How to Get Wax Out of a Candle Jar (and Reuse It)

Key Takeaways

• The freezer method is the easiest: freeze the jar for a few hours and the wax shrinks and pops out.

• Hot water works for soft waxes like soy and coconut: the wax melts, floats to the top and sets so you can lift it off.

• Never pour melted wax down the sink. It sets in the pipes and causes blockages.

• Check the jar before reusing it. Chips, cracks or heavy soot mean it's time for a new one.

• Making candles to sell? Browse our candle jars and matching candle lids.

Why Get the Wax Out of a Candle Jar?

A good candle jar is far too nice to throw away. Once the leftover wax is out, you can refill it with a new candle, use it for storage, or recycle it properly. Most glass recycling schemes don't want jars with wax still inside.

For candle makers, getting wax out cleanly also matters when a pour goes wrong. A frosted or sunken candle doesn't have to mean losing the jar.

Before You Start

• Let the candle cool completely. Never try these methods on a candle that's still lit or still has liquid wax in it.
• Use a butter knife or spoon to scrape out as much loose wax as you can first. The less wax left, the easier every method is.
• Lay down newspaper or a tea towel; wax gets everywhere.

Method 1: The Freezer Method

Best for: most candles, especially paraffin and blends. No mess and no hot wax.

1. Put the jar in the freezer for a few hours, or overnight for a large candle.
2. As the wax gets cold it shrinks and comes away from the glass.
3. Turn the jar upside down and tap it gently, or ease the wax out with a butter knife. It should come out in one piece or a few large chunks.

Let the jar come back to room temperature before washing it in hot water, so the glass doesn't crack from the sudden change in temperature.

Method 2: The Hot Water Method

Best for: soft waxes such as soy, coconut and other container blends.

1. Stand the jar on a heat-resistant surface or in the sink, with the plug in.
2. Pour hot (not boiling) water into the jar, leaving a little space at the top.
3. The wax melts and floats to the surface. Leave the water to cool and the wax will set in a solid disc on top.
4. Lift the wax out, pour the water away, and wipe the jar.

Very thin glass can crack with very hot water, so let a kettle sit for a few minutes after boiling first.

Method 3: The Oven Method

Best for: several jars at once.

1. Line a baking tray with foil or baking paper.
2. Stand the jars upside down on the tray.
3. Put the tray in a cold oven, then set it to a low heat (around 90°C) so the glass warms up gradually.
4. After about 15 minutes, the wax will melt and run out onto the tray.
5. Lift the jars off with oven gloves while they're still warm, and wipe out any remaining wax with kitchen roll.

Don't leave the oven unattended, and keep the temperature low; wax is flammable.

Method 4: The Double Boiler Method

Best for: saving the wax to reuse.

1. Stand the jar in a pan with a few centimetres of water.
2. Heat gently until the wax melts.
3. Carefully pour the melted wax into a heatproof container (or straight into a new vessel with a wick) and wipe the jar while it's warm.

How to Remove the Wick Tab

The small metal disc at the bottom (the wick sustainer) is usually held down with a sticker or a dab of glue. Once most of the wax is gone, slide a butter knife underneath and lift it off. Any sticky residue comes off with a little cooking oil or rubbing alcohol on kitchen roll.

How to Clean the Jar Afterwards

1. Wipe out any wax film with kitchen roll while the jar is still warm.
2. Wash in hot, soapy water. A little washing-up liquid on a sponge lifts the last of the residue.
3. For soot marks on the inside, rubbing alcohol on a cloth works well.
4. Remove any label with warm soapy water, then rinse and dry.

Can You Reuse the Jar for a New Candle?

Usually, yes, as long as the glass is in good condition. Check it carefully first:

• Throw away any jar with chips, cracks or crazing. Damaged glass can fail when a new candle heats it.
• Only reuse jars that were made to hold candles. Thin decorative glass and drinking glasses aren't designed for that heat.
• If you're making candles to sell, use new jars so every candle burns consistently and safely. Our guide to what glass you can use for candles explains what to look for.

What to Do With the Leftover Wax

• Melt it into a wax burner, or combine scraps of the same type into a new candle.
• If you're throwing it away, put it in the general waste once it's solid.
• Never pour melted wax down the sink or toilet. It sets in the pipes and causes blockages.

The Bottom Line

For most candles, the freezer is the easiest way to get wax out of a jar: freeze, tap, done. Use hot water for soft soy and coconut waxes, and the oven when you're clearing several jars at once. Then remove the wick tab, wash the glass, and check it for damage before you reuse it.

FAQ: What's the easiest way to get wax out of a candle jar?

The freezer method. Freeze the jar for a few hours, then turn it upside down and tap it; the cold wax shrinks and comes away from the glass.

FAQ: Can you put a candle jar in boiling water?

It's better to use hot rather than boiling water, especially with thinner glass, because a sudden temperature change can crack it. Let the kettle stand for a few minutes before pouring.

FAQ: How do you get soot off a candle jar?

Wipe the inside with rubbing alcohol on a cloth or kitchen roll, then wash in hot, soapy water.

FAQ: Can I reuse a candle jar to make a new candle?

Yes, if the glass is free of chips and cracks and was designed for candles in the first place. For candles you plan to sell, start with new jars for consistent, safe results.

Starting a new batch? Shop our candle jars, including the popular 30cl Karen candle jar, with matching lids. New to candle making? Read the ultimate candle making guide.