Expert: Neecie - 12/29/2006

Question
Help!!!!  How do you get the wicks to reignite if they appear to have burt into the wax??  I have many expensive/inexpensive candles that will not burn any longer.  How do I get the wicks out?  When I try to dig them out, all that happens is that I have no luck and the wick breaks again.

Answer
Hi Sherri,
Trying to dig out wicks that are buried into the wax can be difficult. I think what's happening is that when you try to dig out the wick, you light it and your wick drowns again. The reason that is happening is that your wick is below the wax line. So when you light your candle, the wax melts and drowns the wick. Once again you have buried wick on your hands. You will need to get the wick above the wax line. In order to do that you may need to either cut, scrape or melt off about a 1/4 - 1/2 inch of wax off your candle. Another way to enjoy your candle once again is to just forget about the wick that's there and insert another one. Craft stores such as Michaels, JoAnn's sell wicks in their candlemaking departments. Just take a knitting needle or any type of sturdy skewer and poke it into your candle. Insert your new wick into your candle and enjoy. Hope that helps you.