If your favourite fancy candle has finally burnt through its wick or the wick inside of it is broken, you might be wondering how to burn through the leftover candle wax without the original wick inside.
Rather than be left with a useless candle you can indeed burn a candle without a wick by using cotton string, paper towels, popsicle sticks or even mop strands!
We've composed a small guide below which will take you through the type of wick used in candles, the best makeshift wicks to burn the rest of your candle wax (and how to make use of it) as well as how to fix your candle wicks and make them last longer.
Read our article about how can you light a candle without a lighter.
So without further chat, let's get into it!
Before we explore how to burn through the rest of your candle container without a wick, let's discuss the main types of wicks that are used for burning a candle flame down below, this will help you to choose the right type of wick for your candle wax mixture and candle design.
Now we know the main types of candle wicks found in candles, this makes it easier for us to choose a better substitute for our wick according to the candle design we have.
We've listed the best types of materials you can use to burn through the rest of your candle without a wick below.
Believe it or not, you can use paper towels to burn any type of wax in your candle, simply roll a piece of paper towel up and dip it into borax first then let it harden, this will allow the candle to burn properly as a reliable candle wick would.
A mop strand from a mop head can act as a wick for candles due to them being braided and made out of cotton fabric. These cotton wicks can be paired with cotton balls to make a twisted cotton wick.
It is very possible to use popsicle sticks or toothpicks as a wick in your candle depending on the height of the design. Simply put a bottom metal with a heat gun on to your stick then let it burn if you have a small ordinary candle a toothpick can work but for taller light candles a popsicle will work better.
Yarn or cotton strips can work as a wick, you will need to make sure they have no additional dyes so as they do not become toxic when burnt, the type of cotton string you use should also be dipped in borax and allowed to stiffen for the candle to burn properly.
Uncooked spaghetti strands could help burn your candle without a wick, soggy spaghetti however will not work as it will not stay alight.
Read our article about when your candle wick gets too small, won't light and started drowning.
If you've decided to use one of the materials above to make a candle wick with then you still need to make sure it's the right height to burn all the wax out of your candle pots design.
The right size wick for a clean-burning candle should be 1/4 to 1/8 above the wax, this can be cut with a candle wick trimmer tool.
Avoid cutting your homemade wick too short as this can stop deep candles from burning properly, if too short you will have to burn out the wax until the wick is exposed again or scrape out some of the wax around the wick.
To avoid having to use your wick to burn the rest of your candle, your better off trying to make the original wick last for longer.
We've listed a few tips for increasing the lifespan of your candle wick down below to avoid wasting expensive candles.
There is a role of candle wick to a certain extent, read our article about which type of candle wax burns the longest.
If you want to burn the rest of your candle and use the wax for something else rather than throwing it away, no worries, there are plenty of ways to get re-using your old wax which we will list below.
Can I use a cotton bud as a wick?
The cotton on your cotton bud can work as a wick once twisted but the plastic stick should not be burned as they are toxic.
What should I do if my wick got lost in my candle?
If your wick has been lost inside of your candle you can simply extend it with another wick or with one of our methods above.
How long should a candle burn for?
For every inch of your candle in diameter, it should burn for around an hour.
What size should I trim candle wicks to?
Your candle wick should be trimmed to either 1/8 or 1/4 over your candle for an even burn. Only trim your wick once the candle has cooled.
How do I make a cotton yarn wick?
To make a cotton yarn wick you can simply cut off the required amount according to the size of your candle and dip it in saltwater or even oil then allow it to harden overnight.
Why do I need a wick for burning my candle?
A wick is important for burning a candle as melting wax alone will only cause it to melt in a lump, not burn through evenly.
Overall, you can burn a candle without a wick by using materials such as cotton string, paper towels or wooden sticks, always make sure your candle has cooled before inserting any new wicks and trim it to the appropriate size according to the height of your candle.
To prevent having to burn your candle without a wick in the future make sure you are taking care of it by not burning your candle for too long and trimming it regularly.
