Why buy empty jars from the store when you can reuse the ones you currently have?! We often have jars leftover from all kinds of foods (pickles, jam, salsa, hot peppers, and more). Instead of placing these in the recycling bin, give them new life and reuse them in your home!

Maybe I hoard empty pickle jars and wicker baskets… doesn’t everyone have an item they love to collect?

How to Clean and Remove Labels from Jars

Begin by collecting jars from food, candles, and more. Each time you have an empty jar that had food in it, give it a quick clean so nothing gets moldy.

Fill up the sink with hot soapy water and add all the jars inside. Let them sit for 10 minutes. After this time, most of the paper labels will peel right off and the glue will loosen on the sticker labels.

If the label is still stuck on remove it by scrubbing with baking soda or applying Lemon essential oil (Young Living or Plant Therapy). This will help to remove any left on stickers or glue. The gooey parts will come right off!

If you have a candle jar with a layer of wax at the bottom, then pour boiling water inside the jar (leaving a small gap at the top). The wax will begin to bubble, melt, and float to the top. Leave the candle for a few hours and the wax will re-solidify at the top. Then it can be easily removed. The wick can be scraped with a knife to remove from the bottom.

Scrub the jars on the inside and outside with warm soapy water, and give them a good rinse. Make sure jars are completely dry before putting lids back on to avoid mold.

Reuse your jars to hold spices, makeup brushes, office supplies, and more! Jar lids can also be painted with a non-toxic paint or chalkboard paint.

Happy Jar Cleaning 🙂

What kind of storage do you use jars for?