Recycling

Candle Jars

for

Home Decor & Gifts

Turn a wax encrusted and dirty candle jar like the photo on the left, into a clean, shiny glass jar as shown in the photo on the right.

1. a used candle jar 2. paper towels

Cleaning the candle jar for the Decorative Candle Jar Project

The easiest way is buy a new jar, of course, then wipe it clean inside and out with a bit of alcohol on a rag or paper towel. This should remove any dust and oils. Set aside and let air dry.

The second method is good for the environment and helps you do something with leftover candle holders after you tire of them or the wax inside is used up.

There appear to be two thoughts on how to remove leftover wax from candle jars so they can be recycled into decorative jars. The first is heat, melt, and pour. The second is freeze and chip. I'll present both methods here, and tell you how I clean the candle jars so I can craft them into home decor and gifts.

The heat method:

a. Boil some water and carefully set the jar down into in. For larger jars just set them into about two inches of boiling hot water. Small jars should be just covered with water, and then heated up.

DANGER! DO NOT SPLASH - HOT WATER CAN BURN YOU! BE EXTRA CAREFUL

Before using a glass jar that has been heated, fully check the jar for cracks and chips. If you see any damage, let the glass jar cool where it is and toss it out.

DO NOT USE DAMAGED JARS!

An alternative heating method I read about is to use a hair dryer or heat gun to melt the wax inside the glass jar. I've never tried this method myself, since I don't own a hair dryer nor a heat gun.

b. Shortly, the wax should melt into its liquid form. Carefully with oven mitts or a potholder to hold the jar, pour the wax into an empty can. Please be careful - the wax is hot and can burn you if it gets on you.

DO NOT put wax down the sink drain!
It will clog your pipes.

c. While the jar is still warm, but not hot, wipe the remaining wax away with a paper towel.

d. Now that 99% of the wax has been removed you can get rid of the rest ot the wax by washing the glass jar in hot, soapy water. Rinse well and dry the glass jar. An alternative to hand washing is to run the glass jar in your dishwasher with the dishwashing soap of your choice.

How I do it:

I use a teapot (I love to drink my teas) to boil water first. I place the jars in a pan or bakeware and then pour the hot water around the glass jars.

I wait for the wax to melt, then using a pot holder, pick up the glass jar and carefully pour the melted wax into an old coffee can I keep around just for that purpose.

Then I examine the glass to make sure there are no cracks or chips, put the glass jar back in the hot water briefly, and wipe off all the wax I can with paper towels.

I hand wash the glass jar with soap and water, or run it through the dishwasher. It depends on whether or not I want to wait on the dishwasher to fill up. If I want to work on the decorative jar quickly I just hand wash.

Finally, I dry the candle jar with a clean towel.

The cold method:

a. Put the glass jars in the freezer for hour or so. The cold will compress the wax.

b. Remove and pull the wax out. It should have shrunk a little and easily come out.

c. Check for cracks or chips in the glass.

DO NOT USE DAMAGED JARS

d. Wait for the glass jar to reach room temperature and wash in hot soapy water. Then dry the candle jar with a clean towel.

Note: I haven't tried this method either. I just like using the teapot.

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