Candles are a favorite way to create a cozy ambiance and fill a room with sweet fragrance (plus, the pretty jars provide the perfect coffee table accessory). One thing we don't love, however, is that pesky ring of unmelted wax often left around the sides after blowing out the candles.
Also known as candle tunneling, this occurs when the wick burns straight down the center, instead of creating a melty pool of wax across the entire surface. This typically happens when you don't let a candle burn long enough the first time you use it. It can also be an indication that your candle wick isn't large enough for the container. Either way, it's nearly impossible to reverse once it starts.
To get rid of that stubborn ring of wasted wax, we've previously resorted to chipping it away with a butter knife or poking the still-warm wax down with the end of a pen. Neither of these messy techniques was very successful, and it left us with lumpy, unattractive wax surfaces. However, we recently discovered a genius candle-melting hack using aluminum foil that totally changed the game.
You can fix a tunneled candle by wrapping a piece of aluminum foil around the edges and simply letting it burn. Make sure the foil hangs over the built-up wax areas, but leave an opening in the center so the wick can still burn properly. After a couple of hours, the wax should melt and even out the surface.
After seeing this trick in an Instagram video posted by @lucyparts, a few BHG.com editors decided to try it for ourselves (with varying degrees of success).
Emily VanSchmus, a digital editor at BHG.com, attempted it with a coconut-blend wax candle with a slightly off-center wick, which had caused a tunnel to form off to one side. She placed foil along the wax buildup and, after a couple of hours, the candle had a completely level surface again.
It's important to note, however, that the quality of the wax and shape of the container might affect how well the foil hack works. Senior digital home editor Caitlin Sole had less success when trying the trick with a larger, tapered candle jar. After covering the edges with foil and letting it burn, the wax ring shrunk a bit but didn't melt down completely.
The hack worked well with a small soy wax candle only a few inches in diameter, but we had issues with a large Capri Blue Volcano candle, which has a wider jar and wax that had already melted down quite a bit before our attempt. For larger candles, make sure the flame can still burn strongly and create enough heat to melt the wax. The opening in the center of the foil should be large enough to allow plenty of oxygen in as it burns.
To prevent candle tunneling in the first place, consider buying candles with multiple wicks and letting them burn for several hours the first time you light them. But if a tunnel begins to form, grab some aluminum foil to help save your candles and eliminate that wasted wax.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
You can fix a tunneled candle by wrapping a piece of aluminum foil around the edges and simply letting it burn. Make sure the foil hangs over the built-up wax areas, but leave an opening in the center so the wick can still burn properly. After a couple of hours, the wax should melt and even out the surface.
How do you stop a candle ring? ›
Use aluminum foil to fix a candle that has started to tunnel
Poke a hole in the middle at least an inch wide so that the flame gets enough oxygen to burn. Allow the candle to burn long enough to melt the wax to the edge of the container. The aluminum foil helps hold in enough heat to melt the entire surface of wax.
How to melt leftover candle wax in glass jar? ›
Place the candles upside-down on the tin foil, and set the baking sheet in the oven. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Check back on your glass jars after 15 minutes, the wax should be melted by then, but feel free to give them a couple more minutes if needed. Remove the baking sheet from the oven.
What's the best way to get wax off a candlestick? ›
Place the candlestick in the freezer until cold: approximately 45 minutes. *For small pieces of wax in easy-to-scrape locations, hold an ice cube directly to the offending spot until cold. Chip the frozen wax from the candlestick using your fingernail or a soft plastic scraper. Polish the surface with a dry cloth.
How to get rid of memory rings? ›
If you forgot to let the wax pool reach the edge on the first burn, you're probably going to be left with a less-than-ideal memory ring (AKA the precursor to tunneling). Luckily, if you catch it early enough, there's a quick fix. Blast the top of the candle with a hair dryer on high heat.
What is the science behind the candle magic trick? ›
The Secret Ingredient: Magnesium
When the candle is lit, the flame melts the wax and ignites the magnesium powder sprinkled along the wick. This powder continues to burn even when the candle is blown out, igniting the candle wick again and making it appear as though the candle is magically relighting itself.
Why does my candle have rings? ›
If a candle is not burned for long enough to allow the wax to liquefy or to melt from edge to edge of the container, it will create a “memory ring.” Once a candle has a “memory ring,” it will continue to tunnel for the life of the candle.
What is the memory ring in candles? ›
If you do not let your candle burn all the way to the edges, then a memory ring will form. This means that the next time you go to burn your candle, the wax will remember where it was burnt up to on the first burn and only burn up to this last point, not past it, which is how tunnelling occurs.
How do you remove old wax from glass candle jars? ›
Fill your candle with water and microwave it for a minute-and-a-half, or a maximum of two minutes. This will cause the wax to melt and rise above the water. Let the glass and wax cool, then swiftly pop out the remaining wax with a spoon or butter knife.
How do you get leftover wax out of a Yankee candle jar? ›
Place the candle in the freezer for several hours or until it is frozen. The wax should pop right out of the container, but you can also loosen it with a butter knife if necessary.
Pour your wax into a microwavable container. (Ceramic and glass dishes are usually fine, but you should still check for "microwave-safe" or "heatproof" labels on their packaging.) 2. Place your bowl/jug of wax in the microwave and heat for 1 minute at a time, monitoring the temperature until it reaches 80°C.
How to get wax residue off glass? ›
For glass surfaces - Use a solvent-like window cleaner, rubbing alcohol, drain cleaner, bleach, or vinegar to dissolve the wax and separate it from the surface, making it easy to remove. Use a plastic putty knife to scrape up any excess wax. Make sure it's plastic, not metal so you don't have to worry about scratches.
What is the best way to remove candle wax from material? ›
The trick is to carefully heat the wax, and encourage it to soak into something else, such as blotting paper. A paper towel can also work well, but it's better to avoid this if you're dealing with fluffy fabrics like fleece, wool, or velvet – you don't want any little bits of tissue getting stuck amongst the fibres.
What breaks down dried candle wax? ›
“Since candle wax is an oil-based stain, you will need a solvent that dissolves oil,” explains Miller. “There are a number of solvents that can do the trick, but only a few are lying around your house. The most typical are acetone (found in nail polish remover) and isopropyl alcohol (used in rubbing alcohol).”
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