wax over the surface to seal or leave them natural. I use them on our deck for evening mood lighting.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:54:42 +0000

I have been using one of those candle warmers for my scented candles, but after a while the scent seems to disappear, and once you use them in a candle warmer, the wick is useless.

So, once the smell is gone from the candle, I just take the hot melted wax and leave it in its jar to start cooling. Once the wax started to solidify, and the wax is still soft enough, I just push an emergency candle down the center.

Long burning candles, clean containers, nothing wasted!

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:06:16 +0000

For white candles – grate the wax, use in a brandy snifter or glass bowl, fill about 1/3 ot 1/2 up, decorate with trees or figurines. Grated white wax is your snow in the scene.

By: renae

renae — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:33:13 +0000

To add to this idea: I made a candle once like this. I poured 2 – 3 inches of wax into the tube and just as it started to harden, I added a few ice cubes pieces. I repeated this process until the tube was filled. When the tube is cut away from the molded candle, there is a Swiss cheese-like effect and it is very pretty! You will have to do this over the sink because the ice will have melted and will drain from the holes that have been created.

By: renae

renae — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:27:58 +0000

I have melted wax that was still in the glass container. I keep my burner on the lowest setting and carefully pour out wax as it melts. I have not had any problem with the jar breaking. With that said, I think it is important to take into consideration how heavy the glass is. If the glass is delicate or thin, I would not try it. If this is the case, maybe it would be better to dig out the wick from the jar, replace it w/a new one, and then create a new candle in that container w/different candle scraps.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:52:24 +0000

I use my old candles, melt them down in candy molds and just set them out at different holidays.I have a leaf mold snow man and bears.

By: Quick Recycling Tip: How to Recycle Used Candle Wax | Recycling Tip: How to Recycle Old Candles | Easy Ways to Go Green

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:56:36 +0000

[...] out Recycle This UK for more info on recycling used wax [...]

By: Emma

Emma — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:10:29 +0000

Hi,

I wanted to colour the candles I’m making (but I don’t have coloured crayons) – was wondering if I could use food colouring, or will this not work?

Thanks

By: Caroline

Caroline — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:38:21 +0000

Hi all,

I once say a nifty candle recycler on a camp site. Someone had this burning on a fairly breezy evening and the flame was burning really well. She told me she bought it on a market while she was on a trip in Europe and it was called an everlasting garden candle. A nephew of my bought one for me while he was in France and I love it! I know of only one place where you can buy these on the internet. There is a listing on Ebay that has the same kind of candle recycler: http://shop.ebay.com/smarter_deals/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Cheers, Antoinette.

By: Mathew Joseph

Mathew Joseph — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:10:43 +0000

I have lot of used wax with dust, ash, burned wigs etc. When melted, it has a blacking colour. Is there any way I can get rid of all this blackish substance?

Thanks,

Mathew

By: lynn wilson

lynn wilson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:03:23 +0000

My grandfather used to make colorful christmas candles. I think he used my old crayons to drip colors down the sides of large wax cylinders which I think he made from old candles. I wonder if I could use melted wax dripping from used candles of different colors to decorate the outside of the recycled candles? I have boxes of used candles.

By: janet

janet — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:38:15 +0000

How do I reuse pringles tubes

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:11:36 +0000

Put the (glass) candle container in some HOT water to above the wax line. When wax is melted, set container out to cool and insert a toothpick in the center when wax is pliable enough to hold it up. When wax is hard (or nearly hard), remove toothpick and insert new wick. You now can continue to use the candle. (I haven’t done this for several years, but am ready to try it again, as I have a newfound interest in using scented candles).

By: Kimberley

Kimberley — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:15:41 +0000

Very bad idea. Candle wax and cheese wax are not the same thing. Candle wax is harder, and more likely to crack, which is very very bad. And the scents and dyes in most candles are nasty and possibly toxic.

