The Best Candle Hacks

So you’ve got a couple cute, yummy smelling candles sitting on your counter and ready to be burned - now what? Did you know the way you treat your candle affects how long it will last? Keep reading for useful hacks to get the most out of your candle.

Your First Burn

The first burn needs to be long enough for the melted wax to reach the edge of the candle, ideally pooling around 1cm. Keep in mind that candles with a wider diameter will take longer to achieve this, so budget your candle burning time accordingly. A good rule of thumb is one hour for every inch the candle is wide.

The Tin Foil Hack

This trick is great for getting rid of any wax that has started to tunnel, or burn down the center, on the sides of your candle. After burning your candle for a few hours, wrap a piece of tin foil around the top of the jar and pinch it tight so it holds in place. It should make a tent-like shape with an opening on top for the flame to breathe. This traps the heat in order to melt residual wax so your candle doesn’t tunnel. Leave the tin foil on for 10-30 minutes and your candle should lay flat when it hardens.

Source: Daily Mail

Freeze Your Candles

Pop your candles in the freezer for a couple hours before burning them. It will help the wax burn slower.

Add Some Salt

Sprinkle some salt into the melted wax of your candle after you blow out the flame. Stir it with a tool like a toothpick and get a slower burn next time.

Source: WikiHow

Spaghetti Noodle Lighter

If your candle is burned down really low, use a long strand of spaghetti as a lighter so you don’t have to stick your hand in the jar.

Source: Family Handyman

Removing Wax

Spill wax on your table or floor? Ice cubes can be used to remove wax from a wood surface. All you do is press the ice cube on the wax to freeze it, then easily scrape it off.

Source: HGTV

Candle Warmer

If your candle seems beyond repair and our other tricks aren’t working, a candle warmer might be your saving grace. It’s an electric heater that melts your candle and releases the scent without a flame. This is a good option for candles that aren’t able to be lit, often due to tunneling.

Reuse Your Candle Jar

Your old candle jar actually has endless uses! Our jars make the prettiest flower vases, storage for jewelry, makeup brush holders, and so much more. Learn how to remove the wax here, and more about reusing your candle jars here.

Want to learn more about candle care? Check out our article on candle burning basics.