Love your WickHarmony candles down to the last flicker? Don't toss that beautiful jar! Giving your used candle jars a second life is sustainable and satisfying. But first, you need to tackle that stubborn leftover wax.

We dove deep, testing popular methods for cleaning soy wax out of candle containers right here at WickHarmony. We wanted to find the absolute best way – the easiest, safest, and most effective technique. After putting each method through its paces, here’s our definitive ranking, from the ones you should avoid to the clear winner.

(Important Note: These methods were tested using 100% soy wax, like that found in WickHarmony candles. Results might differ with paraffin, beeswax, or blends.)

Quick Candle Care Reminders Before You Start:

• Safety First: Always stop burning your candle when only ½ inch (about 1.3 cm) of wax remains. Burning it lower can overheat the jar and become a safety hazard.
• Extend the Scent: Want a little more fragrance before cleaning? Use a candle warming plate. Pro Tip: Look for 2-in-1 Candle and Wax Warmers – they let you place compatible jars directly on the plate or melt wax melts in the dish. Perfect for getting every last bit of aroma!

Ranking the Wax Removal Methods (Worst to Best):

6. Microwave Method (❌ DANGER ZONE - Do NOT Attempt!)

Okay, let's get this out of the way immediately. We included this purely as a major safety warning. Candle wicks have a small metal tab anchoring them to the jar bottom. Metal in a microwave is a recipe for sparks, fire, and disaster. NEVER put a candle jar in the microwave. Seriously, just don't.

5. Hair Dryer Method (Inefficient & Messy)

You can use a hairdryer to melt the very top layer of wax for a smooth finish, but trying to melt ½ inch of solid wax this way? Forget it. It takes ages, blows melted wax around, and is incredibly inefficient. There are far superior ways to clean your candle jar.

4. Heat Gun Method (Better, But Still Not Ideal)

Candle makers often use heat guns for smoothing tops, and yes, it's more powerful than a hairdryer. However, for melting down a significant amount of leftover wax in a jar, it still suffers from inefficiency. You'll be there a while, and it's easy to overheat the glass. Keep reading for better solutions.

3. Boiling Water Method (Works, But Risky & Messy Disposal)

• How it Works: Pour boiling water directly into the candle jar, covering the remaining wax. The hot water melts the wax.
• Our Experience: Honestly, we dreaded testing this one. While it does melt the wax (boiling water is hotter than soy wax's melting point), you're left with a jar full of boiling hot, oily, fragranced water. Disposing of this safely is much harder and riskier than pouring out plain melted wax. We instantly regretted it. It works, but the cleanup is a nightmare.

2. Freezer Method (Good, But Not Perfect)

• The Theory: Wax contracts when frozen. Freezing the jar should make the wax shrink enough to pop out easily.
• How to Do It: Place your candle jar in the freezer for several hours or overnight. Once frozen, use a butter knife or spoon to gently pry the wax out.
• Our Results: This method mostly works. The wax does shrink, and we could remove large chunks with some effort (and careful prying!). However, getting all the wax residue out was tricky, leaving a film behind.
• Important Note: We only recommend this for sturdy, thick glass jars. We didn't feel comfortable trying this on more delicate containers, like our upcycled WickHarmony beer bottle candles, due to the risk of glass cracking from the temperature shock or prying.

1. Double Boiler Method (🏆 The Clear Winner: Safe, Easy & Effective!)

This is, without a doubt, the best way to remove leftover soy wax from your candle jars. It's safe, clean, and highly effective.

• Here’s How to Do It:
  1. Prep Your Pot: Find a small saucepan. Add about ½ to 1 inch (1.3 - 2.5 cm) of water – just enough to come up to the level of the remaining wax inside your candle jar when you place it in the pot. Tip: If the jar bobs or floats, pour a little water out.
  2. Place the Jar: Carefully place the candle jar in the center of the saucepan.
  3. Heat Gently: Put the saucepan on your stove burner over medium-high heat.
  4. Melt the Wax: Bring the water to a gentle boil. Let it simmer until all the wax in the jar has melted and the metal wick tab is loose.
  5. Remove Carefully: Turn off the burner. Using an oven mitt or thick towel (the jar will be hot!), carefully lift the candle jar out of the water.
  6. Dispose of Wax: Pour the melted soy wax and the loose wick tab directly into your trash bin. (Good news: Soy wax is biodegradable!). Never pour wax down the drain – it will solidify and cause clogs.
  7. Final Clean: Let the glass jar cool down completely. Then, simply wash it with hot, soapy water like any other dish. It should come out sparkling clean!

Bonus Tip: How to Easily Remove Labels from Glass Candle Jars

Got your jar wax-free but still have a stubborn label? After years of upcycling bottles for our WickHarmony candles, this is our go-to method for removing labels from glass:

1. Start Clean: Make sure the jar is already cleaned of wax residue using the double boiler method above.
2. Prepare the Soak: Find a container larger than your candle jar (a bowl, bucket, or even the sink). Add about ½ teaspoon of OxyClean (or a similar oxygen-based cleaner) to the container. Dissolve it with a small amount of hot water (approx. 2 tablespoons).
3. Submerge the Jar: Place your empty candle jar into the container. Fill the candle jar itself with water first – this weighs it down so it doesn't float.
4. Fill the Container: Continue filling the larger container with cool or warm water (hot isn't necessary after the initial dissolve) until the label on the outside of the jar is completely submerged.
5. Wait Patiently: Let it soak for 30 minutes to an hour (thicker labels might need longer).
6. Peel with Ease: Check the label. When it's ready, it should slide or peel off effortlessly, often in one piece! If any sticky residue remains, a little rubbing alcohol or adhesive remover usually takes care of it.

Conclusion: Now you have a beautifully clean, repurposed WickHarmony jar ready for its next chapter! Use it for storing trinkets, organizing makeup brushes, planting small succulents, or countless other creative ideas. Cleaning out your candle jars is easy and rewarding when you use the right method.

What do you reuse your WickHarmony jars for? Share your ideas in the comments below!