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Friday, July 11, 2008

Wax Philosophical

I love candlelight. Do you?
What about when the night is done, and you're left with burned-down stubs of wax, the wicks all too low to burn again?
If you know you're going to burn new candles all the way down to their used-up ends, you can put a little water in each glass container, and the wax won't stick to the sides- easy clean up after a long night and a great party.
But what if you're like me, and you only burn them a few hours at a time, over and over again? By the time I'm ready to change them, that wax is stuck to the sides all the way down the votive holder- from several nights of just a little burn.
Talk about a waxy situation. How do you clean it up? Easy. I realize many of you already know about this, but, there was a time when I didn't...so maybe you don't- though you're all much sharper than me.

Throw them in your freezer. Let them get chummy with the blueberries and the beef for an hour or so. Let them get reeealy cold.

brrr...

Invert.

KICHOW!
Need I say more?
Now you can save yourself some time and use it for better purposes- like kissin' your husband, chasin' your kids, or cleaning your house.... ahem. Or reading a book.

If you want to be really economical, cheap, or un-wasterly, you can break the wax away from the old wicks, melt it down, and fill it into a glass votive holder and make a whole new candle out of it, instead of throwing it in the trash. You can get more wicks etc. at a craft store. It's really easy. Make sure you pick up yourself some gold star stickers while you're at it, and give yourself one.

I threw my stubs in the trash.

16 comments:

Ris said...

you wasteful thing, you! Just kidding...I would have chucked them too. Cool idea though! And great candle holders, very cute. I dont burn candles much. Scared I'd smooth set the place ablaze!

Rachel said...

Okay, so I didn't know this. :) Thanks for sharing!

anne said...

I love this trick. It is one of my favs. to show off because not that many people know about it. :)
I can't wait until a week from now!!! YAY!

Anne Elizabeth said...

Great tip! Love your candle holder:)

Grammy Staffy said...

I love you Megan!!! I've tried the water thing but since I usually burn my candles over and over that doesn't work. I have had a battle with wax in the bottom of votives for years..... now I know... now I am finally educated.... you are teaching me things way more valuable than when I got my masters.... can I earn my doctorate from you????

amanda said...

uhm totally did not know this trick!

thanks for sharing friend :)

Cora said...

Hi, I am normally just "lurking" around. I hope you don't mind. But now I had to post. I did not know about this. Cool tip. Thank you.

Cora

Anonymous said...

Hi, thanks for you comment on my blog. Yes, my blog is for my family and friends in Germany. I am German. My husband and I met while he was stationed over there. We are in Hawaii right now but are moving to Ft. Benning, GA in November.

Cora

Jenn Boerger said...

Love this tip! And I just love that you share all of your wonderful ideas with us. You know, I'm like you in that I usually assume that everyone I know has the same knowledge as me, but I need to get better at sharing, because there just might be a tip I use that others could benefit from. hmmm...

A Crafty Mom said...

Yes, I've been freezing candles for years, and am glad to know someone else out there is doing it! I read it in Martha Stewart ages ago, and loved it b/c it REALLY works! But "kichow" is something I hadn't heard in a long, long, long time :-)

Kristen said...

Love your Potterybarn Candle holder!

Very cool! :)

Amy said...

ooohh...I did not know this...and I LOVE to burn candles. Thanks!!
btw--love the glass container holding the flowers!!

Unknown said...

That has got to be the abso-smurf-ly most clever title for a post ever.

seriously. EveR.

stacey said...

Love this tip : )

I don't know what I ever did before I found this out!

Kimberly said...

Love your new header, so pretty!!

Tarrah said...

I actually did not know this! I have spent so much time chipping away at wax. Thanks for sharing!