Candles

Here are 7 ways candles do more than light up a room.

From Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things

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Unstick a drawer

If you have a desk or chest drawer that sticks, remove it and rub a candle on the runners. The drawer will open more smoothly when you slip it back in place.

Make a pincushion

A wide candle makes an ideal pincushion. The wax will help pins and needles glide more easily through fabric too.

Weatherproof your labels

After you address a package with a felt-tip pen, weatherproof the label by rubbing a white candle over the writing. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow will smear the label now.

Quiet a squeaky door

If a squeaky door is driving you batty, take it off its hinges and rub a candle over the hinge surfaces that touch each other. The offending door will squeak no more.

Mend shoelace ends

When the plastic or metal tips come off the ends of shoelaces, don't wait for the laces to fray. Do something to prevent the annoyance that comes from having to force a scraggly shoelace end through a teeny eyelet: Just dip the end into melted candle wax and the lace will hold until you can buy a new one.

Make a secret drawing

Have a child make an "invisible" drawing with a white candle. Then let him or her cover it with a wash of watercolor paint to reveal the picture. The image will show up because the wax laid down by the candle will keep the paper in the areas it covers from absorbing the paint. If you have a few kids around, they can all make secret drawings and messages to swap and reveal.

Use puff-proof candle to ignite fires

Don't let a draft blow out the flame when you're trying to light your fireplace or spark up the barbecue grill. Start your fire with one of those trick puff-proof birthday candles, designed to be a practical joke aid that prevents birthday celebrants from blowing out the candles on their cakes. Once your fire is up and roaring, smother the candle flame and save the trick candle for future use.