Don't Toss An Old Candle When You Can Reuse The Jar Instead

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From giving any room a gorgeous glow to emitting a beautiful scent, a candle is the multi-sensory gift that keeps on giving. However, despite trying a bunch of tips to make your favorite candles last longer, they'll eventually get burned out. Sure, there are plenty of beautiful ways to decorate your home with candles while they're still full of wax. But, once they're completely burned through, you're left with a simple glass or ceramic jar. Many people would just throw this in the trash, but why waste? With a little bit of hot water, soap, and elbow grease, it's possible to clean out your candle jars and reuse them around your house. Simply fill the jar with near-boiling water, allow the wax to melt, then clean it out.

Not only is repurposing an empty candle jar a budget-friendly move, but it's also eco-friendly. According to research by sustainable candle company MIXMY, only eight percent of used candle jars are recycled, which means about 35 million containers wind up in the landfill. And, since glass jars typically take about 4,000 years to decompose, you'll be doing Mother Nature a solid. After cleaning them out, there are plenty of fun ideas for upcycling and reusing your candle jars. Use them to store pencils or makeup brushes? Plant a succulent inside? Create a new candle from scratch? Check, check, and check.

Some people like to boil water on the stovetop and carefully pour it into their jar, but you can also place your old candle in your sink's basin and use the faucet to fill your canister. Just be sure to crank your water temperature all the way to hot! An electric kettle can also be used. Fill the jar with hot water, and the wax will melt from the heat. Once the wick and remaining wax has been dislodged from the bottom of the jar, it will rise to the surface and harden as it cools. Pour out the hardened wax and water and rinse your jar again with hot water until it's totally clean.

Want to remove the label? If soaking in hot water isn't enough, simply saturate a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and place it over the label. Secure the towel with plastic wrap, wait about 20 minutes, and you should have an easier time removing the label. You can also use a plastic scraper to remove some stubborn bits. If your candle jar still feels a little sticky, take care of the remaining glue by applying more rubbing alcohol, an adhesive remover like Goo Gone, or a mix of coconut oil and baking soda. Give it a quick rinse and you'll have a versatile container you can reuse to your liking. Talk about a bright idea!