Brooke Martin
Candles can be restored and reused in various ways. This is especially useful when your favourite candle has burned down so far that it can no longer be lit. The process of restoring a candle involves fixing issues such as candle tunneling and a buried or too-short wick. Candle tunneling occurs when only a small area of wax around the wick melts, creating a small hole instead of allowing the entire surface of the wax to melt evenly. This can cause the wick to become buried in wax. To fix this, you can melt the wax around the wick using a heat gun, blow dryer, oven, grill, or by holding a long wand candle lighter over the area. Once the wax is melted, you can adjust the wick and let the wax harden again. It is also possible to reuse leftover candle wax by melting it and pouring it into new moulds with a wick to create new candles or wax melts.
Characteristics and Values Table for Restoring a Candle After Melting
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause of candle wick being buried or too short | Drastic temperature changes, especially during shipping or delivery |
| Solution | Soften the surrounding wax by melting it with a heat gun, blow dryer, or long wand candle lighter |
| Alternative solution | Use a long wand candle lighter or an extra-long match and hold the flame directly on top of the wick for up to 30 seconds to melt the surrounding wax |
| Preventative measure | Trim the wick regularly to prevent curling and "mushrooming" |
| Tunneling issue | The flame burrows into the wax, leading to candle tunneling, causing the wick to get buried |
| Solution for tunneling | Melt the entire surface of the candle with a heat gun or oven, then use a toothpick or skewer to make a hole for a replacement wick |
| Alternative solution for tunneling | Wrap the candle with foil paper and burn it for a couple of hours until the entire surface melts |
| Wax reuse ideas | Melt and pour into small molds, create wax melts, make floral wax sachets, or create new candles |
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What You'll Learn
- Fix a short wick by melting surrounding wax with a heat gun or blow dryer
- Prevent wax from sticking to glass by placing the candle in the freezer
- Fix candle tunneling by burning a small area for 30 seconds
- Fix tunneling by melting the entire surface with a heat gun
- Reuse wax by melting and pouring into moulds with a wick
Fix a short wick by melting surrounding wax with a heat gun or blow dryer
If your candle wick is too short, you can fix it by melting the surrounding wax with a heat gun or blow dryer. This method is particularly useful if your wick has become buried in wax due to tilting, bending, or curling.
Firstly, grab your heat gun or blow dryer and turn it on to the highest setting. Hold it over the wick to melt the surrounding wax. If your wick has become buried due to tilting, bending, or curling, stop heating the wax once it has softened. If your wick was simply too short, continue melting the wax until you have an even layer of liquid wax on the surface.
The next step is to dig out the wick. If your wick was simply too short, pour out some of the melted wax until there is about ⅛ to ¼ inch of wick above the surface. You can also use a paper towel to soak up excess wax. If your wick was buried, use tweezers or a Q-tip to nudge the wick back into an upright position, ensuring it sticks out above the surface of the wax.
Now, let the wax cool. Once it has set, light your candle again and allow it to burn until the entire top layer of wax has melted. This will reset the candle's "memory", preventing the wick from becoming buried again.
In addition to the heat gun or blow dryer method, there are other ways to fix a short wick. If you don't have access to a heat gun or blow dryer, you can use a long wand candle lighter or an extra-long match to melt the surrounding wax. Hold the flame directly on top of the wick for up to 30 seconds. You can also try holding the candle upside down while lighting it, but be careful not to do this for more than 10-15 seconds to avoid wax dripping onto your hand.
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Prevent wax from sticking to glass by placing the candle in the freezer
If you want to prevent wax from sticking to the inside of a glass candle holder, it is recommended to place the candleholder in the freezer for an hour or so. This allows the wax to shrink and easily pop out when the candleholder is removed from the freezer.
Freezing the jar for too long can cause it to crack, so make sure to check on it periodically. Remove the jar and use a butter knife, wooden popsicle stick, or similar tool to gently chip at the wax. Large pieces may easily separate from the bottom or sides of the glass jar. Smaller pieces will pop loose with a little chiseling. Avoid using sharp items that might damage or break the glass.
