What to Do with Old Candle Jars

What to Do with Old Candle Jars: Crafts and More

You’ve burned every last drop of wax of that dreamy, scented candle — now what? If you’re a serious candle-holic like us, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve got a growing pile of these empty candle jars lying around the house. Often, they’re made with sturdy, interesting or colored glass, maybe even in a unique shape, so it feels like a shame to throw them away. Luckily, we can help you figure out what to do with old glass candle jars so you can preserve them and display them in whole new ways!

To Reuse or Recycle?

If you don’t feel like you have any good use for your stash of empty candle jars, you can certainly just recycle them, as long as your recycling program accepts glass items. Sadly, many municipal recycling programs no longer accept glass, so make sure your program does before relegating them to the recycling bin. If you’ve got a little bit of creative spirit and some DIY know-how, though, we say go the repurposing route and transform them into something special!

How to Clean Out Candle Jars

Before you do anything with your old candle jars, make sure that every last drop of the good stuff is melted away and you’re left with a clean vessel for crafting. The simplest way to clean out old candle jars is to gently pour hot water over the jar until the excess wax melts away.

Many people also swear by the freezing method. All you have to do is stick your old candle jars in the freezer for a few hours and then use a butter knife or another strong tool to pop out the old, hardened wax. Don’t forget to remove any old wick or metal pieces from inside the jar before you start crafting.