Candles are a great way to add ambiance and fragrance to any room, but once the wax has burned down, what do you do with the vessel? Instead of throwing it away, why not repurpose it? Here’s a helpful guide on how to clean out a candle vessel and give it a new life.
The first step in cleaning out a candle vessel is to remove any remaining wax. There are many ways to do this but let me tell you some of the best. Being a candle maker, we have to test A LOT of candles. Nobody wants to throw away the candle jar after each test…that just expensive! So, we’ve learned some really good ways to clean out vessels once they’re used up.
Sometimes we test well over a dozen candles at a time. If we need to clean up multiple jars at once, we put them on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven at about 200 degrees until they’re completely melted. I take them out one at a time and dump the remaining wax into the garbage. I use a butter knife to remove the wick and paper towel to wipe out the rest of the wax. I simply use a cloth and hot, soapy water to clean up the jar inside and out and then it’s as good as new. I realize most people don’t need to clean out multiple vessels, but you can use the oven method for as little as one candle.
However, if you only have one vessel to clean and don’t want to use your oven, you can use one of these methods instead.
This method is especially useful if you can no longer light your candle…use a candle warmer. Simply place your spent candle onto the warmer and allow the wax to melt fully across. Follow the same steps as above to get your candle jar squeaky clean.
Another method to clean the wax out of your candle jar is the hot water method. This is my least favorite of the methods I’m sharing with you because it takes the longest and it’s somewhat messy. You simply pour very hot water into your candle jar and allow the water to melt the wax and loosen the wick. The wax will harden on top of the water as it cools, making it easy to break it up and remove it. I pour out the water and wax mixture onto a paper towel in my sink not allowing any wax to go down the drain. Then I simply clean it out like the other methods.
My favorite method of cleaning out my candle jars is to simply take my candle when it’s no longer safe to burn, (about an 1/8″ of wax remaining in the jar) place it on my stove top where I know there is no flammable material, and I light it for one last burn. I allow the wax to melt fully across and then extinguish the flame, dump the remaining wax in the garbage and proceed to clean my jar as mentioned above.
Once the vessel is clean, it’s important to dry it thoroughly. You can use a clean cloth or paper towel to dry the inside and outside of the vessel.
Now that your candle vessel is clean and dry, it’s time to give it a new life. There are many different ways you can repurpose a candle vessel, such as using it to hold small plants, as a container for small items like office supplies, or as a decorative piece on a bookshelf or mantel. You can also use the vessel to make another candle if the vessel is still in good condition.
In conclusion, cleaning out a candle vessel and repurposing it is a simple and easy task. It not only saves the vessel from ending up in the landfill but also adds a unique touch to your home décor. With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless.