How do you get a remaining candle out?

Getting the remaining wax and wick out of a candle jar can be tricky when it burns down towards the bottom. There are a few different methods you can try to remove leftover candle wax so you can reuse or recycle the glass jar.

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Scrape Out Remaining Wax

One of the easiest ways to get out leftover wax is to just scrape it out of the jar while it’s still soft. Here are some tips for scraping out candle wax:

Let the candle burn down as far as possible so there is just a small amount of wax left.
Blow out the flame and let the wax cool and harden slightly. It should still be soft enough to scrape out.
Take a plastic knife, spoon, or scraper tool and gently scrape along the sides and bottom of the jar to loosen the wax.

You can also use something long and thin like a chopstick to reach down into the jar and break up the wax.
Collect all the scraped wax in a trash bag or old container to throw away.

Scraping is most effective when you let the candle burn as far down as possible first. It becomes harder to scrape out all the wax if there is more than 1-2 inches left.

Freeze and Remove Wax

Freezing candle wax makes it very brittle so it is easy to just pull it out of the jar. Here is the freezing method:

Let the candle burn down as much as possible before blowing it out.
Place the jar in the freezer overnight or for at least 2-3 hours until wax is completely hard.

Wearing gloves, grab the frozen wax and peel or pull it away from the jar in chunks.
You can hold the jar over a trash bag to catch any breaking wax pieces.
To remove the last bits of wax, take a plastic tool and scrape the jar sides.

Freezing works best when you let the candle burn down far enough that the remaining wax is only 1-2 inches thick. If there is too much wax it can be hard to pull off in one piece.

Place Jar Upside Down on a Heated Surface

Heating the jar from the outside can melt the wax so it pools at the bottom and leaves the sides clean. Here is how to do it:

Let the candle burn down as far as possible before blowing it out.

Place the jar upside down on a baking sheet.
Put the baking sheet in a warm oven, around 175°F, for 15-20 minutes.
The wax will slowly melt and run down to the lid or bottom of the jar.

Take the jar out of the oven and wipe the inside clean with a paper towel.
Let any remaining wax cool and harden, then scrape it out.

Low heat melts the wax just enough to make it slide down the sides. Don’t leave the oven on too long or wax can overflow.

Soak in Hot Water

You can also use hot water to melt remaining candle wax so it can be poured out of the jar. Follow these steps:

Allow candle to burn down as low as possible before extinguishing.
Fill a large bowl or pot with very hot water from the tap.

Submerge the candle jar upside down in the hot water for 10-15 minutes.
The wax will start to melt and pool at the bottom of the jar.
Carefully pour the melted wax into the trash or a container.

Use a paper towel to wipe away any residue left in the jar.

The hot water method works well for removing larger amounts of leftover wax. Just be careful handling the hot jar!

Boil Water in the Jar

Boiling water is effective at melting all the remaining wax so it can be dumped out. Follow these steps:

Burn the candle down as low as possible before blowing it out.
Fill the jar about halfway with water.
Place the jar on the stove over medium heat until the water boils.

Let the water boil for 5-10 minutes to melt the wax.
Carefully pour the melted wax water into the trash or a container.
Wipe down jar walls with a paper towel.

Repeat boiling process if needed to remove all wax.

Boiling water in the jar helps get every last bit of wax out. Just be very careful handling the hot jar!

Use an Oven or Heat Gun

Applying direct heat can help liquefy hardened candle wax for easy removal. You can use either your oven or a heat gun:

Oven Method

Allow candle to burn down as much as possible.
Place candle jar on a baking sheet or pan.

Put in a 225°F oven for 10-15 minutes until wax melts.
Remove from oven and carefully pour out wax.
Wipe jar clean with a paper towel.

Heat Gun Method

Burn candle down low before extinguishing.
Turn heat gun on low setting and wave around the jar to melt wax.

Pour out melted wax into a container.
Use paper towel to wipe up any remaining wax.

Heating the jar helps liquefy the wax quickly. Just watch carefully to avoid getting wax everywhere as it melts.

Remove Wick with Wire Hook

Once you’ve removed most of the candle wax, there will still be some wick left behind. Use a wire wick dipper tool to pull out the last of the wick.

Use one of the wax removal methods to get out as much as possible.
Insert the wire wick dipper down into the jar and hook through the wick.

Slowly pull the wick up until it releases from the bottom.
If needed, heat the jar again to melt any remaining wax.

The wire wick tool scrapes against the sides to remove all traces of wax and lift out the entire wick.

Clean With Vinegar and Water

For any leftover wax residue, use vinegar and water to clean the jar thoroughly:

Fill jar halfway with white vinegar. The acid will help break down wax.
Add enough hot water to fill the jar.

Let soak 15-30 minutes, then scrub sides with a sponge or cloth.
Dump out vinegar water and rinse well with clean water.
Dry jar thoroughly with towel.

The vinegar soak helps remove the last wax remnants and oils leaving you with a fully cleaned, empty candle jar ready for reuse!

Tips for Removing Candle Wax

Here are some helpful tips to get all of the wax out of a used candle jar efficiently:

Always let candle burn down as far as possible before attempting wax removal.

Work over an old towel or sheet in case of wax spills.
Pour melted wax into a metal can or aluminum foil rather than down the sink.
Wear gloves to protect hands from hot wax.

Avoid breathing in wax fumes by working in a well-ventilated area.
Use plastic or silicone tools instead of metal to prevent scratching the jar.
Place jar lid under when heating upside down to catch dripping wax.

Reusing Candle Jars

Once you’ve removed all of the wax, there are many creative ways to reuse old candle jars including:

Storage containers for small items like paper clips, cotton balls, etc.
Pen and pencil holders on desk

Plant pots for seed starting or office plants
Cute drinking glasses or mug for hot beverages
Holiday gifts filled with candy, baked goods, or other treats

Vases for fresh or dried flowers
Jewelry holders for rings, earrings, and necklaces
Mini terrariums with small succulents or air plants

With a little creativity and some thorough cleaning methods, you can give used up candle jars new life!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get wax out of a candle jar?

Scrape out softened wax with a plastic tool, place the jar in the freezer to harden wax and then peel it out, or melt the remaining wax by heating the jar either in hot water, the oven or with a heat gun.

What’s the best way to remove old candle wax?

Letting the candle burn as far down as possible before removing wax is always best. Freezing and boiling water in the jar are two of the easiest and most effective methods.

What should I do with leftover melted candle wax?

Never pour hot melted wax directly into a sink drain. Allow it to fully harden first and then throw away in the trash. You can also reuse wax by burning it in a new candle, wax melter, or fire starter.

Can you compost old candle wax?

Most candle wax is petroleum-based paraffin, which cannot be composted. Some eco-friendly soy or beeswax candles may be compostable if you have access to an industrial composting facility.

How do you clean out a candle jar with vinegar?

Fill the empty jar halfway with white vinegar, then top off with hot water. Let soak 15-30 minutes, then scrub insides with a cloth or sponge rinse thoroughly. The vinegar will break up any remaining wax residue.

Conclusion

Removing leftover candle wax doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the right tools and techniques, that final bit of wax can be cleared out, leaving you with an empty, reusable jar. Methods like scraping, freezing, heating, and boiling water make it easy to get out every last drop of wax. Be sure to take safety precautions against hot wax, and always reuse or recycle candle jars if possible.