7 Ways to Use Old Candles, Ends and All

Nothing says romantic like candlelight. And, when the lights go out and the flashlight batteries run dry, candles are pretty handy in a practical way. To put it frankly, there is no clearer signal that the bathroom is at least somewhat safe to enter than a scented candle burning. Probably more likely than any of those instances, birthdays are simply incomplete without some candles burning on that cake. However they are being used, one notable candle shortcoming is that they tend to stop burning long before all the wax has disappeared. (Here’s how to buy non-toxic, vegan candles.)

For the crafty of us, those looking to reduce the waste they produce, and for the hopeless lovers who just can’t stop themselves from candlelit encounters, today is the day to learn what to do with all those seemingly useless clumps of wax and unburned candle ends. With some imagination and awareness, candle wax is actually a handy item to have around, and there are some clever ways of using it that make throwing it out seem a shame.

1. Make New Candles

The obvious first solution to this quandary is to simply make more candles. If we love candles so much that we have an abundance of errant wax, we can use those old candles to make new candles. This can be a bit of project, but it’s easy. Find a glass container, like an old jar, to dump it into. Shot glasses make great molds; they just need a spritz of non-stick cooking spray first. Buy some wicks at a craft shop. Melt the wax in a double boiler (or a makeshift version), pour the wax in, and let it solidify.

2. Fix Squeaky Hinges

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Whereas most of us go for the WD-40 when a hinge starts squeaking, it’s possible to fix that situation with old candle wax instead. In truth, repairing it this way actually lasts longer as well, and we can avoid toxicity. Remove the door from the hinges (this is just a matter of a few screws), take the lump of old candle wax and rub it all over the hinges. Bits of wax will work their way between everything and stop the squeaking.

3. Repair Stuck Drawers

Much like the squeaky hinge situation, stuck drawers usually call for that ubiquitous can of WD-40, but we might do better to just have a bunch of old candle wax. In this case, we remove the drawer and rub the spent candle wax along the runners. Once the drawer is back in, open and close it a few times so that the wax gets where it needs to be. Then, consider the problem solved. The same can be done with zippers!

4. Stop Fraying

A fraying shoelace is almost as annoying as having to buy new shoelaces. Both of these issues can be solved with candle wax. Instead of letting an old shoelace unravel itself into something resembling a chewed up dog toy, just dip the end in a little melted candle wax. The wax will seal it up and keep things running as is for a while. This same technique could be used on any kind of string that is fraying.

5. Waterproof Paper

Though we don’t often find ourselves contemplating waterproofing paper, it can be a useful skill to have in the back pocket. Whether it’s shipping labels or recipe cards, protecting slips of paper, namely the ink on them, from water damage can mean the difference between a package being lost in the netherworld or a batch of cookies tasting like a batch of cardboard. Just rub the candle wax over the paper for some insurance.

6. Cork Wine

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To be completely honest, losing the cork usually means a good excuse to drink the entire bottle of wine, but for those who are more responsible than that, yet still manage to lose corks, the bottom of a candlestick works really well as a makeshift cork. A couple of seconds in the microwave, and it’ll push right into the bottle. Hey, for those romantics out there, perhaps this is a way to up the ante of the candlelit evening.

7. Prevent Mildew

While tile looks great, mildew on the grout between the tiles can be pretty unsightly. For those who aren’t big fans of bleach or cleaning regularly, old candle wax can be used to prevent mold and mildew. Give the grout one last crazy scrub, getting it as clean as possible. Then, take old candles (think about color here) and rub them along the grout to seal it. This will do wonders for preventing this common problem from recurring.

In short, it’s pretty hard to imagine throwing out something that is so useful. It saves us money. It makes life better. It cuts down on work. Why, old candle wax might just be a wonderful thing to have!

Lead Image Source: Flickr