Recycling Candles Part 1

Today's post will focus on recycling candles and some ideas for what you can do with them. 

 

Candle Cleaning Instructions:

1. Once the wicks on your candle have burned to the end, allow the candle to cool down enough to be handled easily. Get boiling water and pour it over the candle wax until your near the top of the candle - if you have the lid for the candle, close it with the lid. If you don't have a lid, my advice is to find something to cover the candle with so the heat doesn't escape. Marvel at the lava-lamp effect it has when it's still hot and allow it to cool completely. Then you can just fish out the wax at the top and either discard it (boo!), or use it in a wax warmer (yay! because it most likely will still give off a fragrance). 

2. If the wicks don't come out easily, pour more hot water over them and add some dish soap. Allow this to cool slightly and then prod at the wicks with a plastic knife or a butter knife that you no longer wish to use for butter. This should break down the glue. Don't allow it to cool completely because the glue will re-harden, just wait until the water's warm enough for you to handle and pour it out before prodding at the wicks. 

3. Clean out any bits of remaining glue/wax - using a steel wool sponge is perfect for this (be gentle, you don't want to break the candle or scratch it up with the steel wool). Air dry or wipe off with a paper towel.

Now your candle is ready to use for storage. As you can see in the above photo I keep nail polish in them but they're great for lip gloss, lipsticks, cotton balls... I mean I personally would not recommend using them for food or anything else you're inclined to consume (i.e.: medication) but you can store whatever you'd like in them, essentially. It's a great way to store things that can kind of go all over the place or tend to fall over.

If you have any other ideas or questions/comments feel free to leave them for me. :)