Buzz
When burning candles in glass containers, wax often leaves stubborn patches at the bottom and sides once the candle has fully melted. Once you’ve removed the wax, you’ll have a versatile, high-quality container that can be used for a new candle or other purposes. You can remove the hardened wax by freezing it, melting it, or scraping it off a flat surface. Check Step 1 for more details on how to do this.
Steps
Freeze the Wax
Place the glass jar or piece of glass in the freezer. Freezing is most effective for small candle holders or jars. Once the candle has cooled to room temperature, place it in the freezer.
- Don’t put it in the freezer when it’s still hot, as the rapid temperature change could cause the glass to crack. Make sure the glass has cooled before freezing.
Allow the wax to shrink for at least an hour. Once the wax and glass begin to harden, the wax will start to shrink and detach from the glass edges, making it easier to remove. The separation of the wax from the glass will make the extraction process simpler and smoother.
Use a spoon to remove the wax from the glass jar. After an hour in the freezer, take the glass jar out and gently tap it against your palm to loosen the wax. You can use your fingers or a blunt knife to scrape off any remaining bits of wax stuck to the glass.
Clean the glass to remove all leftover wax fragments. Get rid of any remaining wax by using cotton balls or a cloth soaked in baby oil or vinegar. Gently rub with a damp paper towel for similar results. While it may require some elbow grease, this method will certainly yield the best outcome.
Melting the wax
Boil water. Use a stove or microwave to heat water while preparing the wax. The water doesn’t need to be boiling vigorously; just enough to melt the wax. Imagine you’re heating water for a quick cup of tea.
- You can also warm the jar by rinsing it with hot water from the tap, making sure it’s bearable to the touch. Let the jar sit in the hot water for a while.
- An alternative method is to use a hairdryer to warm the wax on the glass jar. Set the hairdryer to a medium setting and blow warm air over the jar, then dip it into warm water for a few moments.
- If you have multiple glass jars with wax, place them in the oven at 82°C. Wrap the jars in foil and leave them in the oven for 15 minutes to let the wax melt away.
Cut the wax away. Use an old knife to make several cuts into the block of wax stuck to the cup that you want to remove.
- Alternatively, you can use a fork to break off smaller pieces of wax, or skip this step if there is only a thin layer or a small amount of wax left stuck to the cup.
Pour hot water into the glass jar or cup with stuck wax. Immediately, the wax will begin to melt and float to the surface of the water.
Let the wax cool down. Allow the water and wax mixture to cool for about 15–20 minutes. During this time, the wax will begin to harden slightly on the water's surface, making it easier to remove.
Use your finger to remove the wax from the water. If any wax remnants remain, you can use a knife to scrape them off the glass. By this point, the wax will be soft and pliable, making it much easier to remove.
Clean the remaining wax from the jar. Soak a sponge in hot water, wring it out so it remains slightly damp, and use it to wipe the jar clean, removing any wax residue. You can also use a damp paper towel instead of a sponge.
- For tougher wax, you can spray ammonia-based window cleaner on the jar. Let it sit for about a minute, then wipe it off to remove any remaining wax.
Scrape the wax off a flat surface
Choose the right scraping tool. The most suitable tool for this task is a razor blade or a window scraper to gently remove the wax from flat surfaces like the glass of a table. These tools are better than tweezers or curved blades because they are less likely to scratch the glass. Be gentle while scraping to remove the wax from the surface without heating or wiping it down.
Remove the wax with heat and moisture. Dip a sponge in hot water, try to moisten the wax, and let it loosen a bit before using the scraper. You might even be able to remove the wax without scraping.
Be cautious when using a scraper for the wax. Scrape gently, one small stroke at a time, to prevent the blade from slipping and avoid scratching the glass. Continue scraping until all the wax flakes come off the glass surface.
Clean the glass. Use a warm, damp cloth to remove any remaining wax pieces, ensuring the surface is spotless. Wax can easily leave behind residue, so thorough cleaning is crucial.
- You can also spray window cleaner on the wax and wipe it off using paper towels or a soft cloth. Be prepared to wipe multiple times before the glass is completely clean. Be patient!
Advice
- Cheap candles often contain more oil-based wax, making it difficult to remove from glass. Opt for high-quality candles from reputable brands to ensure the wax comes off more easily.
- Place a few tablespoons of water at the bottom of the candle jar to help prevent the wax from sticking right from the start.
- Use an old rag or newspaper to prevent wax residue from sticking to the table or countertop surface.
- After cleaning and removing all the wax, repurpose small glass candle jars as flower vases, pencil holders, or other creative items to decorate around the house.
Warning
- Avoid doing this near kitchen or bathroom sinks, as the wax may clog the drain pipes. Be sure to dispose of all leftover wax in the trash.
- Do not scrub the inside of the glass jar with a sponge or paper towel to remove wax, as this could cause wax smudges and stains. Instead, gently scrape and move the wax out carefully from the glass surface.
Items You Will Need
- Freezer
- Dull knife
- Cotton balls or rags
- Baby oil or vinegar
- Hot water basin
- Sponge or paper towel
- Razor blade or window scraper
