Candles have a unique way of creating a cozy atmosphere, and I must admit, I’m quite fond of them. I always enjoy lighting one based on my current mood, but this passion for candles has made me a little cautious. There have been nights when I’ve woken up to double-check that all my candles are extinguished. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?
I find joy in repurposing my candle jars for various uses, whether it’s storing beauty products, hairpins, or makeup brushes. Recently, the conversation around keeping those jars clean and free from soot has surfaced on my Instagram, which inspired me to share some tips in this post.
TIPS FOR REPURPOSING CANDLE JARS
TRIM YOUR WICK
To ensure a cleaner burn, it’s essential to trim your candle wick to about 1/4 inch before each use. This simple step minimizes soot residue. If any soot does accumulate, I recommend gently wiping it away with a paper towel once the candle has completely cooled. You can use either small scissors or a candle wick trimmer for this task. Consistent wick trimming is vital for maintaining clean candle jars.
This is what an evenly-burned, tunnel-free candle should look like.
BURN EVENLY
To ensure an even burn, it’s crucial to allow your candle to burn for a minimum of two hours during its initial use. This ensures that the wax melts all the way to the edges. Neglecting this step can lead to tunneling, making it challenging to achieve an even burn in future uses. I generally recommend avoiding burns longer than four hours to protect the integrity of the candle.
GET THAT WAX OUT
When you follow the aforementioned steps, removing leftover wax becomes a breeze. I typically only have a minimal amount to scoop out with a spoon. However, if you find that there’s a considerable amount left, especially with Bath & Body Works candles, placing the jars in the freezer for a few hours can help. Make sure the candle is completely cool before doing this. After a few hours, you can easily pop out the wax using a butter knife and save it for melting later in one of these.
Aside from Diptyque, I also enjoy reusing jars from these Febreeze candles (where I keep my crystals in the photo) and Scentsational candles (commonly found at TJMaxx).
CLEAN IT UP
After removing the wax and wick remnants, I often find some wax residue still clinging to the sides of the jar. To tackle this, I use acetone. A simple piece of paper towel soaked in nail polish remover works wonders in cleaning the inside of the jar, effectively eliminating excess soot and wax. Once clean, I wash the jar with soap and dry it off.
It’s important to note that I apply acetone only to the inside of the jar. Using it on the outside can remove any logo stickers or prints. I often use acetone to remove price stickers, which retailers like Marshalls and TJMaxx often place on the front of the candles.
While I enjoy reusing jars from designer candles, some of my favorite candles—like Black Bamboo by Village Candles—come in awkwardly shaped jars that I typically don’t keep, opting instead to recycle them.
Overall, maintaining candle jars is quite straightforward, especially when you take care of your candles as you burn them.
