3 Ways To Melt Crayons - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Melt Crayons PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Diane Henkler

Last Updated: July 22, 2025 References

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This article was co-authored by Diane Henkler. Diane Henkler is a Crafting and Home DIY Specialist based in Lexington, South Carolina. She is the owner and creator of InMyOwnStyle.com, a crafting, DIY, and home design blog. She started her blog in 2009, and has now been blogging about affordable decorating, creative DIYs, and lifestyle tips for 15 years. Her career background was in retail display curation, which led her into the world of DIY decorating and home design. In her blog, she features pieces on decorating inspiration, seasonal holiday decor projects, organization strategies, room makeover guides, painting tutorials, furniture restoration tips, and more. Diane’s blog demonstrates how decorating a home does not have to be hard, expensive or time consuming. Through her posts, she shares decorating advice, ideas, project how-to’s, and more, furthering her mission to help her readers create beautiful homes, especially on a budget. She also creates tutorials and educates followers on her social media crafting channels. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 528,406 times.

Just because crayons are old and broken does not mean that you can throw them away. Just like candle wax, crayons can be melted down and turned into new crayons, candles, or even lipstick! There are several different ways to melt crayons, and this article will show you how.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Microwave

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  1. Step 1 Peel the paper wrappers off the crayons. 1 Peel the paper wrappers off the crayons. If you don't remove the wrappers, the wax may melt into them and create a greasy, waxy mess. Here are a few simple ways to remove crayon wrappers:
    • Peel and tear the wrapper off.
    • Score the paper wrapper with a craft knife and peel the wrapper open.
    • Soak the crayons in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes to loosen the wrapper, then peel the wrapper off.
    • Some crayons have very loose wrappers. You might be able to simply slide these off.
  2. Step 2 Consider separating the crayons by color. 2 Consider separating the crayons by color. If you have a bunch of crayons, you can sort them into similar colors. This means that you put all of the pinks together and all of the purples together. You don't have to focus on grouping specific colors together, such as putting all of the "bubblegum" pinks together and all of the "rose" pinks together. Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 3 Use a craft knife or a kitchen knife to cut the crayons into smaller pieces. You want the pieces to be about ½ inches (1.27 centimeters) long. This will help reduce the melting time.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 4 Put the crayon pieces into a microwave-safe container. You can use a glass jar or even an old coffee mug. If you have multiple colors, then put each color group into a separate container.
    • If you wish to make candles out of crayons, then use one part shaved candle wax to one part crayon.[1] You can also add a few drops of essential oil or candle-making fragrance.
    • If you are making lipstick, then you will need one crayon (you can use one color, or different colors amounting to one crayon) and ½ teaspoon of shea butter, and ½ teaspoon of oil, such as almond oil, Argan oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil.
  5. Step 5 Place the containers into the microwave. 5 Place the containers into the microwave. You can put multiple colors/containers into the microwave at one time, but don't overcrowd the microwave oven. It is better to heat each color one at a time, or heat in small batches.
  6. Step 6 Microwave the crayons for 2 minutes, pausing every 30 seconds to stir. 6 Microwave the crayons for 2 minutes, pausing every 30 seconds to stir. Do not step away from the microwave; keep an eye on the melting crayons. Each microwave is different, and your crayons may melt sooner.
  7. Step 7 Use the melted wax. 7 Use the melted wax. Once the crayons are completely melted, you may pour the wax into silicone molds or plastic candy molds to make fun-shaped crayons. You can also use the wax to make crayon-based lipstick and candles.
    • If you want to add any extras, such as glitter, fragrance, or essential oil, do so now. Be sure to stir it in well. Don't add the glitter earlier; it might react with the microwave.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Stove

