We have had a few customers ask us this question, so we thought it might be useful to write a blog on the best ways to deal with getting leftover wax out and how to reuse the lovely jars and pots afterwards.

See below for USTUDIO’s top tips:

HOW TO GET THE JARS CLEAN

There is more than one way to do this. You can either use the freezing method, placing in a bowl of boiling water, or heating in the oven. Here’s how:

FREEZER

Put the candle in the freezer for a minimum of 5 hours (ideally overnight), then turn upside down and use a knife or spoon to get the wax out and then throw it away, unless you plan to reuse it (see below). Make sure you remove the old wick and wick holder as well. Wipe the insides of the jar and then hand wash, rinse, and dry.

BOILING WATER

Put some boiling water in a bowl. Place your candle inside the bowl until the wax melts. Then either pour into a container to throw away, or into an ice cube tray to make scented wax melts. Never pour wax down your sink as it will block it.

OVEN

Put your candle jar in the oven at its lowest setting until any remaining wax melts. Carefully remove the jar from the oven (it will be hot!) to pour the wax into the bin (unless you plan to reuse the wax – see above), remove the wick holder using a spoon, and wipe the insides of the jar clean. Hand wash, rinse, and dry.

CLEANING THE JAR – ALL METHODS

Whichever method you use you will need to finish by cleaning the jar with hot soapy water, by hand not in the dishwasher. Depending on the type of candle and your own preference, you may want to remove the label, which will need to be soaked off. Any glue residue can be removed with nail varnish remover (you’ll need to wash the jar again after this).

A beautiful empty La Bogie candle pot ready for repurposing.

HOW TO REUSE THE JARS

So now you have a lovely clean candle pot just waiting to be repurposed. Yes, you could put a glass one into the recycling, but really they are too lovely to throw away. And there are so many things you can do with them! Here are just a few to get you started but you can probably think of some of your own too.

PLANT POTS

Add some drainage stones (otherwise your plant will be waterlogged and unhappy!) and old candle jars can make fantastic plant pots, especially for succulents. Amber, dark or opaque candle pots work best for this as soil is not the prettiest feature of a potted plant. P.F. Candle jars and La Bogie pots are perfect for this.

PENCIL POTS

You can also use the pots on your desk, to hold pens and pencils – keep them uniform if you want to be extra tidy or mix and match for an eclectic look.

P.F. Candle Co jars repurposed as a succulent pot and pencil jar.

TOILETRY HOLDERS

Organise your bathroom buy putting cotton buds, cotton wool balls, ponytail bands, even your toothbrushes in old candle jars. Some items will work best in candle pots that have lids to keep them tidy.

VASES

Candle jars also make lovely little vases, especially when grouped together. These elegant jars from Lo Studio would look great filled with posies of flowers.

Lo Studio's candle jars are perfect for grouping together, filled with posies of flowers.

FAIRY LIGHTS OR TEA LIGHT HOLDERS

You could fill a jar with battery operated fairy lights or use a jar as a tea light holder (always on a non-flammable surface!) These would look wonderful on a festive dinner table!

BROWN SUGAR SCRUB

Speaking of festive, here is a lovely present idea. Use equal parts brown sugar and oil (olive, grapeseed, almond or jojoba) and mix together adjusting the quantities until you achieve the desired consistency. Mix in a few drops of essential oil for scent and put in a jar with a screw top lid, like these from Earl of East:

Mix a brown sugar scrub to put in an Earl of East screw top jar.

MAKE A NEW CANDLE

Finally, why not make a whole new candle? L:A Bruket have everything you need to refill their best-selling Coriander candle. The refill bag contains wax from organic soy, a cotton wick and wick-anchor as well as a wooden wick-holder. Simply heat the refill container in a microwave or hot water bath after preparing your glass with the wick and wick-holder. Then pour the wax by hand into your candle glass. Let wax harden for two hours before lighting the candle.