This is a guide covering how to get wax out of a candle jar.
Hello, fellow candle lovers! How have you been? Last night, I was in a situation.
The gorgeous vanilla-scented candle has hit the bottom of the candle jar!
It can’t be burnt anymore. I was in a mental debate with myself if I should throw the gorgeous glass jar with the pesky wax in it or if I should repurpose both the wax and the glass jar!
As you might have guessed, my love for sustainability didn’t let me throw the wax nor the jar.
Have you ever been in a similar situation? You have spent your hard-earned money on a pretty candle with a beautiful glass jar.
Have you ever wanted to repurpose it instead of throwing it away? But the wax stuck to the glass walls… Don’t worry!
Read on to find out how you can get the pesky wax out of the candle jar.
Table of Contents
5 Simple Ways to Get Wax Out of a Candle Jar
1. Use a Freezer to Remove Candle Wax from Glass
Remember the freezing tip we have written about to get wax out of a carpet.
We use a similar principle to get wax out of the candle jar.
Put the candle jar in the freezer overnight. The duration for which you put the glass jar in the freezer depends on how soft the wax is. It varies between 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
Freezing shrinks the wax, so the wax stuck to the walls of the glass jar comes off the walls as it shrinks.
Once it’s frozen, take it out and turn the jar upside down. It should fall right out.
If it doesn’t, take a butter knife and pop it right out with its edge.
Remove the residue by cleaning the glass jar with soap and water or wiping it with baby oil.
2. Pour Boiling Water into the Jar
Use a butter knife or spoon to break the leftover wax in the candle into smaller pieces.
Smaller pieces of wax are easier to melt than a huge chunk of wax.
Pour boiling water into the jar. If it’s a soft wax such as soy wax, the water need not be boiling. Use hot water instead. The wax melts and floats on top of the water.
Let the candle and the wax cool down for a bit. Scoop the wax out of the jar.
Strain the water for any leftover bits of wax. Do not pour the wax in the drain as wax clogs the drain. Clean your jar with soap and water.
Voila! Your glass jar is good as new.
3. Use Boiling Water in a Container (Double Boiler Method)
This technique is similar to the one mentioned above.
Only instead of pouring water into the candle jar, we pour boiling water into the container and put the candle jar in it.
Due to the heat, the wax stuck to the walls of the candle softens. Use a spoon or butter knife to scoop the leftover wax.
This technique is useful in removing wax from soft wax candles such as soy wax candles. Harder waxes are harder to melt in this arrangement.
After you scoop the wax out, make sure to clean the candle jar.
4. Use a Microwave Oven to Get Wax Out of Candle Jar
Turn the microwave oven on and set the temperature to 200-degree Fahrenheit. Preheat the oven. Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Make sure to cover the edges of the baking sheet to avoid the wax spillage onto the sheet. Turn the candle upside down and put it on the aluminum foil.
If you are doing this for multiple candles, make sure to maintain enough space between the candle jars to avoid wax spilling on the oven.
Heat the jar in the oven for about 15 minutes. This will be enough to melt the wax. As spilled wax is inflammable, you must be cautious while performing this.
Take the jar out of the oven and remove candle wax from a glass jar.
Clean the jar with a paper towel. If the jar still has a waxy appearance, clean it with soap and water.
5. Use a Heat Gun or a Blow-Dryer
If you are into DIY, you would have a heat gun handy at home. If not, you can also use a blow dryer.
Place the candle upside down on a heat-resistant surface to prevent the molten wax from causing damage to the surfaces.
Turn the blow-dryer on and blow the hot air onto the candle. The heat melts the wax enough to scrape it off.
Use a spoon or the edge of a butter knife to scoop out the soft wax off the glass jar.
Wipe the glass jar with cotton dipped in baby oil or clean the candle jar with soap.
What is the Easiest Way to Remove Candle Wax?
Considering the ease and availability of the technique, using heat (in the form of boiling water or using a blow dryer) is the easiest way to remove candle wax.
There is no household without running water or a blow dryer. Unlike using a microwave, this technique doesn’t have any fire hazards.
How Can You Repurpose Candle Wax and Candle Jars?
Now that you have read all about how to get wax out of the candle jar, the next question is how you can repurpose the removed candle wax and the glass jars.
The leftover wax can be heated in a candle melter or an electric warmer and reused as wax melts. You can also re-heat the leftover wax, melt it and make new candles out of it.
The glass jars can be used for multiple purposes. They can be used as:
- Decorative items
- Glassware or flower vases
- Tealight holders
- Stationary holders
- Planters for succulents
- Holders for makeup brushes
- Q-tip holders, etc.
Can You Reuse Candle Jars for New Candles?
Yes, why not! Once you get wax out of the candle jar, clean the glass jar with soap and water.
It looks almost brand new! Now get candle wicks that are suitable for the size of the glass jar. Hot glue the wicks to the bottom of the jar accordingly.
Hold the wicks in place with the help of a skewer or any rod-shaped material.
Pour the melted wax into the glass jar and let it set for a few hours.
Trim the wick to one-quarter of an inch. Your candle is as good as a new one!
Check out our full guide of 25 things you can do with old candle jars.
Does the Type of Candle Wax Affect How it is Removed?
Yes, the technique of removing candle wax from glass depends on the type of wax.
If the wax is soft wax such as soy wax, you do not need to use techniques with high heat.
Soft waxes melt at lower temperatures than hard waxes.
For harder waxes, you may need to use higher temperatures, boiling water, or a combination of heat and other techniques to remove them as they are more stubborn.
Final Remarks
We hope we answered all your questions on how to get candle wax out of a candle jar.
Now that you know it’s not such a difficult job, please don’t throw those old candle jars away. No more guilt trips for throwing the glass jars away for the amount of money you have spent on them.
This helps in repurposing, recycling, and reusing the products, promoting sustainability.
Next time you get the wax out of the candle jar, pat yourself on the back for contributing your part to environmental conservation.
Try these techniques and let us know which way you repurposed your candle jars and leftover wax.
My name is Candice and I have always loved candles since I was a kid. I continue to buy candles and try out new candle brands to this day! I started this blog to share my love of candles so I’m glad you’re here and hope that my content helps you out in some way!
