How Do You Get Leftover Wax Out Of A Yankee Candle Jar?

It’s very common for people to want to reuse or recycle their empty Yankee Candle jars once the candle has burned down. However, before doing so it’s important to fully remove any wax remaining inside the jar. Leftover wax can make the jar slippery and difficult to hold. It can also leave residue on any items placed inside the reused jar. Further, wax left in a jar being recycled can contaminate the recycling process.

There are many simple and effective methods for removing leftover wax from a Yankee Candle jar before reusing or recycling it. The most common techniques involve freezing the jar, chipping away wax pieces, using hot water, baking soda, WD-40, or just a bit of elbow grease. Each method has its own advantages and work best depending on how much wax is left behind.

Place in Freezer

One of the easiest methods for getting leftover wax out of a Yankee Candle jar is to place the jar in the freezer. Freezing temperatures help make the wax brittle and easy to remove. It’s recommended to freeze the jar for at least overnight or 24 hours. Be sure not to place the glass jar directly on the freezer surface, as this can cause it to crack or shatter when cold. Instead, set the jar on a baking sheet or plate before putting it in the freezer. Once frozen, you can then take the jar out and begin chipping away at the wax.

Chip Away Wax

Once frozen, use a knife or scraper to chip away at the wax. Go slowly to avoid damaging the jar. Try a plastic knife or spoon if concerned about scratching the glass. Carefully break up the wax into pieces and remove. You may need to refreeze and repeat this process several times to remove all the wax.

Chipping away at the frozen wax allows you to slowly and steadily remove it bit by bit. Just be patient and take your time. Applying controlled force with your tool of choice will help lift the solid wax without damaging the jar.

Boil Water Method

One effective method for removing leftover wax is by boiling water and pouring it into the candle jar to melt the wax so it can be poured out. This is best done outside or over a sink to avoid potential messes.

Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil on the stove. Once boiling, carefully pour the hot water into the candle jar, filling it about halfway. This will melt the leftover wax in the jar so it can be emptied out.

Let the jar sit for a few minutes so all the wax melts. Then, wearing oven mitts, slowly pour the melted wax out of the jar and into an empty metal can or heat safe container for disposal. The boiling water will have liquefied the remaining solid wax so it can be poured out smoothly.

Be very careful when handling the hot jar and melted wax. Work slowly and cautiously. Make sure to do this method outside or in a well-ventilated area so you don’t inhale any fumes.

Once all the wax has been poured out, you can reuse the empty jar. Let it cool completely before handling. Any wax remnants can be removed with paper towels.

Baking Soda and Hot Water

This method uses two easily accessible household materials to clean out wax residue: baking soda and hot water. Making a paste with these ingredients helps dissolve and absorb any remaining wax stuck to the candle jar.

To use this method, first add about 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda to the jar. Then pour in just enough hot water from your tap to make a spreadable paste – it should be thick but still able to coat the interior. Using a spoon or your fingers, spread the paste thoroughly around the insides of the jar, covering all areas where you see wax remnants.

Let the paste sit for at least 5 minutes as it works to dissolve the wax. The heat from the water helps melt any remaining bits while the baking soda scrubs it away. After letting it sit, take a paper towel and wipe clean – you should see the paste has absorbed a lot of the wax away!

You may need to repeat this process 2-3 times for very wax-coated jars. But using this paste helps safely clean away that leftover candle wax.

The easiest and most effect way to remove melted wax from a Yankee Candle jar is to use a cool oven to melt the candle from the sides and remove the pooled wax from the bottom. This process allows for clean reuse of even heavily used candle jars, and can be accomplished in any kitchen with an oven.

Cool Oven Method

The cool oven method takes advantage of the low melting point of candle wax to melt and drain it while avoiding potential fire hazards.

To use this method:

• Place the jar upside down on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or a silicone baking mat.
• Heat the oven to its lowest setting, usually around 170°F.
• Allow the wax to slowly melt and drip out of the jar, collecting in the foil or mat.
• After 10-15 minutes, carefully remove the baking sheet and discard the melted wax.
• If there is still wax remaining in the jar, repeat the process until fully removed.

The key is keeping the oven temperature low so the wax melts slowly without smoking or igniting. Always monitor the process closely. This method allows full wax removal without chemicals or scrubbing.

Washing Up Liquid

One simple and effective way to get leftover wax out of a Yankee Candle jar is to fill the jar with hot water and a squirt of washing up liquid. Let the jar sit for about 15 minutes to allow the hot water and soap to penetrate and loosen the wax residue. As the wax softens, use a sponge or brush to gently scrub away at the wax coating the sides and bottom of the jar. The hot water helps melt the wax while the washing up liquid acts as a degreasing agent to cut through and dissolve the wax. Scrubbing with a sponge abrasively removes the softened wax. Make sure to rinse the jar thoroughly after scrubbing to get rid of any soapy residue.

WD-40

One method that works well for removing leftover wax is using WD-40 spray. Here are the steps for using this technique:

Spray WD-40 liberally around the remains of the wax in the jar. Make sure to coat all sides of the jar.

Let the WD-40 sit for about 5 minutes. This allows it to penetrate the wax.

Wipe the inside of the jar clean with paper towels. The wax should wipe away easily after sitting with the WD-40 spray.

You may need to do some extra scrubbing for any remaining wax bits. But the WD-40 helps dissolve the wax so it can be removed.

Once the jar looks clean, wash it out with soap and water to remove any excess WD-40 residue.

Then the Yankee Candle jar will be ready to reuse or recycle!

Reusing Jars

Once you’ve removed all of the leftover wax, those Yankee Candle jars don’t have to go to waste! Cleaned out candle jars can be creatively reused for storage, decor, and crafts around the home.

For storage, consider using the jars to hold office supplies like pens, pins, and rubber bands on your desk. The jars also work great for storing craft supplies like glitter, pom poms, beads, and stickers. In the kitchen, use them to store dry goods like pasta, rice, and baking ingredients.

The jars can add a nice decorative touch when used to hold cotton balls in the bathroom or as an attractive container for Q-tips in the living room. For holiday decor, fill them with candy, pinecones, or other themed items.

To make a fun craft, decorate the outside of the jar with paint or collage materials. Then fill them with flowers or lights to make pretty luminary jars. Kids can use them for science experiments or DIY piggy banks.

With a little creativity, you can find all sorts of ways to reuse your Yankee Candle jars around the home after getting the leftover wax out.

Conclusion

Of all the methods for getting leftover wax out of Yankee Candle jars, the freezer method and the baking soda and hot water method tend to be the easiest and most effective. Simply placing the jar in the freezer allows the wax to pop right out, while boiling water mixed with baking soda melts and loosens stuck-on wax. Cooling the jar in the oven before attempting to remove wax is another handy trick.

Cleaning out old Yankee Candle jars provides some great benefits too. Reusing the jars saves money and reduces waste, as they can be repurposed for homemade candles, storage containers, glasses, and other DIY projects. It also gives satisfaction to get more use out of the jars, while prepping them for fresh new candles or creative purposes around the home.

With a few simple cleaning methods, Yankee Candle lovers can easily remove leftover wax and prep their used jars for new candles or endeavors. The result is less waste, more reuse, and the exciting opportunity to reinvent empty jars.