Method 1- Freeze the wax
As simple as it says, but the slower of the two methods.
Place the jar in the freezer, and wait a few days. Eventually the wax will shrink away from the sides of the jar, then you can carefully use a butter knife to scrape it from the sides.
Method 2- Melt the wax in boiling water
This is the way I almost always do this, because I don’t have the patience to wait. And, it makes my kitchen smell amazing.
Now, as a disclaimer, this method requires the use of heat, so please USE CAUTION and DO NOT burn yourself.
Set the jar in a sauce pan with water. Then, turn up the heat to around medium until the water is boiling lightly and the wax on the inside melts enough to pour out the jar, using a pot holder when you pour.
I lay tinfoil over a ceramic bowl to catch the wax when it’s poured out.
For both methods, this will be the next step if you have wax remaining on the sides of the jar.
Run your water in the sink as hot as you can without burning yourself, obviously.
This will loosen up the remaining wax.
Pour out the water and with a paper towel, wipe and buff out the remaining wax.
Repeat this as often as needed until all the wax is gone.
Once the wax is out, you can use the rubbing alcohol to wipe down the inside again until all the glass is crystal clear.
If you find that the wick won’t come off the bottom, you can pour a bit of rubbing alcohol to cover the wick, wait a few days, and it will break down the glue enough to just pop it out.
Now, your jars are ready to be used for your storage and organization needs.
Please use these for non-food items only.
Kelly Blackwell @ Heres My Take On It says
Very nice. We don't buy a lot of jar candles because we have to toss them and hate that. I always reuse votives and do the freeze method. I've never thought of doing it with the large ones. Thanks!
~The Bargain Babe from *Zucchini Summer Blog* says
Thanks for the tips! I may try the freezer method, never heard of it before!
Nancy L. Moyer says
Freezer method is pretty easy. Toss in and check on it in a few days. Votives take even less time; wax just pops right out.
Southern Scraps says
Great idea! I have repurposed Bath and Body works candle jars to storage before. They have pretty silver lids.
Danielle jones says
Glad you posted this. It would also be a good idea to use the jars for decorating.
Jennifer says
thanks for posting this.. i knew there was an easy way to clean out those jars and i have one that's all ready to be a home to sharpies 🙂
Ginger@gingersnapcrafts.com says
Such a great idea! 🙂
kukafera says
Great!! I don't use a lot of candles, but now I'll look at them with different eyes if the jars have a second life!!
Thank you!
Ingrid
Katherines Corner says
Great tips my friend, a wonderful recycle project too. Thank you so much for helping to make the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop so much fun Hugs!
Pam @ over50feeling40 says
Did not know about the freezer!! Thanks for the help…I usually do the boiling water method. Also, thanks for participating in the blog hop today! have a wonderful weekend.
Steph @ Three Loud Kids! says
This is brilliant! I always feel bad about throwing away the jars because they are so cute and I know some many things that I could do with them! Thanks for sharing.
Cynthia Banessa says
Fantastic idea!!!! Love it! Will be pinning this on my "great ideas" board http://www.pinterest.com/cynthiabanessa/great-ideas/
Lisa M says
I use these methods too! I worked in a candle shop and the best way to break down that last bit of wax residue is Dawn dish liquid and almost boiling water. It cuts right through the oils to make the jars sparkling clean.
Thanks for this post! (pinned it to my useful ideas board)
~L
OneKriegerChick says
So good to know. I can't tell you how many jars I've thrown away because of icky wax. Thanks for linking up to Hit Me With Your Best Shot last week! Hope to see you again tomorrow night at 7 EST! Excited to see what you've been up to!
~Ariean {http://onekriegerchick.com/}
Quilting Nonnie says
I'm so happy I found you! I was over at Creative Princess and she highlighted your blog post. The other day I was looking at a recently finished candle wishing I knew how to clean it out. They have the best lids, you know. Thanks for helping solve this dilemma!
Noreen says
Great way to save jars! Thanks! Pinned.
