November 26, 2025, 12:12 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Candles in glass jars are decorative, especially during the pre-Christmas season. However, once they burn out, the glass container often ends up in the trash—partly because the leftover wax is difficult to remove. Even persistent scraping often doesn’t help much. Yet, there are two simple methods to solve this problem easily.
Candles create a cozy atmosphere, and some also fill the room with a pleasant scent. It would be a shame to throw away the often pretty glass container with its lid as soon as the candle burns out—not to mention that it would be anything but sustainable. Instead, the glass can be wonderfully reused, such as by placing a new candle inside. However, the prerequisite is to thoroughly remove the old wax residues. Once that’s done, the glass can be used in various ways.
Removing Wax from Glass with Hot Water
The first method to remove wax from a glass is quite simple. Since wax melts at high temperatures, you can use hot water. Just boil some water in a kettle and carefully pour it into the glass. As the wax melts and is lighter than water, it collects on the water’s surface. Then, let it cool—the wax residues can be removed like a disc. If any candle remnants remain in the glass, they can be removed with a bit of vinegar or citric acid.
If there’s still a whole candle in the glass, you can also use hot water. Simply place the glass in a pot of hot water and wait until the candle can rotate on its axis. Then remove the glass and invert it onto some paper towels. The candle should slowly slide out. If not, repeat the process.
Never Pour Hot Wax Residues Down the Drain
“Even if it’s still liquid—the wax can quickly harden again in the pipe and clog it. Often, the problem can be solved by unscrewing and cleaning the siphon. If the clog is deeper in the pipes, cleaning is very labor-intensive.”
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Removing Candle Residues from Glass with Cold
Not only heat but also cold can help remove wax from glass. Simply place the glass with the candle residues in the refrigerator or freezer for about an hour or longer. The wax will become brittle and easily chip off when scraped, such as with a spoon. If residues remain, you can also try hot water or vinegar and citric acid afterward. By the way: This article explains how to avoid annoying soot with candles.
Why the Glasses Don’t Go in the Recycling Bin
If neither method works, or if you simply have no use for the glasses, they should not be disposed of in the recycling bin. The reason: Similar to drinking glasses, candle glasses are made of a different composition than bottles that can be recycled and cannot be reprocessed. Therefore, candle glasses should be disposed of in the regular trash or at a recycling center.