Just because the wax is gone, it doesn’t mean it’s time to trash your candle vessel. We are big fans of reusing and repurposing candle vessels. Here are our top picks for repurposing/upcycling your candle vessels:
- Make another candle - Ask about our refill program
- Transform your candle vessel into a diffuser - Inquire about diffuser lids
- Plant a succulent in it, or other plant, faux flowers or greenery, Palo Santo, potpourri, or sage wands.
- Create luxe bathroom storage for your makeup brushes, hair pins, and cotton swabs/balls.
- Repurpose your vessel for home office: Use it as a cute pen holder or to store sweets!
- Spruce up your kitchen countertops and use them to store your kitchen utensils.
- Upgrade your home decor: There are so many different ways you can integrate our vessels into your own personal home decor. You can store all sorts of items in them. The possibilities are endless!
Now that you know how you want to repurpose them, let me show you how to prepare your candle vessel.
How to Clean Your Candle Vessel
Before you do any sort of repurposing with your candle vessel, you’ll want to be sure you have cleaned out any remaining wax residue thoroughly. Below we will explain how to properly clean out a used candle and then give you creative and fun ideas for how you can repurpose it and give it a new life!
First, remove the excess wax and wick. Fill a pot with water till the water level reaches about half of your candle vessel height. Bring the water to a low simmer over heat and place your candle vessel inside. Within five to ten minutes, the remaining wax in your candle should be liquified. Once the wax is fully liquified, turn off the heat. Use an oven mitt or heat resistant glove to remove the vessel from the pot with caution. Pour the liquid wax into a thick trash bag (not down the drain as it will harden again quickly) and discard. With your oven mitt or heat resistant glove still on, carefully remove the wick clip and any remaining pieces of wick from the bottom center of the vessel. Rinse the candle vessel with warm, soapy water until all wax residue is removed. Pat dry.
Alternately, if you have a wax or tart melter and want to use the excess wax in it, you can remove the wax by placing your candle vessel into the freezer for a few hours. Once chilled, remove the candle from the freezer and use a butter knife to pop out the excess wax, wick and wick clip and put the wax aside to use in your wax melter. Discard the excess wick and wick clip.
Use acetone and a cotton swab or paper towel to remove wax residue. Please note if your candle vessel has a label that you would like to keep intact, avoid any acetone from coming in contact with the label as it will cause it to fall off. Speaking of which, there are two ways to remove label stickers:
- First Method: Olive Oil - Olive Oil is my favorite method because it’s eco-friendly and is super easy. Pour a couple drops of oil onto a paper towel and rub until all of the residue is gone. This should only take a minute or two.
- Second Method: Polish Remover - This method is actually a little faster than the olive oil but you have to deal with the fumes from the nail polish remover (acetone). Pour the polish remover onto a paper towel or use the applicator if yours came with one. Scrub away at that label and adhesive and it will just slide right off. Quick and easy!
Finally, wash with warm, soapy water until all wax and sticker residue is removed and pat dry. Volia! Your vessel is ready to be repurposed.
If you ever find yourself with a candle vessel that you just cannot find a way to reuse or repurpose, please recycle it! Our planet is precious as are the resources it provides to us, so use them wisely and then use them again!
xx, Swell Candle Co
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