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Glow sticks have a short lifespan, and there's only one way to extend it. This works better for some brands of glow sticks than others, and not at all if you're unlucky. Still, it's easy to do, and you can learn how glow sticks work as you try it.
Steps
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Find a little extra light. Crack the glow stick down every bit of its length. If no light at all appears, your glow stick is completely used up and there's no hope for it. If you can get a tiny bit of light, even just a couple spots, you've got something to work with.- The light in a glow stick is caused by a reaction between two chemicals. One is kept inside a glass tube. Cracking the tube breaks the glass and lets the chemicals mix and react. [1] X Research source
- Be gentle. Cracking too hard will break the glow stick and spill glass and goo that can irritate the skin.
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Seal the glow stick in a plastic bag. Put the stick in a zip-locked bag. Press out the air from the bag, then seal it. It's unlikely that the glow stick will break during this method, but just in case, this will make it easy to throw away. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Stick the glow stick in a freezer. For best results, stick it underneath a lightweight frozen object. This will freeze the liquids inside, preventing them from reacting. [3] X Research source- Setting your freezer to a colder setting may help as well. Before you do this, be aware that this can cause excessive ice buildup or freeze liquids in an attached refrigerator
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Take it out and shake it. Check on the glow stick after an hour and try shaking it and cracking it. If this doesn't work, return it to the freezer overnight and try again the next day. Most brands of glow sticks will get a little extra glowing time when the liquids inside melt and recombine. [4] X Research source
- Some brands will be quite bright, while others will just stay at the same dim level, but last longer. There's no way to tell what will happen without experimenting.
- Keep it in the plastic bag while you shake it, just in case it breaks.
- It can take a little while for the glow stick to warm up and glow again.
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Heat a pot of warm water. Heat until the water begins to steam or simmer. Heat speeds up the chemical reaction that causes the glow. By warming the glow stick, you can make it glow brightly for a short time, sometimes up to half an hour.
- If a glow stick "died" more than a day ago, this will have little to no effect. Once it's used up, it's used up.
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Pour the water into a glass jar. A sturdy jar will withstand the heat better than a glass. Find one tall enough to hold most of the glow stick.
- You can use a mug instead. There's a risk of melting the glow stick, so don't use a nice mug.
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Let cool (recommended). If your water came to a full boil, definitely wait five minutes for the water to cool. If your water was only steaming, you can go ahead right away, or wait about a minute.- The glow stick plastic will melt if the water is too hot. Some brands can withstand boiling water (100ºC / 212ºF), while others may melt in water above 70ºC (158ºF).
- If using a mug, wait ten minutes for boiling water.
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Drop the glow stick in the water. Leave it in for thirty seconds, then pull it out with tongs or rubber gloves. If there's any "oomph" left in the glow stick, it should glow brightly for a short time.
- Do not put your face over the jar. The glow stick is unlikely to explode, but it's best to be safe and sound.
- If the glow stick melts, seal the jar in a plastic bag and throw it away. These materials cannot be recycled, and the jar should not be used again.You should throw away the jar to be safe.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I make a glow stick light up?Community AnswerGrab it and bend it until you hear a cracking noise and see it light up.
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QuestionDoes this work if the glow sticks have already stopped working?Community AnswerOnly if there are untainted remnants of both chemicals.
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QuestionMy son ate the stuff inside a glow stick. Is that dangerous?Community AnswerYes. You should take your son to the hospital immediately.
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Tips
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Heat can help restart or boost a glow stick. Try leaving it on a radiator, but don't leave it there for too long. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't melt. You may want to place a towel underneath so it doesn't have direct contact.
- You can also try putting a glow stick on a light source, like a lamp or a flashlight, for one hour.
- If you want multiple uses out of the same glow stick, crack it in single, small spots each time.
- Try to recharge a glow stick by placing it under direct sunlight.
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Things You'll Need
- Glow stick
- Freezer
References
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make glow sticks glow again, try freezing them to extend the glow. First, crack the entire length of the glow stick to try and find some light. If the glow stick lights up, even in just one spot, this means you might be able to make it glow again. Then, place the glow stick into a plastic bag, as this will contain any mess if it accidentally breaks. Store the glow stick in the freezer for 1 hour, before removing and checking it. Shake the glow stick and crack it to see if it starts glowing again. If it doesn’t, return it to the freezer overnight and try again in the morning. For more tips on making glow sticks glow again, like how to get a short burst of light using hot water, read on!
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