How to Make a Dryer Lint Candle
Have you ever wondered if the lint from your dryer could be used for something instead of just being thrown away? There are things dryer lint can be used for, such as making candles. There are only three main items needed, so you're not only making a cheap craft, you're recycling at the same time. These candles are just the thing when the electricity goes off or for when you go camping.
Things You'll Need
- Dryer lint, enough to fill an egg carton
- Candle stubs, about 10 or 12
- Cardboard egg carton
Instructions
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1
Collect the lint from your dryer lint trap and put it in a container, such as an old coffee can or a resealable bag. Keep collecting lint until you have enough for the project. You might need to collect the lint from several loads of clothes.
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2
Set a clean, empty egg carton on the counter. You should use an egg carton made of cardboard, because a Styrofoam egg carton may melt when hot candle wax is poured into it.
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3
Fill each section of the egg carton with as much of the collected dryer lint as it will hold and set aside the carton until later. (Alternatively, you can use cupcake papers filled with dryer lint and placed in a muffin pan. Each pile of lint will become smaller as it soaks up the hot wax later.)
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4
Put a large pot on the stove and fill it halfway with water. Set a glass bowl or a clean coffee can or a smaller pot inside the larger pot and heat the water to boiling. A double boiler can also be used. Put the wax candle stubs into the inner container and let them melt.
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5
Pour the melted candle wax over each section of the egg carton, making sure all of the dryer lint is completely covered. The wax needs to fill each section of the egg carton to the top.
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6
Store the egg carton until the candles cool and set. Then cut the egg carton up until you have 12 dryer lint candles. Set a candle on a heat-resistant plate and light the cardboard container to start up your dryer lint candle.
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Tips & Warnings
Dryer lint can be flammable so store the container of lint away from heat. Use gloves in case any of the hot wax splatters on your hands.
- Photo Credit rmkoske
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Comments
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hollyrose13
May 17, 2009
These are also great as a firestarter when camping: just throw the whole carton in, or cut into two. A little trick I learned from the Girl Scouts.
