This is my new favorite obsession. I love having a good jar on hand, whether it’s for food storage, decor, or to just drink from as an extra glass! They’re so versatile. So once I discovered this SUPER simple method to clean extra ones up, I do it all the time.
Like, all the time.
Like, my roommates know not to throw out extra jars anymore.
This time around I had 1 old marinara sauce mason jar and an old candle that wouldn’t light anymore.
I was able to take the label off this one and popped it in the dishwasher to clean, but the sticky glue residue stayed! This stuff is the worst, impossible to get off. (Or is it!)
Muahaha
Now the candle, is a beloved candle scent, I had a ton of wax left that I wanted to reuse and the jar is perfect for repurposing!
Here’s my candle repurposing method:
Boil some hot water and fill up your candle jar.
I filled it just below the curve-in at the top.
Now, let it sit and cool - this will take hours. But immediately you’ll start seeing the wax melt and float to the top, eventually all of the wax will float up in one big glob.
Once it’s completely cooled, you’ll dig out the wax. If it’s still a little warm it wont just pop out, I was impatient so I cut through it with a knife. After that, press down and the pieces will break off.
Put the wax pieces aside (back to them later) and your jar will most likely still have bits and pieces of wax inside.
*Sidenote: this candle was super cheap, so the wick at the bottom just floated up to the top with the wax. In most cases you’ll still be stuck with the wick and glue at the bottom. Simply, pour in some White Vinegar and let it sit for 2-3 hours. After that, take a butterknife to “scoop” the wick out - it should just slide off!*
Next we’ll be removing the label. This was a super stubborn label, in some cases the heat from the water will soften the glue and the label will peel right off, not this one!
So now we take both of our sticky stuck jars and put them in a big bowl of warm water, mixed with dish soap and a couple tablespoons of White Distilled Vinegar.
For some reason, this has become my magic solution for so much in my house lately.
But it works!
Let these babies soak, overnight.
While that’s soaking, back to our wax blocks! Easy enough at this point - just cut them up into smaller pieces and use them in a wax melter - I’m never throwing wax out again, this is a small but sustainable method to getting every little bang for your buck out of these candles.
*Heart Eyes*
The next morning, I came back to the jars and like magic, the glue just peels off. If it’s slightly sticky still you may need to use your nails and add a little grit. Or, if you’d rather not follow my example and break a nail, you can CAREFULLY scratch it off with a knife or sharp edge.
Then just wipe it off with a paper towel and you’re good to go!
As for the candle label, this baby just easily peeled right off. ~So cathartic~
The inside was still gross, but the soap and vinegar mix, coupled with some elbow grease, really does the job to remove any leftover wax residue or candle soot.
Annnnd you’re done!
So clean and crisp! Now these jars are ready to be reused! Use them for food storage, makeup brushes, tea, spices, etc, etc...
If you’d like to go an extra step, pop over to my “DIY Apothecary Jars” post to add an adorable vintage label.
Happy Crafting!
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