How to Fix a Tunnelling Candle

Did you know there’s an easy way to fix this annoyance? The next time this happens to you, here’s how to fix a tunnelling candle quickly and easily.

Candle lore would have you believe that if your favorite candle start to tunnel, it’s your own fault. There are all kinds of cautionary tales about what will happen if you don’t burn your candle the right way, for the right amount of time, or in the right environment. Did you let the candle burn until the wax was melted all the way to the outside edge of the candle jar and exactly 5/16th of an inch down? Did you trim the wick to 3/5 of an inch and turn around three times before lighting it? You might not be so worried about a little bit of tunnelling with an inexpensive candle, but some luxury candles can be well over $100, and you’ll definitely want to get all you can out of those special ones. If you ever run into this issue, no need to worry. There’s actually a simple and very quick solution, and I promise it doesn’t matter if you’ve previously burned your candle the “right” way or not. Here’s how to fix a tunnelling candle.

Tools Needed to Fix a Candle That Is Burning Unevenly

This is such a simple method and you probably already have everything you need in the house already.

You’ll need:

• A lighter, matches, or whatever you normally use to light your candles
• The candle that needs rescuing
• Aluminum foil

That’s it! It really couldn’t be easier.

More ideas for scenting your home: Classic Christmas Simmer Pot Recipe

How to Fix a Tunnelled Candle

The next time you notice that your favorite candle isn’t burning evenly, and you’re at risk of wasting a lot of it, you’ll be so thankful that you know this trick. This works equally well for a $7 seasonal scented candle that you bought on sale, or the luxury candle you splurged on to treat yourself. This is such a quick and easy trick, that it’s really worth saving every single candle.

First, tear off a medium size sheet of aluminum foil. You want it to be long enough to cover the circumference of your candle. Depending on how wide your candle is, a sheet about 8-10 inches long usually does it. If you’re fixing a really large candle with multiple wicks, you may need a slightly bigger sheet.

Wrap the sheet of aluminum foil around your candle, creating a little cylindrical tub around it. Leave the top open so the wick is still accessible and the candle is exposed to lots of oxygen to keep it burning.

Make sure your candle is on a heat-resistant surface like a stone counter or a ceramic plate. Light the candle using your candle lighter or a match and let it burn for at least 10-15 minutes.

Check on your candle after a few minutes. If the tunnelling issue is fixed, you can blow it out or continue burning it without the aluminum foil blanket.

If the tunnelled area is still unmelted, continue to burning the candle for a few minutes longer and check its progress frequently.

More housekeeping ideas to keep your home looking its best: How to Remove Water Stains From Wood Furniture

Why This Works

This works to save your candle because the aluminum foil reflects the heat of the candle back towards the wax stuck to the outer edge of the jar and traps it in, causing the excess wax to melt and rejoin the rest of the candle.

This works remarkably quickly and efficiently, but it’s important to make sure that the candle is being burned on a surface that won’t be affected by the extra heat. I should also note that it’s a good idea to keep the candle away from children and pets while you’re fixing it because this does make the candle quite a bit hotter to the touch than a normal candle, and the outer surface of the aluminum foil can get quite hot.

Have you ever tried this trick or do you have something else that you do to fix this common candle problem?

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