Noreen
Crafty Journal
Hani Shabbir says
Great tip. Love the warm water method more. 🙂
Vi says
I'm going to have to do this with my Jewelry in Candles jars! http://www.tranquilscents.us
Shelly Rusco says
I use one of those electric candle warmers to liquify the remainder of the wax (and makes the house smell good too). Then I dump it out, but that's as far as I've gotten… will follow your tips for the rest of it 😉
DaisyMae says
I use leftover wax to start bonfires. Plus, it's fun to watch the fire take off.
Teri says
I also use leftover wax in a wax warmer. But to get wax out, I put the jars and holders on a cookie sheet covered with tinfoil. I put them in the oven on a low heat till the wax melts. I pour out the wax when melted and put in a sink of hot soapy water to wash them. I also buy candle wicks with the silver piece on them. I pour left over was into a small jar or glass candle holder and drop the wick in. As I get more wax, I keep pouring into the container making sure the wick stays upright. I end up with another candle with different layers of smell…..
Rachel Tyburski says
DO NOT POUR THE WAX DOWN YOUR SINK!!!!! When using the hot water inside the jar, do not make the mistake and pour it down the sink it will clog your pipes!
Forget Me Not says
Yes I totally agree, bad decision on that front! As an alternative, I would suggest boiling a kettle of water and taking both the kettle and jar of wax outside and doing this process so that you don't have wax clogging up this drains. Just let the wax that comes out of the jar fall into the grass.
Anonymous says
This seems like an awful lot of work. I put my jars in the freezer, then use a dull butter knife or large spoon to break up the wax once it's frozen. 99.99% of the wax comes out in chunks, then I wipe the inside with a paper towel to get the remaining minor bits.
Anonymous says
I find the wax the easy bit. The glue from the label is the hard bit!!
Anonymous says
for label removing nothing beats GOO GONE, available at home depot, etc.
stylish_lawyer says
Great tips..what can you used instead of rubbing alcohol?
Molly says
To answer the above question, I believe a white vinegar/water mix will work just as well as rubbing alcohol
sevierflygirl says
Instead of chancing a burn with the boiling water method, just use a $5 candle warmer plate. Works just as well.
Anonymous says
Best way I have found is to fill jar with boiling water. All the wax melts and floats to the top. Just leave it to go cold. When cold you just lift off the wax disk and the jar is wax free!
Susan says
This is how I do it as well. Easy peasy!
Jules says
I never wait a few days for the wax to freeze. Assuming you started from a room temperature solid, it only takes about twenty minutes before it's shrinks. I turn it upside down and thump it on a dish towel. The whole thing comes out almost in a single block. I'd never heard the additional step of the alcohol though. Thanks!
Newlywed Survival says
I love the repurposing items. I don't know why I never thought of doing this. We go through these candles like crazy!
Debbie Perkins says
I also use candle jars and lids for storage in my sewing room. I spray paint the insides with Krylon Looking Glass spray paint. (It’s awesome!) Clean it VERY well, mist a coat of windex, a fine coat.before this dries, spray inside the jar with the Krylon. Don’t spray too heavy, you don’t want this to run. Lightly spray until you have the look that you want. Don’t spray a solid layer unless you to really hide something. Heck, I won’t throw anything glass with a lid away.
Molly says
Nice idea! Does the Windex make it look like Mercury glass when it’s dry? Gonna have to give this a try, thanks for sharing
Mary Liegel says
This is interesting but do you realize what this wax is going to do to your drainage pipes once it gets down your sink drain? It is going to solidify there…NOT GOOD…in time you are asking for trouble when it builds up.
Sharon says
Lay the jar on its side or tipped in the freezer and you can almost get the whole piece of wax out at one time. Just loosen and slide out
Carla says
I love to reuse the candle jars and have no trouble removing the wax and cleaning the jars but I would love to remove the smell from the plastic washer. I soak with vinegar and baking soda or I clean with bleach and put in dish washer and the smell is still there. I don’t want the smell on what I store in the jar. I. do not store food in the jars but I don’t want the smell. Any idea how to remove the smell.