My parents bought a “new” house last year and have been turning it into a comfortable, welcoming home ever since. I love everything about their place, and one of the best parts is helping my mom with the decorating. That collaboration means we spend a lot of time together — and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. As we search for the perfect decor pieces, we look for items that will suit her style and give the new house a warm, personal touch.
On one of our outings I found these $2 yard sale candle holders. They weren’t the prettiest and showed signs of wear, but I loved the shape and height. For two dollars (and a little time together), I knew we could give them a fresh look.
The main challenge: they were covered in old candle wax. Scraping with a butter knife is an option, but the drips along the sides were more difficult. I wanted a simple, effective method to remove the wax without damaging the holders.
There’s an easy solution that works great: a hairdryer and paper towels. Place the candle holder on a paper towel, aim the hairdryer at the wax, and apply heat until the wax softens and begins to melt. As the wax liquefies, wipe it away with the paper towel. The process is quick and removes wax from both the top and the sides without scraping or harsh chemicals.
After finishing this step, the holders were completely clean and ready for a makeover. I painted each one with chalk paint to give a soft, vintage-inspired base. My mom then added a faux finish by dry brushing different chalk paint colors over the base coat to create depth and texture.
Tip: Chalk paint is forgiving and perfect for quick transformations. Dry brushing lighter or contrasting tones adds character without much effort.
I didn’t want to return a tall, skinny tapered candle to these holders. Instead I found glass globes that sit nicely on top and give a softer, more modern look. I picked mine up at a local vintage shop, but similar pieces can be found at many craft stores.
To close the gap between the glass globe and the painted holder, we wrapped some natural twine around the top of the holder and secured it with a dab of hot glue. The twine adds rustic texture and ties the whole look together.
The final result is charming and budget-friendly: $2 candle holders transformed into stylish accents that fit perfectly in my parents’ home. The hairdryer method is a simple, effective way to remove wax from metal or painted surfaces before refinishing, and a little paint plus a finishing touch like twine or a globe can completely change the look.
How to easily transform wax covered candle holders
Supplies Used
yard sale candle holders
hairdryer
paper towels
chalk paint
twine
glass globes
glue gun and glue sticks
This simple method makes it easy to refresh old candle holders or remove wax from many different surfaces before refinishing. A quick clean with a hairdryer, a fresh coat of paint, and a few decorative touches will turn garage sale finds into attractive pieces for any room.