By: Louise

Louise — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:45:12 +0000

Save all the odd ends of candles. Save or scrounge a pringles crisp tube (or any similar, will do). In an old saucepan (it’s good to have one that can be used for messy jobs like wax melting or dying) gently melt all the bits until they are liquid. Fish out the bits of wick. Take a small pebble and tie a new wick longer than the tube (c/o handcraft shop for instance) you can use a little wax to anchor it in place. Tape a piece of string across the top of the tube and fix the wick so it’s straight up. Pour in the warmed wax. I used a couple of slightly scentled candle bits and the smell was much better than the original candles! it takes a time to cool so don’t rush removing the tube’s cardboard. Hey Presto – a long life recycled candle.

By: louisa

louisa — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:27:50 +0000

There is a great tutorial here – http://dmarmar.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/crafts-recycling-candles/

By: Dejavuinvestment

Dejavuinvestment — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:21:59 +0000

I have tons of old candle that have lots of wax still to be burned, how can I recycle these candles and make new ones?,

Thanks

Deja Vu

By: alison bailey smith

alison bailey smith — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:44:06 +0000

I’d check the toxicity of the candle before I did this!

By: Minaretmuse

Minaretmuse — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:13:49 +0000

If you have a lot of leftover wax from a container candle, try replacing the expired wick with one from a tealight. Extract the wick & metal holder from a tealight. Melt the wax in the bottom of your candle with matches and remove old wick and poke the new wick into the softened centre. Crumble a bit of wax around your new wick before lighting it. Once the wax softens reshape it a bit closer to the wick by poking it in with a pencil. Burn as usual until all the wax is gone. A little more wax-poking and reshaping may be required depending on how much candle is left.

By: Gail Sharratt

Gail Sharratt — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:59:59 +0000

I am in Buckingham and would love the candles if still available.

thanks

By: elle

elle — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:37:33 +0000

there is a type of art called “encaustic” which uses colored wax or crayons or wax that you add color to. you have to use a small torch or some heat source. this art goes back a few centuries, but you can still buy items to do this, just google encaustic art and check it out.

By: Andrew Walker

Andrew Walker — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:24:52 +0000

You can use them as the waxy coatings for cheese if you make homemade cheese, and vice versa.

By: How can I reuse or recycle wax from cheese? » How can I recycle this? Creative ideas for reusing and recycling random stuff

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:12:35 +0000

[...] How can I reuse or recycle … old candles? « How can I reuse or recycle an old rubber bath mat? [...]

By: Janet

Janet — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:17:15 +0000

Put them on FREECYCLE, you will be amazed by what people want.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:57:36 +0000

Can anyone local to Buckingham make use of used white and red church candles

By: Ann_Chanted

Ann_Chanted — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:00:06 +0000

I recycle my old candles all the time and it’s amazing how long you can get the wax to last if you keep recycling it. I burn candles every night and haven’t bought any in months. For holders, I will use anything from soup cans to pickle jars and decorate them appropriately with fabric, spray paint, ribbons, flowers, anything I have lying around. For wicks, I have a pair of old 100% cotton flannel pants that I’ve cut up and I just take a small strip (about a quarter inch wide) and twist it and then dip it in hot wax while it’s twisted and that works out wonderfully as a wick.

On a side note, when I use glass jars, I try to use the ones that are heat tempered, like pickle jars or canning jars, and then I will pour in three or four intervals just to be on the safe side. None have broken on me yet, so I guess I’m doing something right.

By: Angek

Angek — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:02:10 +0000

Wow! These are great tips, thank you! My partner and I are trying to be pro-active in our care for the planet and had been distressed at the candle waste problem…now we have a solution! Hooray! I am showing her this website and acquiring the required resources as part of her eco-Christmas gifts…your help has been much appreciated!
Merry Christmas! :o) xxx

By: ruth

ruth — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:33:08 +0000

Can I melt the wax in a double boiler if it is still in the glass jar it came in? I don’t want to break it – I want to melt/remove the wax, add a new wick and repour it back into this jar. Thanks!

By: Julie xx

Julie xx — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 09:03:13 +0000

You can easily melt down all your left over candle wax which i did a few months ago and now i make all my own candles. I use a website at http://www.4candles.co.uk to get all the candle making materials that i need.

By: How can I reuse or recycle … paraffin candles without making them into other candles? » How can I recycle this?

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:14:04 +0000

[...] covered candles and their wax about a year ago but Chris Petescia has emailled with a more specific query about paraffin-based [...]