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Candle light has a nicer glow when it’s free.

September 29, 2009 22 Comments

I am a big fan of candles. Candles are good. I buy them compulsively and I burn them regularly…. especially during the fall and winter months.

However, I am totally bugged when I buy a yummy, scented candle (which often is synonymous with expensive) and it burns down the middle and I have a tube of empty wax and no wick.

I am sure you already know this, but I’ve got nuthin’ today as far as post ideas… so here ya go: recycle your candles.

I pop the leftover candle wax into a ziploc bag and toss it in with my candles until I feel like making new one.

Toss the leftover wax pieces in a microwave safe bowl and heat it 30 seconds to 1 minute at a time, stirring in between. Treat it as you would if you were melting chocolate chips in the microwave.

When the wax is melted, take one of these little votive wicks (you can get them at any craft store)

Dip the bottom of it in the hot wax…

…then press it into the bottom of a glass votive cup. This will “anchor” the wick into place.


Pour the hot wax into the votive.


Let it sit and cool.


Burn your new (recycled) candles.
Enjoy the scent and the fact that you didn’t have to buy it.

Filed Under: cheap and easy, Let me help you, project du jour, tutorial

Comments

  1. Lynn says

    September 29, 2009 at 5:48 PM

    Never thought of doing that!

    btw, I forgot to say “Cute Shoes” on your last post.

    Reply
  2. MiMi says

    September 29, 2009 at 6:04 PM

    That’s a great idea. Seems like over half the candles I have like to burn down the middle.

    Reply
  3. Lauren says

    September 29, 2009 at 6:31 PM

    That is a great idea! Do you mix scents to make new ones?

    Reply
  4. Becca @ The Texas Darlings says

    September 29, 2009 at 6:33 PM

    I have honestly never thought of doing that with the leftovers…bummer…all these years of throwing them away!!

    Great idea!

    ~Becca

    Reply
  5. Aunt of 14 says

    September 29, 2009 at 7:01 PM

    H-E-Y-!-! That is such a fantastic idea… I love candles but you’re right, they do get expensive. OH thank you for this suggestion! I didn’t think it would be that easy to do!

    Reply
  6. Aunt of 14 says

    September 29, 2009 at 7:01 PM

    oh by the way, did you know I left something for you on my blog yesterday?

    Reply
  7. shortmama says

    September 29, 2009 at 7:06 PM

    I do the same thing with mine! Saves so much money!

    Reply
  8. Lisa@Pickles and Cheese says

    September 29, 2009 at 7:59 PM

    I really didn’t know that this could be done. I throw candles out all the time. Will have to give this a try and I am surprised you can do it in the microwave. Even better!

    Reply
  9. Kelli says

    September 29, 2009 at 8:05 PM

    How do you say you got nothin? This is something. Something I would not have thought to do and now others are informed. So, I guess…thanks for nothin.

    Reply
  10. Jennifer says

    September 29, 2009 at 9:28 PM

    This is something I totally need to do. Some people buy shoes….I buy candles!

    Reply
  11. Shawn says

    September 29, 2009 at 9:59 PM

    OK you need to put the shut to the up!

    I hate when that happens to me and I never thought of doing that. You are a freaking genius my friend… a freaking genius!

    Reply
  12. drollgirl says

    September 29, 2009 at 10:36 PM

    dude! this is genius! love it!

    Reply
  13. The Rambler says

    September 29, 2009 at 11:48 PM

    I third or fourth everyone’s comment.

    YOU.ARE.GENIUS.

    My husband hated my devotion and obsession to candles until we were without power for many many many hours one evening.

    Who was the genius that night 🙂

    Reply
  14. Alli says

    September 30, 2009 at 12:07 AM

    Thanks for sharing your incredible tip! I can’t wait to do this with mine, and I have many like that that I am not willing to toss just yet.

    Reply
  15. Jessica says

    September 30, 2009 at 1:23 AM

    Great idea! Question–how do you get the wax out of the jar?

    Reply
  16. jenjen says

    September 30, 2009 at 2:00 AM

    That is a great idea. I had no idea you could do that! I love burning candles too. I burned my first one of the season on Sunday night – I just love the smell and seeing that flame glowing.

    XOXO
    Jen

    Reply
  17. Xazmin says

    September 30, 2009 at 7:11 AM

    Great idea! We do wax wickless candle warmers around here.

    But after a while the wax looses all it’s scent!

    Reply
  18. Kim says

    September 30, 2009 at 2:14 PM

    I used to love candles too but it’s just too dangerous with a curious toddler around. My candle days will come back some day. I love the idea of recycling them though. I’m telling you, you need a daytime talk show.

    Reply
  19. mama-face says

    September 30, 2009 at 2:59 PM

    Oh my, you are good.

    Have you tried Scentsy? I am NOT a salesperson; someone just gave me one. No black ceilings…

    🙂

    Reply
  20. Emily says

    September 30, 2009 at 5:42 PM

    Wow. I had no idea it was possible to recycle candles.

    Reply
  21. Krystyn says

    October 2, 2009 at 4:46 PM

    Great idea…I usually set mine on a candle warmer once I can’t burn them anymore! Much less effort for me, although not nearly as pretty:)

    Reply
  22. Tanielle says

    October 4, 2009 at 1:43 PM

    Very cool!!! Thanks for the tip!

    Reply

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