By Noreen Doll.
You will need a warm sunny day to use this easy way to remove candle wax from a jar.
So save up all your jars of used, melted candles to clean out on a hot summer day.
Supplies.
Jars of Used Candles
Aluminum Foil
Old Flatware Knife Turned into Craft Knife
How to Remove Candle Wax from a Jar.
1. On a nice hot, sunny day lay out a piece of aluminum foil large enough to set all the candle jars on.
It works best if you can put the foil on a concrete or flat stone area directly in the sun during midday.
2. Leave the jars sitting in the sun for a couple of hours, giving the jars time to warm up and the wax to heat and soften.
3. Use the old tableware knife between the wax and the glass to loosen the wax and reshape it enough to remove it from the jar.
Keep this knife just for crafting – don’t use it for food again.
4. After all the wax chunks are removed, leave the jar in the sun for a little longer to keep the jar warm and remaining wax soft.
5. Using paper towels, wipe all the wax off the insides of the jar.
6. Wipe all the warm wax residue off the tableware knife.
If you have any cloudy areas, use a bit of citrus cleaner to wipe them.
Tips.
You can remove the bits of wick and any charred places from your chunk of wax, and remelt the wax to make another candle(s).
If you don’t have an old tableware knife, buy one at the Dollar Store. I got 2 in a pack for $1 and they make really handy crafting tools.
If you live where it’s really hot, or it’s a really hot day, you don’t want to leave it so long that it turns to liquid. That could make it more difficult to remove.
Noreen Doll
Conniecrafter says
I will have to try this I have one that needs removing, sounds better than putting it in a hot pan of water to melt 🙂
Almost Unschoolers says
Good tip, and good timing for us – we’re heading into the 90s this week.
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
This is a great idea Noreen if you’re going to reuse the wax! Another easy peasy method is placing the candle jars or votive candles in the freezer for 30 minutes and when you remove them the wax just pops right out of the jar!
Noreen says
Thanks, Marie! It’s good to know how to get the wax out in the middle of winter when there’s no sun.
Stacy says
Thanks for the easy alternative! Pinning so I can remember lol
Stacy
Becca @ The Earthlings Handbook says
Great idea! I have always gotten wax out by forcing the knife between the wax and the jar; this sounds much easier.
It is important to use a metal knife instead of a plastic one, which can break–I just wanted to mention that because it sounds easier to use a plastic knife which you could get for free and then throw away, but in fact that could be dangerous.
Bernadyn @ B is For... says
Great idea especially during the summer right now when it’s super hot out here! I usually try to place mine in the freezer, too but I’m going to try this out. Thanks! Have a great day and now following on FB. 🙂
Noreen says
Thanks, Becca. I do use a metal knife and never considered a plastic one. But it’s good to mention that a plastic knife would probably not be strong enough for the job, and would break.
Gentle Joy says
This is a really good post – thank you for the steps and the easy instructions. I have done this, but have also done other things and haven’t decided on a way to do it each time… this can be it. Thank you. 🙂
Carol says
This is a very clever idea, and it should work perfectly here in the AZ desert where you might actually see someone try to fry an egg on the concrete surfaces!
Karan Mccaughey says
Great idea! Thanks so much ! I found you on Creativity Unleashed, and I’m so glad I stopped by!
Lory Bernstein says
I’ve never tried this method so thanks for the heads up! I am a fan of the freezer method, though. I leave them overnight and they pop right out. But for stubborn bits, this may be better. Thanks for sharing!!
Theresa says
I turn the jars upside down in the freezer. Most times the wax falls out of the jar once frozen.
Stephanie Kay says
Great tip! Who doesn’t have candle jars with tiny bits of wax left? 🙂 Thanks for sharing via Family Fun Friday.
Katie says
What a great tip! Thanks for the great tutorial. I would love it if you linked this up to my Motivate Me Monday linky party.
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
Thank you for sharing this super useful tip at TheWeekendSocial. Love to see you again Thursday at 9:00 PM EST when we start again. I’m off to pin your link.
Clairejustine oxox (Clairejustineoxox) says
Great tips 🙂
Thanks for sharing over at Creative Mondays..
kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor says
Great tip!! Thanks for linking up and partying with us this week, Noreen!
Theresa @DearCreatives says
Great tip! Pinning for later. Thanks for sharing how to at the party. I’ll be giving this a shout out. Theresa