How to Clean and Reuse a Candle Jar

Candles make for a cozy accessory for our homes, they bring delightful scents and beauty into our space and can give us a sense of calm and serenity. But many of us feel guilty about indulging in candles because we feel wasteful when we throw away the jars after we’ve finished the candle. That’s why, in this blog, we are going to show you the many ways to reuse a candle jar, as well as how to clean candle jars, so that they’re in optimal condition for repurposed uses.

How To Prepare The Jars

Now that you’ve got some ideas of how you can use your repurposed jars, you need to know how to rid them of wax and smoke marks. There are a few methods to clean the candle jars for their new purpose, and each works best on certain types of wax. If you aren’t sure what type of wax was used in your candle, a good tip is to consider the price: Beeswax candles are more expensive than soy which is more expensive than paraffin. So if you got your candle at TJ Max for less than 10 dollars, it's safe to assume it's paraffin.

With all of these methods, it’s best to begin by ridding the glass candle jar of any leftover smoke marks, and you can do this by dampening a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and wiping the inside of the jar. Don't worry, it doesn’t have to look perfect just yet!

The Freezer Technique: Best Of Beeswax Or Paraffin Candles

Just as wax becomes liquefied when hot, it becomes brittle when frozen. Place your candles in your freezer for 2-4 hours until it freezes, then use a spoon to empty the wax. After the wax is removed, use hot water on a rag or paper towel and wipe away any excess residue.

Boiler Technique: Best For Soy Wax But Also Works for Beeswax

If the freezer method isn’t for you, or you're finding the wax to be difficult to get out, try boiling. Fill a bowl or pan with boiling water that hits just underneath the candle jar's lid. Place your candle inside it and let sit until the wax has melted. Then remove the jar and pour out the remaining wax. The jar should then be able to be wiped and cleaned with soap and water.

Water And Wash Technique: Soy Wax

If you have a soy wax candle getting the leftover wax out will be a breeze, as it has a low melting point. Scrap out as much excess wax as you can before putting the candle on a dish towel or pot hold and filling it with hot water and soap, leaving a small space on top. The hot water will melt the wax and it will float to the top where you can remove it with a spoon. Then wash the jar with soap and water and wipe it clean.

The Oven Technique: Works for all wax

This is a useful method, but not for the forgetful type. Heat your oven to 200 degrees and cover a baking sheet in tin foil. Then place your candle or candles (this method works for multiples) upside down so that the oven melts the wax into the tinfoil. After 15 minutes, take the pan out and remove the jars. Then clean with soap and water and wipe thoroughly.

Ways to Reuse Candle Jar

Succulent Planters

Small candle jars make ideal containers for small plants like succulents. Often, candle jars are more visually appealing than planters, and if you have more than one of the same candle, you know they’ll match!

Pencil, Pen, and Makeup Brush Holders

Vases and Centerpieces

If you have larger candles that you’ve finished burning, you can upcycle the jars into centerpieces for your kitchen or dining room table and fill them with colored stones or seashells. You can also use them as vases for fresh or dried flowers, as candle jars are made of strong glass that can hold the weight.


Upcycling is a great way to continue to love your decorative candles, even after they’ve finished burning and there are lots of methods to rid the jars of wax to do this. Good luck!