But instead of throwing out glass jars that have a little bit of wax left in them, my husband has embraced an awesome repurposing project - combining the wax to make new layered candles!
While it can take a few hours if you have a lot of candles, this project is very easy and inexpensive. The only thing we had to purchase the first time we did this project was a pack of wicks.
To begin, you need some candles in glass jars, a pot of water for the stove, oven mitts, new wicks, and cardboard or newspaper to cover your counter.
Choose which jars you will want to reuse and clean the glass.
Heat a pot of water on the stove and place the jar in it until the wax melts.
You can stir with a kebob skewer to help the wax liquefy.
Take the jar out of the water and remove the used wick. Add a new wick before the wax starts to harden again. My husband will use clothespins to keep the wick in place while the wax cools, and you can also use kebob skewers.
To make the wax cool off quicker, place the jar in the refrigerator or freezer. Once it's set, move on to the next candle. Place it in the boiling water on the stove, and once melted, pour the wax over the first candle. Make sure the wick stays in place, then put the jar back into the fridge or freezer to cool.
Repeat the process until your jar is refilled, or you've run out of wax. Trim the wick so it's about 1/4 of an inch above the top of the wax.
If you have wick stands that are intact from your used candles, use a small nail to separate the opening. Add one of the wick pieces you trimmed off, then use a pair of pliers to clamp the wick stand shut. It's an easy way to use all of the wick, and they work well in smaller candles.
You'll end up with a great layered candle that helps to use all that remaining wax, and save you a little money!
Clean the empty candle jars you didn't use and recycle them in your curbside program or at your local Target.
Get creative and make unique labels for your repurposed candles! You could even make a few as gifts - the holidays ARE coming up quickly!
My husband has made probably 10 of these layered repurposed candles at home, and I love them! We're reducing a little bit of our household waste, and that's 10 fewer candles that I need to buy.
We're getting to the end of many of our fall scented candles, so I think it might be time to make a repurposed layered fall candle!
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| Photo via Bath and Body Works |
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