How Do You Melt Down A Candle To Reuse?

Why Melt Down Old Candles?

Melting down old candles is a great way to reduce waste and save money. Research shows that only 8% of candle containers actually get recycled, with over 35 million ending up in landfills every year (https://www.sustainabilitychampions.com/post/atmosvu-a-sustainable-solution-to-the-candle-industrys-waste-problem). By repurposing old wax, you can give it new life in creative ways rather than sending it straight to the dump.

Reusing old candle wax allows you to customize and make new candles exactly how you want. Rather than buying new candles, melting down remnants provides the wax needed to pour great-smelling candles in your favorite vessels. This DIY approach saves money since you don’t have to keep purchasing brand new candles.

Overall, melting down used candles is an eco-friendly practice that reduces your environmental impact. It keeps waste out of landfills and allows you to reuse wax in fun, creative ways.

What You’ll Need

To melt down old candles to reuse the wax, you’ll need the following supplies:

• Old candles with removable wicks – Make sure any varnish or coatings are removed from the outside of the candles. Taper candles and pillars work best.
• Double boiler or makeshift double boiler – This can be a metal bowl set over a pot of boiling water. The double boiler gently heats the wax to avoid scorching.
• Metal pouring pitcher – Use something heat-safe like stainless steel to transfer melted wax.
• Candle wicks – Purchase wicks made for the appropriate candle size and shape.
• Candle molds or repurposed containers – For shaping new candles, use silicone molds or clean glass jars, tin cans, etc.

With these basic supplies, you’ll be ready to melt down those old candles and give them new life!

Removing existing wicks from a used candle and trimming it before melting it down into new candles is an important first step. This ensures any leftover wick material does not contaminate the wax. Here’s how to properly remove wicks and trim the candle:

Remove Wicks and Trim

Carefully cut off the wick as close to the wax as possible using a sharp knife. Try to remove any metal or paper wick sustainers embedded in the wax as well. According to one source, a butter knife can pop out the remnant wick easily (source).

Next, inspect the candle and trim off any crusty, dried wax from the sides and bottom with a knife. Removing this excess wax will allow the candle wax to melt down more smoothly.

Set Up Double Boiler

To melt candle wax, you’ll need to create a double boiler. This consists of a pot filled with a few inches of water that you’ll place another container on top of to create a gentle, indirect heat source.

Start by filling a pot with 2-3 inches of water, making sure not to overfill. Bring the water to a simmer over medium-low heat. While the water heats up, place a glass or metal bowl on top of the pot. The bowl should sit securely on the pot without touching the water below. Glass or metal works best as they can withstand the heat of melted wax. Avoid using plastic bowls as they may melt.

The indirect heat from the simmering water will allow you to gently melt the wax in the bowl on top without burning or scorching it. Be patient and keep the heat low. Medium-low is ideal for melting wax without overheating. The double boiler method gives you control over the temperature and prevents the wax from getting too hot.

Now you have your double boiler setup and are ready to melt those old candles![1]

Melt the Wax

Once your double boiler is set up, it’s time to melt down the old candle wax. Break the wax into 1-2 inch chunks and add them to the bowl so they will melt more evenly. According to Supplies for Candles, the wax chunks should cover about 1/2 to 2/3 of the bowl[1]. As the wax melts, stir it frequently with a metal spoon to distribute the heat and prevent burning on the bottom. Harlem Candle Company recommends stirring constantly to keep the wax from overheating[2]. Remove the bowl from heat before the wax is completely liquified so you don’t risk scorching it.

Strain and Pour

Once the candle wax has fully melted, you’ll want to carefully pour it through a fine mesh strainer and into a heat-safe pitcher to remove any debris or impurities. As you pour, discard any particles or residue left behind in the strainer (Martha Stewart). Slowly and carefully pour the clean wax from the pitcher into jars or containers for your new candles, leaving room at the top for the new wicks. Allow the wax to cool completely before moving on to the next steps.

Add New Wicks

Once the wax has fully melted in the double boiler, carefully pour it through a strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter into a clean container or silicone mold to remove any debris. Allow the wax to slightly cool before adding new wicks.

Place wicks centered in the container or mold. The wick length should be about 1/4 inch taller than the depth of the container. This allows the wick to float in the wax when burning. Use wick stickers or holder clips to keep wicks upright and centered as the wax hardens.

Allow wax to fully harden before second pour. This may take a few hours. Hardened wax prevents wicks from shifting when adding the next layer.

Second Pour

After letting the candles cool completely from the first pour, you may notice indentations or holes on the surface. This is caused by air bubbles that rise to the top as the wax cools. To fix this, you can do a second pour to fill in these holes and create a smooth finish.

Melt more wax if needed in the double boiler, using leftover wax chips or shavings. The wax should be fully melted and hot but not extremely hot. Carefully pour just enough wax to fill the holes and indentations on the candles’ surface. Top off each container gently, pouring from a short height above to prevent air bubbles.

Let cool completely again before trimming wicks or adding any finishing touches. The second pour helps repair imperfections and yields smooth, professional-looking homemade candles.

Finishing Touches

Once your candles have been poured and had time to set up, there are just a few finishing touches needed before they are ready to use. First, you’ll want to let the candles cure for 1-2 weeks before burning them. This gives the wax time to fully harden and stabilize. Burning a candle before it has cured can cause issues like tunneling where the wax melts unevenly.

You’ll also want to trim the wicks before lighting the candles. Use sharp scissors to trim the wicks to 1/4 inch. Long wicks can produce excess smoke and an uneven flame. Trimming the wicks helps sustain an even burn and reduce issues like soot buildup.

Additionally, make sure the wicks are centered and straight before pouring the second layer of wax. This will help the candle burn evenly all the way to the bottom.

After curing, trim the wicks, and check the wick positioning, your upcycled candles made from leftover wax will be ready to enjoy!

Creative Ideas

You can get creative and find exciting ways to reuse the melted wax from old candles. Here are some ideas to try:

Add essential oils or aromatherapy blends to create scented candles or wax melts. Simply stir in 5-10 drops of essential oils per 1 pound of wax.[1] The possibilities are endless with different scent combinations.

Create layered candles by pouring wax into the container in alternating colors. Simply melt two or more colors of wax separately, and carefully pour back and forth. The various melted wax colors will create a striped effect.[2]

Press flowers, seashells, or other objects into the melted wax to create decorative embedded candles. Let the first layer of wax partially harden before gently pressing decorations into the surface and pouring another thin layer of wax over top.[2] Get artistic with colors and shapes.