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As soon as a candle has burned down, it usually ends up in the garbage because you don’t know what to do with the leftover wax.
As soon as candles have burned down, they usually end up in the garbage because you don’t know what to do with the leftover wax. So that you don’t have to waste wax this winter, Blick has collected 5 ideas for you on how to recycle it.
Make new candles
One of the most popular ways to give leftover wax a new life is to make new candles out of it. Get creative and conjure up a new candle quickly and easily.
All you need is a container of your choice, a new candle wick, leftover wax, a clothespin and two skewers. First, wash the container you plan to use. Then clip the clothespin to the wick, placing it between the two kebab skewers that are on top of the container. Chop up your leftover wax and melt it in a water bath. Then pour the liquid wax into the prepared container.
If you want to make a scented candle, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the liquid wax before pouring it in.
Make firelighters out of it
What could be nicer in winter than a blazing fire in the fireplace? In order to get this to burn, you usually need a firelighter. Additionally, to make your own from leftover wax, all you need is sawdust and an egg carton.
Chop up your leftover wax and let it melt in a water bath. Then add some sawdust and mix the whole thing until the sawdust has soaked up the wax. Put on gloves and form small portions of the mixture. Place them in the hollows of the egg carton to dry.
Impregnate shoes
You can use leftover wax not only to make something burn, but also for completely unexpected things: For example, for your shoes, which always give you wet feet when it rains. In order to easily impregnate your kicks with wax residue, you only need a cloth and a hair dryer.
Make sure you only use clear or white wax for this trick and that your shoes are clean and dry. Your shoes should not be made of leather – fabric or imitation leather are fine.
Break up your wax residue and use the rag to rub it on your shoes. Now blow dry the shoes so that the wax melts and can soak in. Let the whole thing dry overnight and your shoes are water-repellent.
Decorate Easter eggs
Easter is still a while away, but if you save your leftover wax until then, it might be worth it. In order to succeed in creating fine decorations on your Easter eggs, all you need is the leftover wax and a brush.
Crush and melt your leftover wax. Use a brush and the liquid wax to paint patterns on the still white eggs and let it dry. If you now dye the eggs, no color will stick to the areas you painted with wax and you will have a nice pattern.
Donate leftover candles
If you don’t want to make anything new out of your leftover wax but still don’t want to throw it away, there are various candle manufacturers that will take leftover wax and make new candles out of it. One of them, for example, is SinnLicht.