How Reuse and Recycle Your Candle Jars

Posted by Rachel Meyer on 8/19/2024 to Information

It’s always a sad day when your favorite candle runs out. But rather than throw the jar away, why not clean it out and reuse it?

Cleaning your candle jars can be intimidating, though. How do you even go about it? Do you scrape the wax out with a knife? Heat it with a blow dryer? Burn it until the wax is entirely gone?

Don’t worry; there are much easier and safer methods you can try. In this post, we’ll show you four, as well as other tips and tricks for cleaning your candle jars so they look like new.

When Should You Stop Using a Candle?

You should stop using your candle when only ½-¼” of wax is left in the bottom. If you burn it any longer than that, you risk burning the jar or even shattering the glass.

If you don’t want to waste the last of the wax, use one of these cleaning methods to remove it and repurpose it into a wax melt or new candle. It creates less waste, and you can enjoy the scent longer.

Why Clean Candle Jars?

There are several reasons you might want to clean your candle jars when you’re done with the candle.

To reuse the jar. Candle containers are great for storage. All you have to do is clean it out and put it to new use.
To recycle. Some areas require clean containers for recycling. You can do your part by removing the wax before throwing the jar in the recycling bin.
To finish the wax. While you can't burn the last of your candle, you can always take the wax out to use in your wax melter.

How to Clean Candle Jars

There are several methods you can try to clean your candle jars. They all work for most types of containers– glass, metal, or ceramic. Just stay cautious and don't take any risks.

Method #1: Hot Water

Best For: Large Jar Candles

Step 1: Set-Up

Start by boiling water on your stovetop or in an electric kettle. While it heats up, set up your candle on a heat-safe surface with a few paper towels underneath in case of spillage.

Step 2: Pour the Water

Pour the boiling water carefully into your candle jar, filling it almost to the top. Leave it to rest until the water is cold- either several hours or overnight.

Step 3: Remove the Wax

When the water is cold, you’ll see the wax hardened into a disk and floating on the top of the candle. Pop it out and dispose of the wax.

Method #2: Freezer

Best for: Heat-sensitive containers

Step 1: Freeze the Jar

Put your candle jar in the freezer with the lid off. Leave it for several hours. The bigger the candle, the longer it'll need.

Step 2: Remove the Wax

When you take the candle out of the freezer, the wax should have pulled away from the sides of the jar. You can pop it out easily by hand or with a knife.

Method #3: Oven

Best for: multiple candles at once

Step 1: Prep

Preheat your oven to the lowest temperature possible. Put your candle upside down on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil.

Step 2: Melt

Once the oven is heated, put the pan with the jar in the oven. The wax should melt and pour out after about fifteen minutes.

Step 3: Remove

Remove the pan from the oven once most of the wax has melted out. Carefully take the jar and wipe the remaining wax with a few paper towels.

Method #4: Double Boiler

Best For: plain candle jars

Step 1: Prep the Boiler

Take a pan that’s wider and deeper than your candle. Fill it with enough water to cover most of the 3/4 of the candle container.

Step 2: Boil the Candle

Put the candle in the pan and heat the whole thing at a low temperature on your stovetop. The wax will melt and pool in the bottom of the jar.

Step 3: Remove the Wax

When all the wax is melted, use an oven mitt to remove the jar from the water. Pour out the wax and wipe the jar's interior with paper towels.

Final Cleaning Tips

After some of these methods, you may still find leftover wax residue, soot, or the wick in your candle. Use these tips to finish cleaning your candle to shiny perfection.

Remove the Wick

Most of these methods should remove the wick with the wax. But if they don’t, there are a few things you can try.

Heat the wick to melt the glue using a hair dryer or heat gun. Then pop it off the bottom.
Use a knife or pliers to gently pull the wick off.
Soak it in warm water until the wick is removable.

Remove Wax Residue

Getting all the wax bits out is important, especially if you plan to reuse the container for things like food or skincare. Here are a few ways you can get those pesky bits out.

Use a heat gun or hair dryer to melt the final bits of wax. Then, wipe down the container with a paper towel.
Use soap and water to remove any leftover bits and soap. (Actually, you should wash all your jars after removing the wax.)
More hot water. If the boiling water method leaves any residue, you can repeat it to remove the leftover wax.

Remove the Label

You may or may not want to keep the label on your candle jar, depending on what it looks like and how you plan to use it. If you want to take it off, it's relatively simple to do.

Boiling water. If you use method #4, putting your candle in boiling water will soften the wax and the label. After you wipe out the wax, you can peel the label off and finish cleaning your candle.
Use Goo Gone (or another residue remover). Put it on, leave it for a few minutes, then wipe it off. The label should come with it.
Lemon essential oil. If you still have sticky label residue, take lemon essential oil on a cotton ball and rub it on the jar to remove the last bits.

Candle Cleaning Tips

Assess Your Jar

Before removing the wax, take a good look at your jar. How big is the opening? Are there any decorations on the outside you want to keep? How thick is the container?

All these factors will help you decide how you should clean your candle. Taking a minute to assess your jar and the best method to use will help prevent annoyance and possible damage when cleaning your candle

Be Safe

You’re working with a hot jar and wax for most of these candle-cleaning methods. Take proper precautions to stay safe while you do that. Make sure to use oven mitts or protective gloves while you work. Stay aware of the heat at all times. Don’t touch any candle jars with your bare hands unless you’re sure they’re cool.

Don’t Use a Microwave

Candle wicks have a metal plate that attaches to the bottom of the jar. You can't put candles in the microwave without risking a fire. If you don't have an oven or hairdryer to melt the wax, choose a different cleaning method.

Dispose of Wax Safely

DO NOT pour wax down the drain. It will reharden in your pipes and cause blockages. If you don't plan on reusing the wax, pour it into the trash instead.

I hope these tips encourage you to reuse your candle jars instead of throwing them away. It's easy and gives your candle containers a second life.

If your candle collection is running low, check out our selection of hand-poured, made-in-the-USA soy candles. They come in a variety of delicious scents and beautiful jars perfect for upcycling.

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