Protect Your Taper Candles In Storage Using An Affordable Item That Everyone Has

Taper candles are the perfect addition to any tabletop decor, whether it be to elevate your holiday tablescape on a budget or to jazz up an intimate dinner party's place setting. You don't have to break the bank when it comes to these decorative items either; there are plenty of beautiful ways to decorate your home with candles using pieces you've purchased from discount stores like Dollar Tree. The same rings true for methods to store your tapered candles — it doesn't require expensive specialty holders or an extensive crafting project. Rather, the most effective method to store these pieces is with an item you likely already have in your recycle bin: cardboard paper towel tubes.

Simply wrap your taper candles in acid-free tissue paper (this ensures that the candles won't stick together or get scratched in storage), then slide the candles into the cardboard tube. The tube's structure acts as a protective barrier for easy organization and stacking. It prevents the candles from rolling around, snapping, or otherwise getting crushed under other items. To take your organization to the next level, label the outside of the tubes with the color of the tapers so that you can easily locate which candles you want for the particular tablescape you're preparing for. That way, you don't have to unwrap each and every pair. Storing your tapers this way is clever, easy, and a great organizational trick that your future self will be thanking you for.

Investing a few spare moments to safely store your tapers using the cardboard tube trick isn't just about organization and tidiness. It's also about protecting your candles. Taper candles are susceptible to their environment due to their wax composition and slender form, and thus, they can be easily damaged in storage. If stored in a garage, attic, or near a sunny window, for example, tapers can soften and warp, meaning your candles will lean in strange ways on your next tablescape. Tapers can also snap easily if stored improperly, but the cardboard tube and tissue paper give these pieces the right amount of protection needed to prevent such things from happening. It also helps maintain any fragrances in your taper candles, keeping the scent intact for next use.

Wrapping and storing your tapers are also key to maintaining their clean looks. Since wax is naturally sticky, tapers will attract all manner of dust, pet hair, and lint if they're not wrapped well. While you can still bring life back to dusty candles with some cleaning hacks, once these bits are embedded into the wax, they're a pain and time consuming to remove. It can even cause sparking or uneven burning when lit. By keeping your candles stored in a cool, dry location, readily prepped in tissue paper and a cardboard tube, you can ensure that they remain as beautiful and functional as your last, joyous dinner party.