How to Get Wax Out of a Candle Jar

How to Get Wax out of a Candle Jar - 5 Ways

Your beautiful candle has used all the wax in the glass jar, and it won't re-light. For candle safety reasons, you shouldn't burn the candle when there is less than 1.25 centimetres (1/2-inch) of wax left at the bottom of the jar. Burning past this point can damage the glass jar or even worse, the surface it's sitting on. Maybe you want a candle refill, or you just want to clean the candle jar for another use.

Removing Candle Wax from Glass Jars

Here are five ways to get wax out of a candle jar, cleanly and safely and just using everyday kitchen or household equipment.

1. Freeze the Candle Jar

This is the easiest way to remove candle wax from a candle jar.

• Put the candle jar in the freezer for a few hours, or overnight. This will cause the wax to harden, shrink and separate from the glass jar.
• Once the wax has hardened, you can easily remove it from the jar using a knife or a spoon.
• Let the jar slowly warm up to room temperature naturally, no heating.

2. Create a Double Boiler

• Place the candle inside a saucepan and place the saucepan into a large enough pot. Place something soft in the saucepan such as a tea towel (to avoid scratching the candle jar) to stop the candle jar moving around.
• Pour boiling water into the pot around the candle, making sure that the water does not get into the candle jar. Our preference is to use very warm water rather than boiling water as the hotter the water, the greater the chance the glass may crack. Plant-based waxes, such as soy wax will melt at a lower temperature.
• Leave the candle jar and saucepan in the hot water until the wax has softened or melted. As the wax melts, you can use a spoon or knife to get rid of the last remaining wax.

3. Use Warm Water or Boiling Water

• Again, our preference is to use warm water as the hotter the water, the greater the chance that the glass may crack. So, heat the water to near boiling point but not actually to boiling point.
• Fill the candle jar with enough very warm water to cover the wax at the bottom of the jar.
• As the wax melts, you can use a spoon or knife to get rid of the last remaining wax.

4. Use a Hair Dryer

• Using a lower heat level, if possible, heat the wax with a hair dryer until it melts.
• As the wax melts, you can use a spoon or knife to get rid of the last remaining wax.

5. Use an Oven

• This method can remove candle wax for a number of glass jars at the same time.
• Heat your oven to no more than 100 centigrade.
• Place the candles upside down on some foil on a roasting rack.
• After about 15 to 30 minutes, the wax should have melted. Leave the jars upside down to cool.

How to Clean Candle Jars

After successfully removing the wax from your glass jars, it's likely there's still some bits of wax or soot left on the glass. Warm water, soap, and a sponge should get rid of these to restore your glass candle jar to all its glory!

Modern-Day Candle Chandler - Handmade Candles and Candle Accessories

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We are a modern-day candle chandler, hand pouring soy wax candles using traditional methods and skills but also other fragrance items such as reed diffusers, tealights and wax melts. Our eco-friendly candles are made from sustainable and renewable plant-based candle waxes.

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Located in Pembrokeshire Wales, our ethos is defined in the three words...

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Last updated 26th August 2023