11 Different Ways to Use Wax Candles

"Lubricate" stuck drawers that are difficult to open and close:

• Remove the drawer from its place.
• Empty it and rub its tracks with a candle along the whole length, on both sides.
• Return the empty drawer, open and close it so that the wax dissolves and is evenly spread along the inner rails.
• Once the drawer opens and closes easily you can fill it back up, and now it will be easier to use.

2. Make brand new candles

If you have a few half-burned candles lying around the house, you can melt them down and create new candles of your own. Candle making is a pleasant experience for both adults and children, and you can create special candles as a creative activity with your children on cold and rainy days where you can’t leave the house.

How do you do this?

• Simply collect all the candle remnants you have, including scented candles.
• Melt the candles in a double pot with boiling water (Bain Marie).
• Add color into the melted wax if you want your candle to be a certain shade.
• Choose a container to pour your candle into - this can be any plastic, glass or metal container in your home, of a regular or special shape, completely up to you.
• Now, take a wool thread and tie one end of it to a pencil. Note that the pencil is longer than the mouth of the container in which your pouring your wax so that the thread doesn’t fall in. Tie a metal nut to the other end of the thread.
• Place the end with the nut at the bottom of the container and lay your pencil over the containers opening.
• Now pour the melted wax into the container and allow the candle to solidify.

3. Sealant for doors and windows

There are cases in which a wind penetrates or enters the room through cracks in the door or window frame, which can be very bothersome. Instead of using products such as acrylic gum or chemical sealants to seal the crack, you can do so with candle wax. By fixing these cracks, your home's temperature will be maintained and you won’t need to excessively heat or cool it, saving your money.

How do you do this?

• Heat the candle wax a little until it becomes soft, but not liquid.
• Move the candle along the existing crack or space.
• Press the wax with your fingers along the cracks and let it cool.
• Fill again if necessary.

4. Opening and closing a stuck zipper

A stuck zipper is one of the most irritating things you can encounter when it comes to clothing. In order to solve the problem, you can make use of a wax candle.

How do you do this?

• Simply rub the candle on both sides of the zipper, close and unzip the garment several times and the problem will be quickly fixed.

5. Water resistant fabric shoes

Hiking near water sources or walking on rainy days with fabric shoes isn’t the most pleasant of experiences, especially when your shoes get soaked down to your socks. To avoid this problem, you’ll need only two products: a candle and a blow dryer. To find out more about how to make this work, click here and you can learn how waterproof your fabric shoes.

6. Breeze resistant camping candles 

Have you ever tried to light a fire outdoors only to be defeated time and again by the wind? With the next trick, you can create a candle that is resistant to light breezes.

How do you do this?

• Take a piece of lint of any size, from which you’ll want to make the candle.
• Place the lint in the center of a plastic or cardboard container, such as an egg mold, or a deep aluminum pan.
• In a double pot (Ben Marie), melt any leftover candles.
• Once the wax has melted, pour it generously over the lint so that it gets soaked up and fills the container around it.
• Leave the tip of the lint sticking up so that it can be used as a wick (it should also be covered in wax), and let the candle solidify again.
• Once it solidifies release the candle from the container, and use it the next time you go camping.

7. Repair scratches and small indents in furniture

Wood furniture is something we hope will last and serve us for many years, but over time, when wood is scratched or beaten from various objects, visible scratches or dents are created that can damage the aesthetics and the furniture. repairing these indents and engravings can be done easily without involving a professional.

How do you do this?

• Rub a used or new candle on the damaged area, and fill the entire slot with wax.
• Using a wood marker, paint the wax in a shade that matches the furniture.
• Allow the paint to dry for a few minutes, and the wood will look like new.

8. Scented bags for closets or rooms

In almost every home these days you can find fragrant candles, but if you don’t use these candles and just leave them in open spaces they collect dust and lose their smell over time. If you want your home smelling good, you should candle shavings into organza or other fabric bags that you can make yourself from pantyhose.

How do you do this?

• Grate different scented (or singles scented candles and place the shavings in a cloth bag.
• Rub the contents of the bag with your fingers to separate the shavings, tie the open part of it, and place it in the closet or in different spaces around the house.
• Every few weeks, rub the lumps a bit so that they regain their scent.

9. Hidden messages

The following use of birthday candles or white candles to create hidden messages can be an enjoyable activity to experience with your kids, who might I add, will be extremely intrigued

How do you do this?

• Give your child a piece of white paper and ask them to write or draw something with candle wax.
• Now hold the paper over the sink and pour a little of your coffee or a glass of water with a little food coloring over it.
• The message or drawing will appear on the page as if by magic because the wax won’t absorb the color. 
• Another way to do this is to let the child brush the paper with a brush dipped in colored water.

10. Repair scratches and abrasions on leather items

Leather products are often easily scratched and damaged and sometimes it seems that nothing can be done to fix them. However, this next tip can do the trick.

How can this be done?

• Melt about a quarter cup of wax in a double pot over a small flame.
• Add 1 teaspoon of canola oil and stir well.
• Apply some of the mixture to the damaged leather, and rub with a soft cloth until the defect can no longer be seen.
• If the mixture solidifies before you finish, heat the wax slightly until it reaches a liquid state and repeat as necessary.

11. Waterproof paper

The next tip is one of the most effective in this collection because almost everyone has needed to protect a document or note of sorts - for example, reusable labels. You can also protect an old recipe and not worry about it getting wet the next time you use it. Waterproofing paper is easier than you think, and all you need is a candle.

How can this be done?

• Write down what you want to write on a sticker, paper or cardboard.
• Light a candle until the wax is melted, then run the candle over the page so that the wax spills on it forming a protective layer.If there are lumps of wax on the paper, press them down to spread them across the paper.
• Now you have a waterproof paper!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Never heat wax in a frying pan or pot or place it directly over the gas or other electronic appliance. The only way to melt wax is in a pot placed over another pot filled with boiling water (Bain Marie). Direct heating can create an explosion that can spray boiling wax and cause severe burns.

image source: smekalo4ka 1,2

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