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How to Filter Dirty Candle Wax

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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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Learn about Bulgaria for Kids

Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is in Southeastern Europe that’s bordered by Greece, Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia and the Black Sea. It was founded from an empire that deeply influenced the Slavic nations and was once part of the Eastern bloc controlled by Russia.

Bulgaria Facts

  • Bulgaria is 42,855 square miles, or 110,994 square kilometers, with a population near 6.5 million.
  • Its capital and largest city is Sofia.
  • The Bulgarian Empire, from which the nation takes its name, took power in the area in the late 7th century and developed Cyrillic script, which is used for many Slavic languages. The country was under Ottoman rule for almost five centuries, but it declared its independence in 1908.
  • Bulgaria sided with Germany in both world wars and became part of the Eastern bloc led by the Soviet Union in 1946. The Communist Party ceded control in the late 1980s and Bulgaria adopted a democratic constitution in 1991.
  • It is a unitary parliamentary republic with a president and a prime minister as well as a National Assembly.
  • The word Bulgar might have some from a word meaning to mix or stir, or a derivative of that word that means revolt or disorder. About 85 percent of the country is ethnically Bulgarian, and the official language is Bulgarian.

Bulgarian National Symbols

The Bulgarian flag is made of three horizontal stripes, one white, one green and one red. It was adopted when they gained independence from the Ottoman Empire.

The national anthem, “Mila Rodino,” or “Dear Motherland,” was adopted in 1964 but its lyrics have been changed many times, most recently in 1990, and a shortened version was approved in 1991.

The Eurasian griffon vulture is considered the national bird, and a lion is used as it heraldic symbol.

The patron saint of Bulgaria is Saint John of Rila, the first Bulgarian hermit, whose followers founded many churches in his honor, including the famous Rila Monastery, now a UNESCO World Heritage site (and a very cool looking building).

The national instrument is the kaba gaida, a bagpie that is native to Bulgaria.

Bulgaria Activities for Kids

Listen to the kaba giada in this video, or you can listen for two hours(!) here.

Learn more about Bulgarian folk dancing and watch some people doing it. The people in this video are also wearing traditional Bulgarian folk costumes, which is fun to see. (As a knitter I love those socks!) You can learn more about Bulgarian folk costumes here or at Meet the Slavs.

See what your name looks like in Cyrillic and see if you can write it! You can also learn the sounds of the Bulgarian alphabet here.

Learn more about Bulgaria from Kids World Travel Guide, or check out the resources available at Teachers Pay Teachers.

Wonders of Bulgaria has a good rundown of traditional Bulgarian foods you might want to try. For kids I’d suggest their version of moussaka, which is like the Greek dish only made with potatoes and not eggplant or zucchini. The Modern Nonna has a version that includes carrots, but they’re optional.