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  1. Step 1 Assemble a double boiler or bain marie. 1 Assemble a double boiler or bain marie. Fill a large pot with 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) of water. Place a heat-safe glass container inside the large pot. The top of the glass container should be above the water level.
    • If you have a metal beaker used for candle-making, you can use this instead of the glass container.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 2 Peel the wrappers off of the crayons. If you don't remove the wrapper, you will end up with a soggy mess. Here are a few easy ways to remove crayon wrappers:
    • Peel and tear the wrapper off. Start at one end (top or bottom) and the seam of the wrapper. Nick your fingernail under the wrapper, and start tearing it off.
    • If the wrappers are difficult to remove, run a craft knife down the length of a crayon and gently cut the wrapper open. Peel the wrapper off.[2]
    • Soak the crayon in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. The water will soften the paper and make it easier to remove.[3]
    • Some crayons have very loose wrappers that are not glued on. You might be able to slide these off like a sock or a paper wrapper off a straw.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 3 Consider separating the crayons by color. If you have a bunch of crayons in different colors, you can sort them by color. This will save you time later when you are melting the crayons. You do not have to group specific colors together, such as putting all of the "periwinkle" blues together and the "royal" blues together. Instead, just group all of the blues together, all of the yellows together, and so forth.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 4 Cut the crayons into smaller pieces using a craft knife or a kitchen knife. You want the pieces to be about ½ inches (1.27 centimeters) long.[4] This will help them melt quicker and reduce the number of lumps that might form.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 5 Turn on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Once the water starts boiling, lower the temperature and keep the water at a steady simmer.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 6 Drop the crayon pieces into the glass container.[5] Do not put all of the colors in all at once, or you will get a murky brown color. Instead, drop the crayons in based on color. If you sorted the colors out beforehand, you can just drop the color piles into the container.
    • If you are making crayon candles, then add some shaved candle wax and a few drops of essential oil or candle fragrance.[6]
    • If you are making crayon-based lipstick, then you will need to start with one crayon (you can use one color, or different colors amounting to one crayon) and ½ teaspoon of shea butter, and ½ teaspoon of oil, such as almond oil, Argan oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil.[7]
    • If you want to add any extras, such as glitter, fragrance, or essential oil, now is the time to do so.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 7 Wait until the crayons are melted.[8] Stir them occasionally with a spoon so that everything gets heated evenly. Do not leave the stove unattended and be sure to use good ventilation; the fumes given off by the melting wax can cause headaches.[9]
    • If the water level in the big pot starts to get too low, add more water.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 8 Take the container out of the water and use the wax. The glass container will be very hot, so be sure to use an oven mitt or pot holder to protect your hand. You can pour the hot wax into silicone ice cube molds or candy molds to make fun-shaped crayons. You can also use this wax to make crayon-based lipstick or candles.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Oven

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  1. Step 1 Preheat the oven to 200°F (94°C). 1 Preheat the oven to 200°F (94°C). In this method, you will be melting some old crayons into fun new shapes.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 2 Peel any paper off the crayons. Most crayons have wrappers that are easy to peel off. Some might even slide off on their own. If you are having troubles removing the wrappers, here are a few tips:
    • Run a craft knife down the length of a crayon, gently slicing the paper wrapper open. Be careful not to cut the actual crayon. You should be able to pull the wrapper off easily.
    • If the wrappers are difficult to remove, soak the entire crayon in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. The water will help soften the paper, making it easier to remove.
  3. Step 3 Consider separating the crayons by color. 3 Consider separating the crayons by color. If you are using a lot of crayons, you can save time later by sorting them into similar colors. This means that you put the yellows with the yellows and the blues with the blues. You do not have to group specific colors together, such as putting all of the "cornflower" blues together and the "goldenrod" yellows together.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 4 Slice the crayons into smaller pieces using a craft knife or a kitchen knife. You want the pieces to be about ½ inches (1.27 centimeters) long. This will help them melt quicker and reduce the number of lumps that might form.
  5. Step 5 Find a suitable baking tin or silicone mold. 5 Find a suitable baking tin or silicone mold. You can use an old cupcake or muffin tin, or you can use a silicone baking or ice cube mold. Silicone has a very high melting point, so it is safe to use in the oven.
    • If you are using a cupcake or muffin tin, consider lightly greasing the wells with cooking spray or shortening. This will prevent any sticking. You can also line the wells with cupcake liners instead.
    • If you are using a silicone mold, you do not need to line it or grease it. The mold is stick-resistant and flexible, so the melted crayons (once hardened) will easily "pop" out.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Melt Crayons 6 Place the crayon pieces into the molds. If you plan on making fun-shaped crayons, then you will want to over-fill each well a little bit. This is because the crayons will spread out and fill in the gaps when they melt.
    • Consider matching colors to the shape. For example, if your mold has different shapes, such as stars and hearts, put the reds and pinks in the heart-shaped well, and the yellows and blues in the star-shaped well.
    • Consider mixing and matching some colors. Try putting reds, oranges, and yellows into one shape, blues and greens into another, and pinks and purples into a third.
  7. Step 7 Place the tin in the oven and bake it for 10 to 15 minutes. 7 Place the tin in the oven and bake it for 10 to 15 minutes. If you are using silicone mold, place it onto a baking sheet first.
  8. Step 8 Remove the tin from the oven. 8 Remove the tin from the oven. Once the crayons have completely melted, pull the tin out of the oven. You can now use the melted wax for your project, or you can let the wax cool and harden in the mold to make fun-shaped crayons.
    • If you are making fun-shaped crayons, you can speed up the cooling process by waiting until the wax hardens a bit, then sticking the molds into the freezer for 30 minutes.[10]
  9. Step 9 Remove the hardened crayons from the molds. 9 Remove the hardened crayons from the molds. If you are making fun-shaped crayons, wait for the wax to harden completely. You can tell if the wax has set if the bottom of the mold or tin is cool to the touch. Once the wax has set, turn the mold upside down. If you are using cupcake or muffin tins, the crayons should pop right out. If they don't, you can lightly tap the tray against the counter. If you are using a silicone mold, gently grip the edges of the mold, and press down on the bulging shape, pushing the crayon out.
    10. Advertisement

