I save our empty toilet and paper towel tubes, stuff them with waste paper and junk mail or even pine cones. Then I melt my small, leftover candle pieces in a old candle warmer, or in a tin can that is placed in a pot of water on the stove just until it melts. I pour the melted candle over the tubes. Make sure you either do this over a garbage can or stack of papers so you don't spill candle wax anywhere! That's a whole other tip! ;)
I use these little firestarters when we go camping to start our fires or even to start our woodburning stove up from a cold start! Makes starting fires a little easier. Kids can help stuff them all year round and dream about summer camping!
I also use the cardboard egg cartons but I put some sawdust into the compartments before adding the wax (hubby does woodwork so we always have an ample supply! Could used shredded paper too but I worry about the inks if used indoors - I am sensitive to odors and some burning papers smell bad to me.) After the wax has cooled, I score the cartons so they tear easily by hand. One or two 'eggs' worth gets a good blaze started.
For melting the wax, I like to use a big, tall can (like V8 comes in) so there is no chance of getting water into the wax. I also preform a pouring spout with pliers so it goes just where I want it to go.
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Do you have a favorite candle that the wick has burned completely down? Recycle it the easy way. It will involve a minimal expense, but it is well worth the investment.
These tiny candles work wonders for sticky locks and zippers. For sticky locks, simply rub the candle on the key then insert in the lock several times.
Reusing Extra Candle Wax. When you have a candle that burns unevenly and wax is left in the jar or in a pillar, you can place the wax in the microwave and melt the wax.
I love scented candles, and now I use the wax that is left to freshen my car. I always have a big chunk of wax left when the wick has burned through.
When the melts lose their scent, I pour them in a glass candle jar that is almost empty. I put the wick over a pencil or piece of incense and hang it over an empty jar. This is where all the wax from the warmer gets poured when it doesn't smell as strong anymore.
When candles burn down but there is plenty of wax on the sides and the candle smells too good to throw away just scrape the wax off the sides of the glass and put the wax in a tart warmer. The wax smells better than it did when it was a candle.
I had a bunch of good candles where the wicks had refused to stay lit, so it was time to make some recycled candles. A local restaurant gave me one of their large cans (those really big ones we sometimes see in groceries).
I love the way candle fragrance makes our home so inviting. I considered purchasing the new electric wax warmers I'd heard friends talking about, until I saw the price.
When you have gotten the most out of your favorite smelling candle and there is too much left to throw away, purchase tea light molds and tea light wicks. Melt the remaining wax and pour into the tea light molds.
I had many glass candle jars that have burned down to the bottom that could not be re-lit but still had quite a bit of wax at the bottom. What I did was purchase a candle warmer. It looks like my plug in coffee cup warmer I keep on my desk.
I had a Febreeze Candle that was getting towards the bottom. I decided to add some hot water which helped the fragrance last a little longer.
Don't throw away that burnt out scented candle. If you don't have a candle warmer, buy one. Place your spent candles on the warmer and as they melt, combine them to create a whole candle.
I use a great deal of scented soy candles, mostly purchased on sale from various places. It's always bothered me that the candle can't burn to the bottom.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Tips for using leftover wax from candles. Post your ideas.
I take old candles and melt them in a old saucepan on the stove over low heat, then dip pine cones in them for firestarters for the fireplace, or you can put them in a basket with fireplace matches for a gift. Also you can stuff toliet paper rolls with lint from your dryer and them dip them in wax for fireplace starters, either works very well, and cheaper than buying starters at the store.
We use a Tart Warmer and a small Fondue Pot, both available for under $5.00 at places like Bed, Bath and Beyond and Walmart. These work great for keeping a room or house smell fragrant and to help use up the left over scented candle wax!
Ever wonder what to do with those candles that the wick has burned down to nothing and you're left with a big chunk of wax? Recycle them! I take a cup warmer and put a small glass container on it. I cut the wax up into little pieces and over time the wax will melt. I keep adding wax pieces until the container is full.
By Meari from Illinois
I use it to stiffen thread.
I never can use all the candle wax at the bottom of a candle jar. What can I do with the 2 inches of candle wax left when the wick burns up?
By Shirley
You can buy wicks pretty cheaply at a craft store and I fill votive cups or small jelly jars with the remaining wax. It doesn't matter if it is the same color or not, but keep filling til you have a new 'jar candle'.
I love scented candles, however there is much more candle left. Can anyone suggest to me what I can do with the rest of the wax? I am tired of throwing away my money.
By 1bigmama from SC
When my candles are all down and the wick is gone, then I put all the different scents into a crock pot and slowly melt them all together and either make more candles using containers, milk cartons with chunk ice or as a nice gift for friends that have fire places wrap string around a pine cones then dip it and before its dry sprinkle glitter. Then put in a basket with a pretty bow.
I use an electric candle warmer adding the candle that has lost it's wick until the candle wax melts, then I add a new wick and when it hardens the wick will be ready to light. They are available at Michael's and Hobby Lobby.
I always have candle wax left in the bottom of my candle jars that does not get used. It is such a waste to toss the wax. I do save the jars. What can I do to use it? I've tried buying wicks, but it doesn't really work well.
By Shirley from Shepherdsville, KY
I have one of those ceramic containers that are made for putting wax in the top and a tea light or votive underneath. The wax melts in its compartment and the scent goes through the room. There are special wax pieces made just for this but I use chunks of wax left over from candles. Just put them in the freezer for a while and they break up easily. I'm able to use all of the wax that won't burn as a candle.
You can use leftover wax and dryer lint to make fire starters. Pour it in a cardboard egg carton and cut up. You can light the cardboard or add a sliver of paper or wood to light.
Any suggestions for using left over scented candles once the wick is gone and can no long be burnt? Thanks.
By carla from Huntington, WV
You can buy new wicks from the craft store and melt the candle wax down to make new candles. Sometimes I save the little holder the tea light candles come in and reuse them to make new candles that way. New wicks are nice if you want to give the candles as a gift. I would suggest hitting the thrift store and buying an old sauce pan and measuring cup to use just for candles, too.
How do I re-use old wax to make new candles?
I want to melt that wax down and put it back in the Glade candle holder. I have about 20 Glade candle holders that are about 1/2 way filled with wax, but cannot be used because the wick is burnt down.
By Jeanne
I have taken and cut/dug out all the old wax and I have an old crock pot and put it in that and heat it on low until all melted and then add a new wick to holder and carefully pour, using and old cup dip and pour back into the holder to let set. Wick needs to be kept straight and as not to float or roll over. Hope this is helpful.
This is a page about making candles from old candle wax. Save your scrap candle wax and use it to make new candles; it is a thrifty and green way to have lots of them around your home.
This is a page about how to make recycled taper candles. Use up your leftover wax that wasn't enough to burn, but was bound to have a use some day, to make new candles.
