How Do You Fix A Candle That Melted Unevenly?

Candles that melt unevenly are a common issue that many candle users face. This can happen for several reasons – the candle may have been placed too close to a heat source like a radiator or window, or it simply melted faster than expected. An unevenly melted candle is still perfectly usable, it just needs a little maintenance to fix its shape.

The good news is that restoring an unevenly melted candle to its original form is usually quick and easy. There are several simple tricks you can try at home, like trimming the wick, using a heat gun or blow dryer, or even repouring the wax. In most cases, you can salvage the candle with minimal effort. This guide will walk through the various techniques step-by-step.

Evaluate the Damage

When a candle melts unevenly, the first step is to evaluate the extent and location of the damage. Carefully look at the top, middle, and bottom sections of the candle. Note any large gaps, leaning, holes or thin spots in the wax. Pay attention to which areas have wax that has melted significantly lower or higher than the rest of the candle surface. The top of the candle often receives the most heat and is prone to melting faster, while the bottom may remain unmelted.

Identifying where the candle wax has melted unevenly will help determine the best approach to fixing it. If the damage is minor, simply trimming the wick or using a heat gun to gently remelt and even out the wax may suffice. But if certain sections are drastically thinner or holes have formed from trapped heat, more extensive remedies like repouring the wax may be needed. Evaluate all sides and areas of the candle so you can accurately assess the melting situation.

Trim the Wick

One of the easiest ways to fix a candle that has melted unevenly is to trim the wick. Before lighting a candle that has melted unevenly, it’s recommended to trim the wick to 1/4 inch. This will help the candle burn evenly when it’s lit again.

Use wick trimmers or small sharp scissors to trim the wick. Make sure not to trim the wick too short, as this can prevent the candle from staying lit. A 1/4 inch wick length is ideal. Trim just the blackened portion of the wick so that only fresh new wick remains.

Trimming the wick helps remove any irregular edges that may have formed when the candle melted unevenly. It gives you a fresh start with an evenly trimmed wick. This should allow the candle to melt evenly across the top when lit again.

Trimming the wick is a quick, easy first step to take when fixing a candle with uneven wax. It helps the candle burn more evenly going forward. Just remember to give the wick a fresh trim before lighting a candle that has melted unevenly.

Use a Heat Gun

A heat gun is an effective tool for evenly remelting the wax in a deformed candle. When using this method, it’s important to go slowly and be patient. Follow these steps:

Set your heat gun to the lowest setting. Aim it directly at the top of the candle where the wax has become uneven. Slowly move the heat gun side to side, warming the wax gradually. Be careful not to hold it in one place for too long, as this can scorch the wax.

As the wax softens and melts, you’ll notice it start to even out on its own, filling in any voids or thin spots. Allow the wax to fully repool so that the entire top surface is smooth. This may take several minutes. Don’t rush it.

When done, turn off the heat gun and set the candle aside to cool completely. This lets the wax resettle into its new, even form. You want it to fully harden before relighting.

With this simple technique, you can salvage misshapen candles and give them new life. Just remember – low, slow heat is key. Melting the wax gradually helps prevent scorching or making things worse. In a short time, you can have that candle looking smooth and pristine again.

Place in Warm Water

One simple method to fix a candle that has melted unevenly is to immerse the bottom half of the candle in warm water. This will allow the wax to soften and become malleable enough to repool into an even level.

To do this, fill a bowl or other container with water warmed to about 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit. The key is to have the water hot enough to melt the wax, but not so hot that the wax rapidly liquefies. Carefully submerge approximately the bottom half of the candle into the warm water, keeping the wick above the water line.

Allow the candle to sit in the warm water bath for 5-10 minutes, which gives time for the heat to fully penetrate the wax and create a uniform pool. Gently rotate or tilt the candle occasionally to help the wax redistribute. When a level surface re-forms on the bottom of the candle, remove it from the water and let it cool completely before relighting.

This warm water method allows the candle wax to naturally reposition without needing to apply direct heat that could scorch the wax. It’s gentler than a blow dryer or heat gun approach. Just be sure to cool the candle fully before use, as residual heat can cause the wax to slump again. With this simple fix, an unevenly melted candle can have a smooth new life.

Use a Blow Dryer

Using a blow dryer is another method you can try to fix a misshapen candle. It works in a similar way to using a heat gun. The key things to keep in mind when using a blow dryer are:

– Go slowly and keep the dryer moving. You don’t want to concentrate too much heat in one spot, as this can scorch the wax rather than softly melting it.

– Keep the dryer 6-12 inches away from the candle. Get closer for concentrated heat on uneven spots, but don’t let the nozzle touch the wax.

– Use a low or medium heat setting. High heat can overheat the wax.

– Rotate the candle as you heat it to evenly soften and smooth all sides.

– Allow the candle to fully cool and harden again before relighting it. Hot spots can cause it to burn unevenly again.

With some patience, a blow dryer can reshape your candle and allow it to burn evenly once more.

Repour the Wax

If the candle has melted significantly or unevenly, you may be able to repour and reset the wax. Start by removing the wick if possible. Then place the wax in a glass bowl or metal tin that can handle direct heat. Create a double boiler by placing this bowl over a saucepan with a couple inches of boiling water (make sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water).

Heat the wax, stirring occasionally, until fully melted. Remove from heat and carefully pour the wax back into the original container or a new candle jar/tin. Make sure to center the wick if putting back in the original candle. Let the wax fully set and harden before relighting.

Repouring the wax can help redistribute it evenly and restore the candle’s shape. Just be careful when handling the hot wax to avoid spills or burns. Proceed slowly, and don’t overheat or hold melted wax at high temperatures for too long. With some time and care, you can give new life to a misshapen candle.

Add New Wax

If there are still uneven spots or gaps in the candle wax after trying other smoothing techniques, you can melt new wax to fill them in. Start by buying wax melts, cubes, or blocks that are the same color and type of wax as your candle. Break or cut the wax into small chunks.

Place the wax pieces in a heat-safe container and melt them either in the microwave or using a double boiler on the stove. The wax should be completely liquid with no lumps. Then pour the melted wax carefully over the uneven spots on the cooled candle, filling in any gaps or holes.

You can smooth the new wax with a knife or popsicle stick. Then use your heat gun or place the candle in warm water again to blend the old and new wax together seamlessly. Let the candle fully cool and harden before relighting.

Prevent Future Issues

There are some simple steps you can take to prevent candle tunneling and uneven melting in the future:

Burn candle in dry, draft-free area – Avoid placing your candle near heating/cooling vents, windows, doors or fans. Air currents can cause the candle to burn unevenly.

Keep wick trimmed – Use wick trimmers to trim candle wicks to 1⁄4” before lighting. Long wicks cause uneven burning and tunneling.

Allow to fully pool and cool – Let candle burn long enough each time for the entire top layer of wax to liquefy and level out. Let cool completely before relighting.

When to Toss It

If your candle has become severely misshapen with major divots, holes, or unevenness that can’t be fixed with the methods described, it may be time to toss it in the trash or recycling bin. While it’s disappointing to get rid of a candle before it’s done burning, sometimes the damage is too severe to salvage it.

Before throwing it away, consider if any of the wax can be reused for other DIY projects. The melted wax can be repurposed to make new candles, wax melts, or fire starters. Simple molds like aluminum foil formed into a cup shape can help you reuse the wax. If you don’t have a use for the leftover wax, recycling centers often accept old candles and wax since paraffin is recyclable. Tossing the candle into the recycling bin gives the materials a second life.