What To Do If You Lost The Wick In A Candle?

Table of Contents

What Causes a Candle to Lose its Wick?

There are a few common reasons a candle may lose its wick as it burns:

The wick can get buried in wax as the candle burns down. As the wax pool gets lower, the wick has to bend and curve to reach the liquid wax. This can cause the wick to become engulfed in hardened wax, making it difficult to light.

The wick can also become detached if the candle gets jarred or knocked over. If the candle tips, the wick can come loose from its base. Gravity and motion can cause the wick to slip out of position.

In addition, the wick can be trimmed too short, either by accident or if trying to maintain a short wick. Trimming the wick down to the wax leaves nothing exposed to light. An overly trimmed wick will become unlightable before the candle runs out of wax.

Can You Light a Candle Without a Wick?

The short answer is yes, you can technically light a candle without a wick. However, this is not recommended. Lighting just the wax of a candle without a wick can be dangerous and can cause the wax to tunnel or smoke instead of burning properly.

When you light the wick of a candle, the wax surrounding the wick melts from the heat and is drawn up the wick via capillary action. This allows the wax to burn slowly and evenly. Without a wick as the controlled burn point, the flame will likely just skim along the top of the wax, causing it to tunnel inward as it burns.

For safe and proper candle burning, it is best to replace the wick or fashion a makeshift wick rather than trying to light just the wax itself. A wick helps regulate and sustain the flame, while channeling the melted wax via capillary action. Attempting to light just the wax can result in uneven burning, excess smoke, and hazardous fire conditions.

Locating the Missing Wick

If the wick has become detached and fallen down into the melted wax, it can sometimes be tricky to locate it. Here are some methods to try finding a lost wick buried in the candle wax:

Carefully dig around in the wax with a toothpick, skewer, or other small tool. Try to locate the missing wick by gently scraping away at the wax and creating a small channel. Go slowly and carefully to avoid damaging the wick if you uncover it.

Use a thin skewer or straightened paper clip to probe down into the wax. Slowly twist and push it into different spots to feel if you hit any resistance from the hidden wick.

Try using a magnifying glass to visually inspect the wax and spot the wick. The magnification can help identify even tiny bits of wick that may be peeking out.

Patience and persistence are key when searching for a lost wick. Take your time and thoroughly explore every section of the candle’s surface and interior melted wax pools. With some clever detective work, you can often salvage a candle and recover its missing wick.

Repairing a Detached Wick

If you notice that the wick has become detached or loosened from the candle wax, there are a few methods you can try to reattach it:

Heat a needle and insert into wick – Using a lighter or match, briefly heat up a needle or pin. Be very careful not to burn yourself. Once hot, gently insert the needle into the wick about 1/4 inch. This will melt a small channel into the wax and allow you to re-insert the wick.

Use tacky wax to re-attach wick – Beeswax and soy wax become tacky when warm. Light the candle briefly to warm the wax, then press the wick back into place and hold for 30-60 seconds. The tacky wax will act as a natural adhesive.

Glue wick back in place with candle wax glue – Special candle wax adhesives like E6000 can securely glue a detached wick back into place. Just apply a small dot of glue on the end of the wick, reinsert into the candle, and hold for 60 seconds as it dries.

Replacing the Wick

If the wick is missing or damaged beyond repair, you may need to replace it completely. When replacing a candle wick, it’s important to get one that is the proper diameter. The wick should fit snugly against the walls of the candle without extra room around the edges. This ensures it draws wax up the wick via capillary action and provides an even burn.

Start by purchasing a replacement wick of the same width as the original. Use a thin nail or heated metal skewer to bore a hole through the center of the candle, following the original wick’s path. Make sure the hole is just wide enough to accommodate the new wick. You may need to re-heat and widen the hole if it is too narrow. Heat the end of the new wick with a lighter or match to melt it slightly and insert it into the hole. Push it through until it is centered and secure.

For extra hold, you can apply a bit of wax glue before inserting the new wick. Or you can pour a small amount of melted candle wax into the hole and quickly insert the wick so it adheres and stays in place as the wax hardens. Once secured, trim the wick to the proper height, generally 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch. Now you can relight the candle safely with its new replacement wick.

