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Candle Wax Tips: Clever Household Uses

illustration of a candle, clever ways to use candle wax

Everyday Advice for Burning Candles in the Home

Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Candles add instant warmth, light, and coziness to any home—especially during the holidays. But did you know candle wax can do much more than just set the mood? From fixing sticky drawers to predicting the weather, these clever candle wax tricks prove that even the smallest stub has big uses!

Clever Uses for Candle Wax (Beyond Lighting a Room!)

  • To remove candle wax from cloth, use the dull edge of a knife to scrape off as much wax as possible. Place several paper towels on both sides of the fabric and iron on a low setting. Change the towels often as the wax is absorbed into them.
  • Place candles in the freezer overnight to prevent them from dripping. They will also burn longer.
  • To make a candle fit snugly, pour hot water into the candleholder, let it heat up a bit, then pour the water out and stick the candle in immediately.
  • Rub candle wax on wooden drawers to make them open with ease.
  • Saw teeth rubbed with a candle will cut wood more easily, and the candle wax will protect the blade from rusting.
  • Before the first snowstorm, rub your shovel with an old candle stub, and the snow will easily slide off.
  • To predict the weather, just blow out a lit candle. If the wick smolders longer than usual, rain is coming. If the wick goes out quickly, look for fair weather.

One way to add a homemade touch to your holiday table without much expense is to make a festive Candle Decoration.

What do you think? How do you use candle wax? Tell us your tips and tricks in the comments below!

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Household Tips
About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Shannon J</span> Thu, 11/20/2025 - 18:07
We use old candle wax to light fires, or to give a boost to an existing fire. c:
<span>Libbi Dallas</span> Thu, 11/20/2025 - 14:56
Furniture polish as it is waterproof, protects from minor scratches and dust wipes off easily with a nice shine. Door jams and hinges and window hinges helps keep them working and gliding well. Wind orniments in the garden, helping them to move freely and waterproofs them to a degree
<span>G M</span> Sat, 10/19/2024 - 15:44
Rub the end of a candle on the full length of a closed zipper then open a close the zipper a couple of times. It will make it work a lot easier.
<span>Ray Stokes</span> Fri, 12/10/2021 - 14:10
If anyone is having trouble getting old wicks and wax out of the bottom of a glass candle holder do this. Put it in the freezer and let it freeze real good then take a butter knife push down in and twist. It will break lose and you can dump it out! Ray
<span>Pat Bryan</span> Thu, 01/22/2015 - 16:51
I bough a covered glass candle at Belk,s. Having trouble getting the wick thing out. Have used GOO GONE to get residue out. Soaked holder inside with water,also. Then, tried DAWN. Still can NOt get it out. Also, tried a butter knife! Help!This is me-am registered with u! ! Thanks a bunch!! PB
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 01/23/2015 - 17:13

Have you tried using a lighter or match to melt the area around the wick? Use tweezers to lift out the wick while melting the wax.

 <span>Candycandy</span> Fri, 11/15/2013 - 01:33
If you want to clean you carpet from the wax fill a waterproof plastic bag with ice and lay it on top of the wax stain. Allow the wax to freeze. Make sure the wax stain is not getting wet from leaks or condensation, as moisture will make the stain harder to get out.As soon as the spill happens, resist the urge to wipe up the hot wax; you will only end up spreading it around and making a larger mess that you will have to clean up later. Try to keep it contained to its original size.
<span>Nina Haynes</span> Thu, 03/01/2012 - 18:06
very helpful thank you