How to Filter Dirty Candle Wax

When making candles, there’s always a risk that the wax might become dirty or have specks in it, which can ruin the final product. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to filter dirty candle wax so that it can be reused.

One of the most common methods is to use a fine mesh stainless steel strainer. This type of strainer is readily available at candle-making supply stores, and can also be found in hardware and household sections of department stores. A fine mesh strainer ensures that any debris or specks in the wax are removed before the wax is reused.

If you don’t have a fine mesh strainer, there are other options. One clever method comes from Powers Family Homestead, where Kara made a candle out of deer fat and used a coffee filter to filter out any impurities. This is an excellent idea, especially if you don’t have a fine mesh strainer on hand.

Another option is to use a wax screen or cheesecloth. The Bee Buzz has an excellent tutorial on how to make your own wax screen. This method allows you to reuse the wax while still ensuring that it’s clean and free of any impurities.

In a pinch, paper towels can also be used as filters. If you don’t have any paper towels on hand, pantyhose can be used as a substitute. In fact, this is a trick that some people use to filter dirty oil, and it works just as well for filtering dirty wax.

If you’re a frequent candle maker, it’s a shame to let any wax scraps or spills go to waste. By using one of these filtering methods, you can reuse your wax and minimize waste. If you have any other methods for filtering dirty wax, feel free to share with others who are interested in candle making. Remember, a little bit of creativity can go a long way when it comes to candle making.

At Powers Family Homestead, Kara made a candle out of deer fat and came up with a filtering method using a strainer and a coffee filter. This is an excellent idea, especially if your strainer doesn’t have a fine mesh.

The Bee Buzz uses a wax screen or cheesecloth. For instructions on how to make your own wax screen, see the tutorial at the Bee Buzz.

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Trees are an essential part of nature, both for the oxygen they produce and the habitats they provide to animals. But if you don’t live near a forest you might not think about all that happens within them very much.

The Secret Life of the Forest: Trees, Animals and Fungi, by Klára Holik, Ivi Niesner and Jana Sedlácková explores the inner workings of the forest, from the biggest trees to the smallest parasites, answering questions about the forest and sharing basic information about different kinds of forests, the water cycle, how to visit the forest and more. It’s aimed at kids ages 6 to 9.

It starts at the beginning with information on where seeds come from, how pollination happens and different creatures (and mechanisms like wind) that help move tree seeds and other seeds around in different forests. It talks about photosynthesis, how trees communicate with each other, tree rings, layers of the forest, how tree seeds move and how fungi and trees help each other.

Readers will learn about the oldest known fungus in the world, how ants help other animals to reproduce and what plant and animal parasites make trouble in the forest.

The book also covers decomposition, an overview of forest types from around the world (including the heaviest living organism), how fire affects forests, animals of the rainforest and swamp and ways people use wood.

Information is presented in bite-sized segments, with cartoony illustrations that are somewhat accurate to nature. You can check out some of the pages and watch a flip through on the publisher’s website.

It also includes forest experiments kids can try, such as building bird houses, looking for springs and checking ingredients on snack foods for palm oil, which comes from the rainforest. There’s also information on the best way to visit the forest to be respectful of the organisms that live there.

In the back you’ll find a glossary of some of the important words included in the book, and there’s a QR code teachers or parents can scan to get more information or learning resources.

This book provides a nice overview of life in the forest and how the plants and animals work together to keep it growing the way it needs to. It also covers a little bit of what humans can do to protect the forests we have left.

About the book: 64 pages, hardcover. Published 2024 by Albatross Books. Suggested retail price $18.95

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