How do I get this candle out of this vase?

Bren
by Bren

Found this beautiful crock vase candle while cleaning out a house. I want to use the crock for a flower arrangement but can’t figure out how to clean the candle out. It’s already started to shrink from the sides but it still won’t come out. I hate burning candles and this one is so big that trying to heat it up to pour it out would take forever. I also tried sticking a knife in it to try and cut it up but it’s too thick. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

  29 answers
  • Celia Celia on Dec 02, 2017

    sit the pot in a bowl of hot water and it will melt the wax on the outside of candle,then run a knife around the side and the candle should just slide out

    • Bren Bren on Dec 02, 2017

      Since there is a lip around the top of the vase and the inside is not smooth I don’t know if this will work. But I’ll give it a try. Thank you for the suggestion.

  • Molly Anmar Molly Anmar on Dec 02, 2017

    Set it upside-down on a couple of canning rings on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake in the oven until the wax is out of the vase.

    • See 3 previous
    • Molly Anmar Molly Anmar on Dec 04, 2017

      Be gentle and slow with your crock in the oven. Extreme variations in temperature could cause cracking.

  • Heat up a knife and try to loosen a bit all around the perimeter. Then and pop it in the freezer at least overnight. When it comes out, give it a squirt of WD 40 and hopefully, fingers crossed, it will pop out for you.

  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 02, 2017

    freeze it. the cold will make it contract...

    • See 1 previous
    • Kelly Fidik Kelly Fidik on Dec 07, 2017

      I freeze my candles all the time to get the last PCs out of the jars I like. I usually leave them in over night. U can try a few hours. I usually then take a butter knife and crack the candle in PCs. It does so very easy. If will then fall rt out. No problem with the lip? Be careful with the butter knife and the crock slipping!

  • Try putting it in the freezer. The wax usually shrinks just enough to pop out with little prying.

  • Lynn Goins Lynn Goins on Dec 02, 2017

    Since the inside isn't smooth, I think you might have trouble with the frozen method. I think I would let it burn down as much as possible before trying to clean it out.

  • Bet Bet on Dec 02, 2017

    When candle removal is considered.... freeze it. Get as much as u can out & then redo until it's all out. I try 2 cut toward the center in a v , I use an old paring knife, 2 pop out.


    I haven't tried this yet but I'm going to on the next removal of wax....after big parts r mostly gone use my hair dryer till it melts & wipe with news paper. Sounds good 2 go 4!!!!

  • Bet Bet on Dec 02, 2017

    if u combine Naom, Dfm &I BET AMSWERS U CAN'T go wrong

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Dec 02, 2017

    That really is a cute crock. I put my candleholders in the microwave, inside a microwaveable pie plate, but only 1 minute first. Then I try to run a sharp knife along the walls. Then another thirty seconds, and I try to dump it out onto a paper towel or dishcloth. If it doesn’t come loose, I try to fit a spoon under the bottom edge. Then I microwave another thirty seconds and try to dump it again. I’ve never had to do more than three 30-second rounds. I have also done the freezer method, with mixed results. Best wishes 😇

    • Bren Bren on Dec 02, 2017

      Thank you. I fell in love with it when I first saw it and had inspirations for the arrangement but getting the candle out was the first chore. If I microwave it will it melt the sides enough to maybe grab the wicks and then pull it out?

  • Mcgypsy9 Mcgypsy9 on Dec 02, 2017

    You might also try setting it I. A pan with water half way up the candle and heat until it melts, pouring it out a little at a time into an old can or something old that will not melt.

  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 02, 2017

    leave it for 24 h to get good and cold. It will make the wax contract from the edges, then use a knife with as sharp point and chisel the rest out.

  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 02, 2017

    leave it in the freezer for 24 hours it should make the wax brittle enough to chisel out.

  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 03, 2017

    leave it in the freezer for a good 24 h. It will make the wax brittle and less sticky. You may still have to chip the wax out....

  • Vicky Vicky on Dec 03, 2017

    Place in freezer and it will remove very easy.

  • Aur26551329 Aur26551329 on Dec 04, 2017

    I like the idea of putting the jar in hot water to melt. You have a very pretty pot there and some of these methods, I think may break it.

    If you live in an area where the weather is hot and sunny. I would set it outside in the sun for awhile. Start it early when the sun is not too strong.

    Good Luck

  • 62q10370829 62q10370829 on Dec 04, 2017

    I dig the center out with sharp knife then when using your oven set it on plate upside down where heat comes out of oven so wax gets hot or warm & take out more in center then keep doing it & then you should get sides out.

  • Judy Holtgrewe Bailey Judy Holtgrewe Bailey on Dec 04, 2017

    I would avoid microwave because you don't know if there is a metal disk on the bottom of wick. I have always used the hot water method. If there are small amounts of wax left in the interior depressions, add hot water to the inside of holder and either skim with paper towels or pour away in something other than your sink.

  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 04, 2017

    a good 24 hr..then take a sharp thin blade and try to get the wax broken up

  • Lisa S. Lisa S. on Dec 04, 2017

    Burn it down as far as you can. Then place in the freezer.

  • Wjo22279356 Wjo22279356 on Dec 04, 2017

    Put some paper towels in a sink with enough towels the opening of the jar. Turn the jar upside down on to the paper towels. Pour hot water over the jar from the top, this will take several minutes, but the wax on the bottom and sides will melt slightly and the whole candle should just drop out. The paper towels are to insure that any liquid wax will NOT go down your sinks drain. This will only work if the jar side are parallel or flaired out.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Dec 04, 2017

    Pour hot water into it and let it sit for a few minutes. It should come right out.

  • Cheryl Cheryl on Dec 05, 2017

    If try to microwave until it is soft enough to spoon or use a knife around edges to scoop out. May tale a couple times as it cools fast

  • Gail Gail on Dec 05, 2017

    Heat oven to 200f. Put crock in oven before turning oven on so the temp will be gradual. This may take some time, it will be slow.when all melted pour onto a container lined with foil.i use a glass cereal bowl and when wax is set but not hard you can easily remove foil.you should then have a clean crock and wax to form a candle. Once crock is cool put dish soap and hot water in,let soak to remove any residue.


  • Suzie bliss Suzie bliss on Dec 05, 2017

    Put it on a warm until it melts and poor it out. It might take a while but can keep pouring out as it melts.


  • Cheryl Cheryl on Dec 06, 2017

    Heating it either with a candle/CoffeeCup warmer or in a pan of water and simmer over low heat until the wax is melted. Then you can pour it out. Since it has a lip inside you will not be able to freeze it and pop it out.

    Best wishes!!

  • Dfm Dfm on Dec 06, 2017

    i' leave it in the freeze for 24 hr. then use a thin blade and cut out chunks.

  • Big Rick Big Rick on Dec 07, 2017

    turn it upside down and warm it with a heat gun or hair dryer.

  • Molly Anmar Molly Anmar on Dec 08, 2017

    How did things work out for you, Webracing?

  • Vivian Comeau Vivian Comeau on Dec 08, 2017

    Spray the inside with cooking spray, then freeze overnight. It should come right out. If there is a drain hole in the bottom use a pencile and push it a little.