Once you have removed the wax, you can wash the jar with hot, soapy water to remove any residual wax and soot. You can also add a tablespoon of baking soda or white vinegar to the water for an extra cleaning boost.
It is important to note that you should never use a knife or a sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass votive holder. It might scratch or weaken the glass, causing it to break upon subsequent use.
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Fix candle tunneling by burning a small area for 30 seconds
If you're dealing with candle tunnelling, there are a few methods you can try to fix it. Firstly, understand why tunnelling occurs. Candle tunnelling happens when a candle isn't burned carefully, and a hole forms down the centre, leaving unused wax at the edges. This occurs when only a small portion of wax surrounding the wick melts while the candle is lit.
To fix this issue, you can try burning the candle for 30 minutes to a few hours, allowing the entire surface of the wax to melt evenly. This method resets the wax's "memory", preventing further tunnelling.
If the candle continues to tunnel, you can try heating the wax with a hairdryer or heat gun, melting the wax around the wick to create an even surface. Ensure the hairdryer is on a low setting and held at a distance to avoid spattering wax.
Another method is to use aluminium foil to reflect heat back down towards the candle's edge, aiding in melting the wax around the wick. This method may take a few tries, so be cautious when handling the foil as it will be hot.
If the wick is still buried in wax, you can carefully dig it out with a spoon or apple corer, removing excess wax until the wick is above the surface.
Remember to always trim your wicks before lighting to prevent curling and "mushrooming". Additionally, avoid drafts as they can cause uneven burning and tunnelling to one side.
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Fix tunneling by melting the entire surface with a heat gun
To fix candle tunnelling with a heat gun, start by trimming the wick and removing any debris inside the tunnel. Then, turn on the heat gun and set it to the highest heat. Hold it around 6 inches from the surface of the wax and use a wick dipper or toothpick to gently move any unmelted wax stuck to the sides of the container. Be careful not to apply too much direct heat to the wick, or you may melt the glue under the tab and dislodge it.
Continue heating the surface of the candle until the wax has completely liquified and smoothed over. This may take several minutes, depending on the heat of your heat gun. Once the wax has melted, allow it to harden for 4-6 hours before burning the candle again. If the wick is still below the wax level, remove the melted wax with a spoon and let the candle rest.
If your wick is swallowed up in wax, or the tunnelling is too deep to be corrected, you may need to replace the wick completely.
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Reuse wax by melting and pouring into moulds with a wick
Reusing candle wax by melting and pouring it into moulds with a wick is a sustainable, cost-effective, and creative way to make new candles. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Prepare the Wax
First, remove the wax from your old candle jars. If the wax is hard, you can use the freeze-and-scrape method: freeze the candles, then use a knife to scrape out the wax. Place the wax in a saucepan or a double boiler and melt it over low heat. If you are combining wax from several candles, ensure they are all the same type of wax, such as soy or paraffin, and that their scents complement each other.
Step 2: Prepare the Moulds and Wicks
While the wax is melting, prepare your moulds or candle holders. You can use silicone moulds, jars, tins, teacups, or votive glasses. Place a wick in the centre of each mould or holder. The wick should be about 2 inches taller than the mould or holder. You can reuse old wicks if they are in good condition and suit the size and type of your new candle. To keep the wick in place, dip it in the melted wax before placing it in the mould or holder. Use a wooden stick or pencil to keep the wick upright.
Step 3: Pour and Set
Once the wax is completely melted, you can add colour and fragrance, such as essential oils. Then, carefully pour the wax into your prepared moulds or holders, ensuring the wick remains upright and centred. Let the wax cool and harden completely, which may take several hours depending on the size of your candles.
Step 4: Final Touches
Once the candles are fully hardened, you can remove them from the moulds or leave them in the holders. Trim the wicks to an appropriate length, leaving about half a centimetre above the candle's surface for even burning. Now your new candles are ready to be enjoyed!
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