HOW I CLEAN CANDLE CONTAINERS & REUSE MY CANDLE JARS

In honor of Earth Day I compiled the ultimate guide on how to reuse and repurpose candle containers! First things first, you’ll want to remove the existing wax from your container.

3 WAYS TO CLEAN A CANDLE CONTAINER!

I prefer to clean using one of three methods: freezing, washing, or boiling.

FREEZING CANDLE WAX:

Place the candle jar in the freezer for a few hours (or overnight). This allows the wax to harden and  makes it easier to use a knife to pick out the contents. And then, I clean any remaining wax or residue with a warm, wet paper towel. This is probably the simplest method, but it works better for harder waxes like paraffin or beeswax.

WASHING YOUR CANDLE CONTAINER: 

First, I clean as much of the wax out of the container as you can with a knife. Next, using hot water,  I fill the candle container with soap and leave it for a few minutes. Then I use this brush to clean the residue. Always use paper towels for easy cleanup after. This method probably takes the most time, and you want be careful not to get the wax down your pipes.

DOUBLE BROILER METHOD: 

The double boiler method works well for hard waxes that are stuck on your candle jar. You will simply place your candle container in a pot of boiling water to soften the wax from all sides. Once the wax has softened, carefully take the jar out and pour out the remaining liquid wax.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER WHILE CLEANING:

– DON’T overheat the glass.
– DO NOT put any solid or liquid wax down the sink as this will clog your drains.
– DON’T use microwave as many wicks are set with a metal clip at the bottom and can cause a fire.
– BE CAREFUL not to break your glass candle container.

WAYS TO REUSE CANDLE CONTAINERS:

Now that the old wax is out, it is time to reuse that pretty container. There are several creative ways to repurpose the candle jars/containers.  Here a few ways on how I like to reuse:

BEAUTY STORAGE: 

I love using the candle container for makeup brushes! The lidded jars are a cute ways to repurpose and hide beauty tools like Q-tips, cotton rounds, hair ties, bobby pins, perfume or beauty samples. This help keep your vanity tidy.

JEWELRY STORAGE: 

I like to keep a pieces of jewelry and hairclips in my bedroom handy for days I get ready in a rush. I love to reuse my old candle containers as they’re perfect place to store jewelry!

FLOWER VASE: 

Great to use as a smaller vase for a workspace or bathroom I like to use both fresh and faux flowers.

MORE WAYS TO REPURPOSE:

Love repurposing my LAFCO candle containers in the kitchen to hold spoons/forks for the kiddos to grab quickly. Also, it’s great by kitchen sink to hold sponge 🧽/utensil cleaning brush, Toothpaste/toothbrushes in bathroom and not to mention these LAFCO containers look so aesthetically pleasing and are such great quality!

Have any ideas I’ve missed? Let me know on my Instagram page!

XX, Avani