DIY: HOW TO CLEAN AND REUSE BURNED DOWN CANDLES FROM LEFTOVER WAX

Here is a step-by-step DIY guide to extending the life of your Anthropologie (or any other votive!) candles and re-purposing the jar. Ever wondered how to reuse wax or how to clean a jar after it's flickered its last flame? Recycling and re-purposing jars is not only a sustainable practice, but a great DIY decor hack.

If you are an eco-conscious consumer, you probably know that in order to recycle glass, you have to clean your containers for proper disposal. Before you get rid of your burned down candles, you can save your decorative jars for use as a planter, a catch-all, or whatever else you can think of!

There are various methods of removing wax from a candle, and it all comes down to preference. If boiling water or using the oven aren’t viable options for you, simply choose instead to use a blunt object or spoon to scrape out remaining wax.

I personally despise sitting and scraping my candle, but if you prefer scooping to heated methods, by all means, scrape away!

We all know you love Moon Lit candles and hold them dear to your hearts, but if you* have some Capri Blue candles from Anthropologie lying around, these are made of soy wax mixed with food-grade paraffin, so the wax is soft enough to scoop out manually. (*traitor)

What you'll need:

1. Wicks with tabs (I use a variety of wicks from candle suppliers, but you can use these)
2. Hot glue
3. Chopstick
4. New candle holder (any glass jar will do)
5. Double boiler (or glass measuring cup)
6. Pot
7. Tongs
8. Strainer
9. Spoon (if scooping)

 

1. Preheat oven to warm setting (roughly 120 degrees Fahrenheit)

The idea here is to mimic pouring temperature of wax. Different waxes have different pouring temperatures. Your candle should specify somewhere on the label the type of wax. If there is no identifying wax feature, it is safe to assume the candle is a paraffin base.

• Soy wax is poured anywhere from 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit
• Paraffin candles are best poured at 180 degrees Fahrenheit or above
• Most other waxes, like coconut or beeswax, are poured between 150-160 degrees Fahrenheit

 

2. Once warm, place candle in the middle rack of your oven and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes

• If you are re-pouring into a new container to make a new candle, take this time to prep your jar with your selected wick.
• Use blunt end of chopsticks to press wick down so it is centered and adhered to the jar.

3. After the wax has melted, remove jar from oven

• Please be sure to have protection as jar will be HOT
• DO NOT pour hot wax directly down drain
• To safely dispose of wax, pour into padded trash. I like to crumple up newspapers and pour directly onto those

4. If making a candle with leftover wax, transfer wax to pour container, and sift wax with an old strainer

• This can be done with either a glass measuring cup or a candle-making tin
• Sifting removes the gunk and the remnants of the used wick

 

Now it's time to pour.

 

If you don't have a metal wick holder like the one featured in the video, place the unbroken chopsticks above your jar and center to hold the wick in place

5. Cleaning your jar

• There are many methods used to clean jars. I typically boil water in a pot and place the jar inside. For Anthropologie jars, the colored glass coating is sensitive, so I opt to hand wash the vessel
• Fill jar with some dish soap and hot water and let sit
• Scrub with a sponge until any leftover residue is removed

6. Removing your labels

• You're almost there! Now it is time to remove labels. Soak the jar in hot water, dry off a bit, and then spray with Goo Gone
• Allow jar to sit with solution for a few minutes, then scrub the labels off, alternating with hot water and soap

7. Final step- cleaning your lid

• You can use the same method to clean any wax or labeling off the lid. Since the Anthropologie jars are hardier, I simply place the lid in boiling water for about 10 minutes
• Use tongs to place lid in boiling water and for removal
• Scrub the lid with soap and water for a final shine and wallah!

 

 

If you made your own candle from leftover wax, allow the candle to cool for 2 hours, snip the excess wick, and you're ready to go!