Recycle, Re-use Wood Wick Candle Jars

If you are anything like me, you might struggle with discarding decorative candle jars when their shapes, lids, or designs are just too cool to throw away after the candle has burned down.

Wood Wick Candles are made with some of my favorite scents, shapes, and so cool wood lids (that seal nicely too). And because they are shaped so nicely and made well, I really struggle with having to throw those out.

There were a few ideas I considered including making new candles with the left over wax; using them as a flower vases; or for storing miscellaneous screws/nails but none of them really made me excited.

However, the idea of using them for decorative Q-tip and make up brush holders was my “ah-hah” moment. The medium (10.1 oz.) size was perfect for holding my Q-tips on my bathroom shelf and the large (22 oz.) size worked out well for my make-up brushes and pencils.

How do I get the wax and grime out of the jars though?

Safety Warning

You must know how to safely use a stove and the concepts of protecting yourself from burns and fire safety. These instructions are suggestions only and are not associated with the recommended safe use of candles of any brand whatsoever. 

Hot pot holders are required. Spilling heated wax on skin may cause severe burns and permanent disfigurement. 

Spilling wax on surfaces of any type will result in marring surface and a waxy mess that’s a pain in the ass to clean up.

How to Clean Jars

1. Enjoy the beautiful scent that your Wood Wick candle offers. (If you’re in a hurry for your reuse burning these down will take quite a bit of patience! They seem to last f-o-r-e-v-e-r.)
2. Find a saucepan that will offer a space around your candle jar of at least a couple of inches.
3. Put your candle jar in the pan and add water to the pan (around the candle jar). Just a couple fingers’ height is all you need.

6. Place on burner on a low heat.

7. Wait and watch. It’s important to have patience and allow the remaining wax in the jar to slowly melt to a liquid at a temperature that doesn’t bounce the jar around so much that it breaks.

8. Once the wax is melted, use a hot pot holder to remove the jar.

9. Using hot pot holders, CAREFULLY tip the jar to pour wax into an old tin can or some other container (that will not melt) which you plan to throw away.

10. Place jar in sink or bucket full of hot water and dish soap (I use Dawn dish soap).

11. Wash and rinse jar and lid.

12. Let dry completely.

Fill with Q-tips or other non-edible items.

The only thing I struggled with was deciding whether I was going to sand and paint the wood tops or leave “as is”. I ended up leaving them “as is” but tell myself that the two “W’s” stand for “Wonder Woman” whenever used for my items. (You may have guessed that one of my least favorite things to do is sand.)

Let me know the ingenious ways you’ve used your jars for in the comments below!