Making a New Wick

If you can’t locate or repair the original wick, you can make a simple replacement wick at home. Some common household items that work well include:

Unravel cotton string or yarn – Look for a cotton shoelace, sewing thread, or any braided cotton string. Carefully unravel the end to create a fluffy wick material.
Use wood skewer or thin twig – Snap off a thin, dry twig from a tree or use a wood skewer or barbecue skewer. Wrap the end with a little cotton string to create a wick.
Roll paper into a tight coil – Tear a long strip of paper towel, tissue, or newspaper. Roll it tightly into a coil shape to act as a makeshift wick.

Wrap your homemade wick around a pencil or skewer and stick it into melted wax to adhere before placing in the candle. Make sure it’s not too thick or it won’t burn properly. Test it out and trim the wick as needed to get the best flame.

Improvising a New Wick

If you don’t have regular wick material on hand, you can improvise a few household items to create a makeshift wick:

Use a twisted tissue paper wick – Take a small piece of tissue paper, about 1-2 inches wide, and twist it tightly into a thin strip. Embed this into the top of the candle wax where the old wick was located. The dense paper will soak up wax and serve as a temporary wick.

Try a piece of spaghetti or chopstick – Break off a 2-3 inch piece of raw spaghetti or a chopstick and press it down into the top of the candle, right where the old wick was. Light the tip of the pasta or wood and it will act as a basic wick to keep the candle burning.

Embed a toothpick into the wax – Take a regular flat toothpick and press it down into the center of the candle’s waxy top surface. Push it down so at least 1/2 inch is submerged in wax while the rest sticks out. Light the exposed end and the toothpick can transmit heat into the wax to keep the candle lit.

Preventing Lost Wicks

You can take some simple steps when using your candle to help prevent the wick from becoming detached or lost in the first place. Trimming the wick before lighting is one of the most important things you can do. Use scissors or nail clippers to trim the wick down to around 1/4 inch before lighting. This helps the wick burn slowly and evenly, reducing the chance it will fall over or become buried in melted wax.

Additionally, make sure the wick is centered and straight in the candle before lighting. If the wick is off-center or crooked, it’s more likely to fall over as the candle burns. Lighting the candle occasionally, rather than burning it for many hours on end, can also help preserve the wick. Allow the wax to fully harden between uses. Avoid letting the candle burn down completely in one sitting, as this can overwhelm or damage the wick.

With proper wick trimming and occasional, shorter burn times, you can help keep the wick intact and centered as you enjoy your candle.

When to Give Up and Replace Candle

There are a few situations when it’s best to just give up on trying to repair or replace the wick and get a new candle instead:

If Wick Cannot Be Located or Repaired

If you cannot find where the wick has gone, even after digging around in the wax, it’s probably best to replace the candle. Without locating the wick, you won’t be able to reattach or replace it. Digging excessively also risks damaging the candle. If the wick keeps breaking off when you try to reattach it, the wick may be too frayed or worn to salvage.

If Wick Keeps Breaking Off

Sometimes an old wick gets too brittle and keeps snapping when you try to reattach it. If this happens, it’s a sign that the wick is no longer sturdy enough to withstand burning. Putting the candle aside and replacing it with a new one is your best option.

If Wick Tunneling Occurs

Wick tunneling is when melted wax pools unevenly around the wick, creating deep cavities instead of burning cleanly across the surface. Tunneling makes the candle prone to losing its wick, as well as burning unevenly. It usually happens with lower quality candles at the end of their lifespan. If tunneling is apparent, it’s a cue that the candle should be replaced.

Disposing of Candles Safely

When it’s time to throw away a candle, it’s important to dispose of it properly to avoid potential hazards.

First, allow any remaining melted wax to fully harden before attempting to dispose of the candle. Never put a still-liquid candle directly in the trash. The wax can leak out and make a mess. Wait until the wax has fully solidified before discarding.

Always put spent candles in the regular trash, not in recycling bins. The wax, wick and other candle components cannot be recycled. Putting candles in recycling contaminates the other materials.

Additionally, never burn a candle all the way down. Stop lighting a candle when there is around 1-2 inches of wax remaining. Burning all the way to the bottom can cause the container to overheat and possibly start a fire. It also makes removal of leftover wax more difficult.

By taking these simple precautions, you can safely dispose of old candles without hassle or hazard.