To even out your candle, especially if it's tunneling, you can use heat sources like a hair dryer or create a foil tent to melt the top layer of wax smoothly.
Tackling Candle Tunneling: Easy Fixes
Candle tunneling occurs when the wick burns straight down the center, melting only a small portion of the wax and leaving a ring of hard wax around the edges. This wastes wax and shortens the candle's life. Fortunately, several simple methods can help you fix this issue and ensure an even burn.
Simple Methods to Even Out Your Candle
Here are a couple of effective ways to fix a tunneled candle, including techniques mentioned in the provided reference:
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Use a Hair Dryer: This is a quick and straightforward method for minor tunneling.
- Blast the top of the candle with a hair dryer on high heat.
- Simply hold the airflow over the top of the candle until the top layer of wax has melted and smoothed.
- Hold the dryer a few inches above the wax, moving it slowly to melt the uneven surface.
- The melted wax will fill in the dip, creating a smooth surface. Let it cool completely before relighting.
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Employ the Tin Foil Method: If your candle is showing more serious signs of tunneling, it's time to whip out the tin foil and get to work.
- Light the candle and let it burn for a few minutes.
- Wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the edges of the candle, forming a dome over the top, but leaving a hole in the center for the flame.
- The foil reflects the heat back towards the edges of the candle, melting the stubborn ring of wax.
- Let the candle burn for 1–3 hours (or until the top layer is level).
- Carefully remove the foil using oven mitts or tongs as it will be hot. Blow out the candle and let the wax cool and harden evenly.
Using these methods helps you salvage tunneled candles and get the most out of your wax.
To prevent tunneling in the future, always allow your candle to burn until the melted wax pool reaches the edges of the container, especially during the first burn.
