How to Clean and Reuse Candle Jars
Finished burning your natural candle? Don’t toss it out! Here's how to creatively upcycle your jars and give them a new life.
If you quickly go through your favorite Eunoia candles, throwing away the glass jars can seem wasteful. At Eunoia, we believe in transforming old into new. There are numerous ways to upcycle candle jars: refill them with us for a new candle, use them for storage, or display them as decor.
But first, you'll need to remove the wax from your container.
You’ll know it’s time to say goodbye to a candle when 1/4-inch of wax remains at the bottom. Burning a candle past this point can damage the container or the surface it's on.
Read on to learn how to remove the excess wax from your candle jar using a few household items and four well-tested methods. Once you’ve removed any remaining wax and hardware, polish up your container with our cleaning tips before reusing it in your home.
Let's create something beautiful together! 🤩
Remove Candle Wax with Hot Water
Photo Credits: CARSON DOWNING
Step 1: Add Boiling Water
Place your jar on a protective surface, like a dish towel or potholder. Boil enough water to fill the candle jar, then pour it in, leaving an inch of space at the top. The hot water will melt the wax, causing it to float to the surface.
Step 2: Remove Wax
Allow the water to cool completely before removing the wax. With your sink drain stopped, strain the water to catch the wax bits. Discard or save the wax for future use in wax melts or candles. Ensure all wax remnants are removed from the sink before releasing the drain stopper to avoid clogging.
Alternative: Let the Jar Soak
Another method to remove leftover wax is to let the jar soak in warm water. Place a drain stopper in the sink and fill it with warm water, or use a tray with warm water. Remove the jar lid and let the open candle jar sit in the water for 30 minutes. The warm water will loosen the wax at the bottom, making it easy to scoop out with a spoon. Note that this method may also remove the label from the jar.
Remove Candle Wax with your Freezer
Another method for removing candle wax is freezing, which causes the wax to shrink. Begin by placing your candle jar in the freezer overnight. In the morning, take the container out and turn it upside down—the wax should pop right out. If it doesn't, use a spoon or butter knife to press down on one corner of the wax to lift and remove it.
Remove Candle Wax with your Oven
Photo Credits: CARSON DOWNING
This method allows you to remove wax from multiple candles at once if needed. Begin by preheating your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 1: Prep Supplies
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place your candles upside-down on the foil.
Step 2: Heat Wax in Oven
Place the baking sheet into the heated oven. Keep a close eye on the candles; after about 15 minutes, the wax should pool on the foil. At that point, take the baking sheet out of the oven, set it on a heat-safe surface, and remove the jars using an oven mitt.
Step 3: Clean the Candle Jar
Let each candle jar cool before cleaning with soap and warm water. Once the leftover wax has dried on the baking sheet, you can remove it from the aluminum foil to use in the future or discard with the aluminum foil.
Note: This method only works for glass candle jars without decoration. If your jar has any adornments, such as glitter, sequins, or stickers that you're unable to remove, try a different cleaning option.
How to Remove Candle Wax from a Jar with a Hair Dryer
Photo Credits: CARSON DOWNING
Hair Dryers or heat guns can also be used to soften the wax in candle jar for removal. Begin by holding your candle with an oven mitt. Turn your hairdryer on warm, and use it to heat the candle's wax from the sides and bottom. Once the wax is soft to the touch, lift or scrape it out of the container with a butter knife or spoon.
How to Clean Candle Jars
After removing the wax from your candle jars, you’ll still need to clean out any lingering wax residue, metal hardware, or soot left on the glass. To do so, make sure your jar has cooled before cleaning. Use warm water, soap, and a sponge to clean the container. Then wipe dry with a dish towel or paper towel. For stubborn buildup, use an adhesive remover, such as Goo Gone. A bottle brush might also be useful if the candle mouth is too narrow for your hand.
How to Reuse Leftover Candle Wax and Containers
Once your jars are cleaned, you can reuse candle jars for drinkware, storage, or craft accessories. Use our large glass candle jars as planters or vases for flowers. Our candle jars come with airtight lids that serve as great storage for perishable and non-perishable items! Check out the images below to see how we reuse our jars! The possibilities are endless.
You can make an entirely new candle just by using cleaned-out jars and leftover wax. Combine wax pieces in a microwave-safe dish and heat in one-minute increments until the wax is melted. Place a fresh wick in the jar(s) you plan on using and pour the melted wax into the jar while holding onto the tip of the wick. Let cool to room temperature.
Or you can let us refill your candle for you! Check out our candle recycling program where you can reduce waste by letting us bring your candle back to life!
Photo Credits: CARMYIA SCOTT