Tip of the day - How to get the most out of your favorite candles!

How many times have you purchased a candle that you absolutely love and you burn it so often that it doesn't last very long before the wick burns out and the wax left looks like this...

This is pretty common for natural soy candles (like the ones I make which are shown throughout this post).  Clearly, there is so much wax left that it would be a total waste to throw it out at this point.  Here is an easy and inexpensive way to continue to use your candle until the majority of the wax is used up and how to re-wick the candle so you can continue to burn your favorite scent!

First, you need to purchase some cotton wick.  I use the 100% cotton braided flat.  It's all natural and will burn clean.  You can purchase the wicks where they are already pre-measured and cut or buy a roll at your local craft shop.  It's fairly inexpensive, especially when you consider how much a new candle will cost you!

To melt down the rest of your candle wax, simply place it in your microwave and cook it on 100% power for 30 second increments until it's fully melted.  ***Important Note! - ONLY microwave the candle if it is in a glass container. PLEASE DO NOT MICROWAVE if it's in a metal container!!!!

If your candle is in a tin, or other type of metal based container, use a shallow cooking pot and place about 2 cups of water in it (or just enough to reach the mid point of your candle jar when submerged in the pot).  Set it to a boil and wait for the candle to melt.

Once your wax is completely melted, make sure you clean out any refuse left over from your old wick, so you have a nice clean candle to use when you are done.  At this point you should cut your wick (if it's not pre-cut) and measure it to just about an inch above the rim of your jar.  This will allow you to drape it over either a dowel, utensil, or something else long enough to go across the top of your jar to hold the wick straight up in place. Once you position properly and set the wick, leave it undisturbed for several minutes to ensure that it hardens evenly.

Once it has hardened completely, you will want to trim your wick down to a 1/2 inch from the top of the wax. And now you are ready to continue burning your candle.

**Another quick tip... once you have burned this NEW candle wick out, don't re-melt the wax.  You should never burn a candle all the way down to the bottom of the jar.  It can cause the glass to burst or if you have a tin jar, it will cause it to warp and open and could cause a fire.  Please discard your candle when you have 1/4 inch of wax left.

For more great tips, how-to's, tutorials and fun commentary, please subscribe to my blog!  If you would like to purchase these great natural soy moisturizing candles that I make, go to my Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/trendytrinketsbymely

or at my website www.Skincandysoap.com.