4 ingenious ways to remove candle wax from a jar in less than 20 minutes

Some candle containers look as beautiful as the wax that fills them smells. And when that wax has almost expired, the whole candle should not be thrown away.

Instead, candle jars can be reused around the house after being emptied and cleaned. But even small amounts of candle wax can be difficult to remove. So we’ve rounded up some great methods for getting candle wax out of a jar – here’s what you need to know.

Warning

Never pour melted or softened candle wax down the drain. It can harden in your pipes and cause serious plumbing problems. Instead, pour the wax into a disposable container, let it cool, then throw the whole thing away

Boil some water

Getty Images / Jena Ardell

Here’s how to use boiling water to get rid of those last wads of stuck-on candle wax. Use this method only on candles with thick glass walls.

Boil a small pot or kettle of water.
If there is more than an inch or so of wax left in the candle, use chopsticks or skewers to poke holes in the candle.
Pour boiling water into the candle. Let it sit until the wax softens and loosens.
Pour the waxy water into a disposable cup or bowl. Throw it in the trash when the liquid cools.

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Use the oven

Need to remove the wax from more than one candle? Try using the oven. However, like the boiling water method, this wax removal technique should only be used on candles with thicker glass jars.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a tray with several sheets of baking paper.
Place the candles upside down on the baking sheet, then place the pan in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove the candle pan from the oven. Wipe the inside of the candles with paper towels – be sure to hold the candles with oven mitts or tongs.
Throw away soiled paper towels and parchment paper.

Try the freezer

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The freezer is another easy kitchen shortcut to get rid of stubborn candle wax. Here’s what to do.

You may be able to get surprisingly far removing small amounts of wax with just a knife or butter spoon. Here’s what you need to know.

Use an old (but clean) spoon or butter knife to scrape off small pieces of wax.
Throw away small pieces of wax.
After removing as much wax as possible, clean the candle with dish soap and warm water.
If the jar still looks dirty, use a cleaner like rubbing alcohol or Goo-Gone to remove any residue.

Make a water bath

Water baths can be used to melt more than just chocolate – they can also be used on candle wax.

Bring a pot of water to the boil and take a large heatproof bowl.
Place the candle upright in a heatproof container.
Slowly pour the boiling water into the candle container until it is an inch or more above the candle wax line.
Let the candle and boiling water sit for a few minutes.
When the wax on the edge of the candle softens and pulls away from the wall of the jar, remove the jar from the container. Discard the remaining wax and throw it in the trash.

FAQ

The easiest way to remove candle wax from a jar is to use the freezer, as it requires a little effort on your part. All you have to do is break up any large chunks of wax with a butter knife, put the candle in the freezer overnight, and then in the morning use the same knife to remove the clumped wax from the jar.

Boiling water is best for dissolving large amounts of stubborn candle wax. It can be poured directly into the jar and soften the rest of the wax. Rubbing alcohol can also be used to remove wax residue – simply wet a paper towel with it, then rub it all over the inside of the jar.

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