Declutter Candles {15 Minute Mission}

Today's decluttering mission is to declutter candles.


If you don't have many candles in your home you might find this mission a bit odd, but trust me there are many candle collectors around, especially since candles are often used for decoration in a room.

One reader, Crystal, showed her mother's candle shelves, where the candles in her collection were treated more as a collectible than a usable item, and were never burned.



There is nothing wrong with collecting candles like this, if it brings you joy, you have room for them, and display them proudly.

But if you're at the point where you feel like these decorative candles are just taking up space and collecting dust, consider letting them go.

Similarly, you may have a lot of candles, but you actually use them. You enjoy the scents for example, or use them to relax. That's exactly what a reader, Samantha, does. She has an entire cabinet she's devoted to storing candles, which you can see below.



Again, there is nothing wrong with having these types of candles, if you actually use them and enjoy them, and have room to store them.

What your mission is, today, is to seriously think about whether these criteria are actually met though. Be honest with yourself when you think about it, so you can decide which ones to get rid of and which ones to keep.

What About For Emergencies?

Many people who've taken on this mission mention that they keep candles in case the power goes out.

You can definitely do this if you want, but it is actually not something I personally recommend.

The reason is the fire hazard that is involved with candles is pretty great, and so you'll notice that in my emergency preparedness list I instead recommend flashlights, with extra batteries, or flashlights that have a crank to generate their own power supply so batteries aren't needed.



If you'd like to keep some for emergencies and when the power goes out, that's no problem. But whether you use candles for decoration, relaxation, or as a source or warmth and heat, just make sure you follow safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire.

Don't Forget About Holiday Candles

When doing this mission don't forget about candles you've got specifically for certain holidays.

Just like with other candles you've got to consider whether you'll use these in some form or fashion, or should just get rid of them.

We also focus on candles, specifically birthday candles, when we do the declutter party supplies mission here.

Special Considerations For Storing Candles

Also, remember that candles are, of course, made of wax.

That means you've got to keep that in mind when deciding how you'll store candles when they're not in use.

They must be packed carefully so they don't get smashed or broken, and cannot be stored in extreme temperatures, especially heat, otherwise they will melt.

Below I've discussed some ideas for what to do with these candles you may decide to declutter.


Top photo courtesy of OakleyOriginals

Photo From Reader Who Has Done This Mission

Seeing what other readers have accomplished can help you get inspired, so I wanted to make sure you saw this photo sent in by Misa, who did this mission.

She said, "Candles. They were out of control! We got rid of about 2/3 in this picture. Some went to be firestarters and some went to a friend who loves scented candles."

I like the idea of repurposing some of the wax from these candles if you can, like Misa did. There are more ideas for repurposing below!

Idea For Repurposing Old Candle Jars

Once you've decided to declutter some of your candles you might be struggling with what to do with them.

Some of them which are broken or already used may need to just go in the trash.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments giving your ideas for what you can do with these old candles, be it repurposing, recycling, donating and/or selling some of them.

One idea submitted by a reader, Brandi, was to repurpose old candle jars for new storage and organizing purposes around your home.

Brandi, who provided the photo above, said: "I repurpose Yankee candle jars. I haven't had time to decorate them yet but since you spend so much money on the candle I felt bad throwing the jars away.

They can be used for loose change, bolts and screws, or in my case, sugar and flour jars. Sugar on left, flour on right.

Plus I think they are more appealing looking and easier to handle than the bags."

Brandi then went on to explain how she cleans them up to get them ready for their second use. She said, "I put the candles in the freezer overnight. Next day I use a fork or knife and the wax pops right out. Then I give them a good hand wash.

No left over scents, just a nice clean glass jar and lid. The hand wash usually helps with the label. If the label is being stubborn, some Goof Off always does the trick."

Once you've done this mission I'd love to see your results. You can submit your before and after photos onto the site here, and I'll add your decluttering results to the page!

Are You Ready To Declutter Your Home?

I hope seeing these pictures has inspired you to declutter your candles.

When you begin to declutter the feeling you get is contagious, so if you're loving the results you're getting I would encourage you to keep going.

I've got a whole series of 15 minute decluttering missions (eventually 365 of them!) that you can do.

Just pick and choose the ones you want to do, that will make a big impact in your home. But if you want someone else to tell you the order you can also grab the 15 minute daily decluttering mission calendars and follow along as we all get our homes clutter free together!

In addition, make sure to take the Organize Dining Room Challenge to get your whole dining room organized and decluttered!

Related Pages You May Enjoy

Getting Clutter Free 15 Minutes At A Time Hall Of Fame

How To Declutter China Cabinet

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