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Community Q&A

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  • Question Can I mix multiple colors at once in the microwave? Community Answer Community Answer Yes, but too many colors mixed will just turn brown, so it is better to melt them separately. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 21 Helpful 78
  • Question I spilled some of the melted crayons on a hardwood floor. I scraped up most of it, but a residue remains. How do I clean it up? Adrian Adrian Top Answerer Use a hair dryer to melt the wax, and wipe it up with a damp cloth. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 24 Helpful 111
  • Question How do I melt crayons to make them into candles? Community Answer Community Answer First, melt them with one of the methods shown above, but this time, put a wick string (you can buy some from a local superstore, or just use one from an old candle) at the bottom of the mold you intend to shape into the candle. Tie a string to the top so that it'll stay on top. From there, add the wax, and some scented oil. It should mold nicely into a candle. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 21 Helpful 67
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Tips

  • Silicone ice cube molds make ideal molds for new crayon shapes. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 3
  • Melted crayons can be used to make new crayons. Simply leave to set in a mold or even inside the container they're melted in. The new crayon will be whatever color or colors you've added to the container. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 2
  • Melted crayons can be poured into figurine or ornament molds to make interesting new crayons or display items. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 3
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Never leave a burning stove or oven unattended. Thanks Helpful 45 Not Helpful 8
  • Work in a well-ventilated area when melting crayons. Keep a window open. Thanks Helpful 63 Not Helpful 17
  • Don't overheat the crayons. Thanks Helpful 50 Not Helpful 16
  • Melted crayons are very hot. Adult supervision and action is required at all times when melting and handling melted crayon wax. Do not leave melted or hot wax unattended. Thanks Helpful 47 Not Helpful 22
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Things You'll Need

  • Crayons
  • Craft knife
  • Ovenproof or microwave proof containers
  • Dish or tray for microwave method
  • Project requirements, such as molds, etc. for using the melted crayons

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about hobbies and crafts, check out our in-depth interview with Diane Henkler.

References

  1. ↑ Brit + Co., Use Crayons to Create Color Block Candles
  2. ↑ She Knows, Cool craft: Turn Old Crayons into Fun, Colorful Shapes
  3. ↑ Our Best Bites, How To: Make Muffin Tin Crayons {Plus a Valentine Printable!}
  4. ↑ She Knows, Cool craft: Turn Old Crayons into Fun, Colorful Shapes
  5. ↑ Filip Kabashi. Candlemaking Expert. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ Apartment Therapy, How To Make Candles Using a Microwave
  7. ↑ Beautylish, 7 DIY Crayon Lipsticks to Make Now
  8. ↑ Filip Kabashi. Candlemaking Expert. Expert Interview
  9. ↑ Crayola, Craft Safety
More References (1)
  1. ↑ She Knows, Cool craft: Turn Old Crayons into Fun, Colorful Shapes

About This Article

Diane Henkler Co-authored by: Diane Henkler Crafting and Home DIY Specialist This article was co-authored by Diane Henkler. Diane Henkler is a Crafting and Home DIY Specialist based in Lexington, South Carolina. She is the owner and creator of InMyOwnStyle.com, a crafting, DIY, and home design blog. She started her blog in 2009, and has now been blogging about affordable decorating, creative DIYs, and lifestyle tips for 15 years. Her career background was in retail display curation, which led her into the world of DIY decorating and home design. In her blog, she features pieces on decorating inspiration, seasonal holiday decor projects, organization strategies, room makeover guides, painting tutorials, furniture restoration tips, and more. Diane’s blog demonstrates how decorating a home does not have to be hard, expensive or time consuming. Through her posts, she shares decorating advice, ideas, project how-to’s, and more, furthering her mission to help her readers create beautiful homes, especially on a budget. She also creates tutorials and educates followers on her social media crafting channels. This article has been viewed 528,406 times. 1 votes - 100% Co-authors: 26 Updated: July 22, 2025 Views: 528,406 Categories: Crafts Article SummaryX

To melt crayons, first remove the paper wrappers and sort them by color. Then, cut or break the crayons into small pieces that are all roughly the same size. Next, put similarly colored crayon pieces in a microwave-safe container and microwave them for 2 minutes, pausing to stir them every 30 seconds. Once the crayons are melted, you can pour them into a mold or use the wax for another project. For tips on melting crayons on the stovetop or in the oven, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Charlie Baker

    Charlie Baker

    Jan 7, 2018

    "It was nice the different ways you melted the crayons. I could choose the method that was best for me. Great post."
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Diane Henkler Co-authored by: Diane Henkler Crafting and Home DIY Specialist Co-authors: 26 Updated: July 22, 2025 Views: 528,406 100% of readers found this article helpful. 1 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote Charlie Baker

Charlie Baker

Jan 7, 2018

"It was nice the different ways you melted the crayons. I could choose the method that was best for me. Great post." Gail Sookdeo

Gail Sookdeo

Sep 20, 2016

"All steps helped me. I also shared with my other teachers. They appreciate your article." Connor Hasleby

Connor Hasleby

Sep 11, 2017

"I needed this for my science experiment, thanks!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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