Remove Wax from Candle Jars: 3 Fast, Effective Methods

Get clear, step-by-step instructions on how to get wax out of a candle jar so you can upcycle the glass into a useful, budget-friendly container. Plus: learn how to turn leftover wax into wax melts.

Paid links used in this post. Read more about my link usage policies.

If you burn candles at home, you’ve likely noticed a small amount of scented wax left at the bottom of the jar. That wax often still holds fragrance, but the wick can’t reach it. Instead of throwing jars away, you can recover that wax to make homemade wax melts and clean the glass to reuse it for storage or décor.

(These are only about half of my old candles — yes, I admit I have a collection.)

Cleaned candle jars make great holders for cotton balls, Q-tips, office supplies, or craft items. With a few simple steps you can remove the remaining wax, strip labels, and have attractive glass containers ready to reuse.

This is an inexpensive DIY that extracts extra use from candles and gives you pretty glass jars at no additional cost. Note: these methods are intended for glass jars only.

Step 1: Remove wax from the jar.

Removing the bulk of the wax is the most time-consuming step, but once it’s out the rest is quick. Below are three reliable methods to remove wax.

Wax Removal Method 1: Freezer

Overview: Place the entire candle jar in the freezer overnight. The wax contracts and should separate from the glass, often popping free. Use a butter knife to gently pry around the edges, then turn the jar upside down to remove the wax piece.

Advantages: No heat required; minimal effort to remove a whole chunk of wax.
Disadvantages: Slow (requires overnight freezing), can leave the wick and adhesive behind, sometimes doesn’t release the wax, and there’s a small risk of cracking the jar.

Candle Jar Cleaning Method 2: Hot Water Bath Method

This is the preferred method for speed and cleanliness. It melts the wax uniformly, removes the wick, and produces pourable wax you can reshape into melts.

Fill a medium-sized saucepan with enough water to cover about half the jar. Heat the water to a simmer, then carefully place the candle jar in the pan. As the wax melts, use oven mitts to lift the jar and pour the liquid wax into a mold or heat-safe container.

Advantages: Fast, yields smooth melted wax for forming wax melts, removes wicks, and leaves the jar easier to clean.
Disadvantages: Involves handling hot water and hot glass and requires a mold or container for the melted wax.

Wax Melting Method 3: Hot Water Pour

This method is quick and simpler than the hot water bath because you only use a small amount of hot water poured directly into the jar.

Heat a cup or two of water until very hot (microwave for 3–4 minutes or heat on the stove), then pour it into the candle jar on top of the wax. Over the next hour or two the wax will soften, rise to the surface, and form a solid piece you can pop out when it cools.

The melted wax forms on top of the water and hardens into one piece you can remove. This method is more reliable and faster than the freezer approach but slower than a hot water bath.

Advantages: Relatively quick, safer and less messy than submerging jars in a pot.
Disadvantages: May use some scent, can leave small bits of wick or wax that require extra cleaning.

Methods That Don’t Work

1. Oven — Placing jars in an oven gets the glass extremely hot and difficult to handle; it’s not recommended.
2. Hair dryer — Very slow and inefficient compared with hot water methods.

Step 2: Remove any residue from candle jars.

After you remove the bulk of the wax, clean out the remaining residue so the jar is ready for reuse.

If you used a hot method, wipe the jar while it’s still warm (but safe to touch) with a paper towel to remove remaining wax. Remove the wick and any adhesive residue left at the bottom. If you used the freezer, a quick dunk in hot water will soften leftovers for wiping.

Peel off the label while the jar is warm; adhesive comes away more easily. Take care to remove any bottom stickers before the next step.

Step 3: Give the jar a bath.

Wash the jar in warm, soapy water using a scratch-safe pad to remove any remaining wax and adhesive. For stubborn glue, a small amount of adhesive remover will help. Finish by running the jar through the dishwasher to ensure it’s fully clean and ready for use.

How to Make Wax Melts

Recovered wax can be reused to make wax melts. The method you used determines the form of the wax and the prep required.

Freezer and hot water pour methods: These typically yield solid pieces of wax. Break them into small chunks and store them in labeled bags by scent so you can mix or use them later. Remove any wicks by snapping the wax where the wick passes and pulling it out.

Hot water bath method: This produces liquid wax you can pour into silicone molds or reused clamshells. Let the wax cool and harden for 15–20 minutes (placing molds in the fridge speeds this up) and unmold when solid.

Note: these DIY melts may be less fragrant than store-bought melts because some scent is already used during burning. You may need to use slightly more wax per session for a similar fragrance level.

Final Tips

• Save neutral or “pretty” lids from jars you don’t keep so you have matching tops for the jars you retain.
• For wrap-around labels, carefully cut and peel them off rather than tearing to avoid residue.
• If a jar has a frosted or painted finish, be gentle when scrubbing so you don’t remove the coating.

Cleaning wax from an old candle jar: FAQs