Have you found yourself overrun with old candle containers but not quite sure how to reuse them? In this article we aim to give you some great ideas on how to upcycle these old jars to make them useful again. But, there are a few steps we have to take first before we get to the fun bit.
The first step before you repurpose your candle jar is to clean it. This will include removing old wax and the labels on the outside.
The top 2 ways to remove old wax from a candle jar are the freezer method and the water bath method.
With the freezer method, you place the jar in the freezer for a couple hours. The cold temperatures makes the wax very brittle. Once you take it out of the freezer, turning it upside down or giving it a little tap should release the wax from the jar. Just make sure the jar you’re placing in the freezer isn’t made of very thin glass or other delicate materials. Sometimes the harsh cold temperatures can cause your container to break too.
The water bath method is another simple way to remove old wax from a candle jar. Plug the drain in your sink and add some hot water to submerge the sides of your candle container. Wait about 30 minutes and the wax should soften enough to slip out of the container.
The next step would be to remove labels on the outside of the container. Some people like to keep these on for aesthetic purposes. If that’s not something you’re interested in, these tips are for you.
Kitchen cleaner or disinfectant can be helpful in removing sticky candle labels. The chemicals in the cleaner break down the glue and make it easier to wipe and peel off.
If you’re still struggling to remove the label, isopropyl alcohol is usually great at removing stubborn adhesives. Making the label easy to scrape off with just your fingers.
If those methods aren’t working for you, a warm soapy bath is a great way to remove old candle labels. Simply soak the jar in some warm water and dish soap. Let it sit for a while and then try to remove the label with your fingers or a cloth. Don’t use anything too rough to remove the label, you don’t want to scratch and damage the container in the process.
Now let’s get to the good stuff. The different ways to repurpose theses jars, containers, and vessels.
Vases & Plant Pots
The first way we recommend you upcycle your old candle jars, is to turn them into a beautiful vase or plant pot. Candle containers are typically a great size for some small flowers or plants such as succulents. Attractive plant pots and vases can be expensive. Reusing gorgeous candle containers comes at no extra cost. And it's a great way to improve the look of your plant collection. If you don’t like the look of the container you’re have, paint it. You could even add some waterproof stickers to turn it into something you love!
Lotions & Body Scrubs
Old candle vessels are a great way to store your homemade apothecaries. Lotions, body scrubs, balms, hair masks, epsom salts, the options are endless. And an old candle jar with a sturdy lid is a great way to store these unique potions. You can even buy stickers to relabel them according to whatever you put inside. Tie it with a bow and you’ve made a beautiful gift to give to someone you love.
Desktop Lights or Night-Lights
Add a cute set of solar or battery powered fairy lights to and old candle jar and watch it transform. These look cute on any shelf or surface in your home. They bring a magical warmth to the room and even work great as a night light.
Preserve Freshness of Herbs & Teas
If you’re a keeper of dried herbs, spices and loose leaf teas, old candle containers are a great tool for you. As long as they have a secure lid, you can keep all of your dried botanicals inside to keep them fresher for longer.
Holder for Makeup Brushes, Lip Liners, Paint Brushes, Office Supplies
Whether you’re an artist with a paintbrush and pencil, or a makeup artist with a powder brush, your tools tend to end up all over the place. Especially if they don’t have something to contain them. Old candle containers are perfect for that. They look great on your desk or vanity, and are easy to drop your makeup brushes into once you’ve finished using them. The organized and upright position of them also makes each tool easier to find. Instead of sifting through that pile on your desk every time you need something.
Photo by Petite Chérie Candles LLC
Bathroom Organization
There are some lovely candle vessels that would look great on your bathroom counter. Use them to hold cotton balls, cotton swabs, travel size toiletries, bandages, toothbrushes, and more. The possibilities when repurposing candle containers are endless for bathroom organization.
Eclectic Drinkware
The great thing about old candle jars is that they’re all so unique. One is different from the next unless you buy the same brand over and over. This is a great opportunity to turn these old jars into a unique set of drinking glasses. Just make they’re just made out of glass and don’t have any harmful paints or finishes on them that could be ingested.
Jewelry Storage
Shallow candle containers and dishes are perfect to upcycle to hold your jewelry. From rings to bangles, these containers not only look great but help to keep all of your delicate pieces in one place. This helps to reduce the risk of them becoming lost. If one of these containers has a lid, it’s great for storing your jewelry to travel with. This goes for any small items you might travel with that are hard to find a safe place to store.
Candy Jars
A candy jar is the perfect use for an old candle container. Whether you’re giving it as a gift, or keeping it for yourself. It’s a perfect way to preserve freshness. It also looks way more stylish then most of the bags and containers sweets come in from the store.
Store Sample Size Perfumes & Cosmetics
This is a great way to store those little sample size products all in one place. Then the next time you want to try something new, you’re not looking in 10 different places for that one face cream sample you wanted to try. You can even leave one of these repurposed jars filled with sample sizes in a guest bathroom. It’s a great way for them to freshen up without dipping into your personal collection of perfumes and other expensive personal items.
This is just a short list of the ways you can repurpose candle jars into helpful tools you use everyday. The possibilities are truly endless. Don’t be afraid to get creative and personalize these containers in ways to make them work for you.