Caring for Your Simon Pearce Glass Hurricane Candle Holders
BY Shopify API
The decision to bring a hand-blown glass hurricane candle holder into your home is one worth protecting. Simon Pearce hurricane holders — shaped one at a time by skilled glassblowers in Vermont — carry the kind of character that only comes from human hands working with molten glass. That character deserves thoughtful care.
This guide walks through everything you need to know: how to clean, store, handle, and maintain your hurricane holders so they remain as luminous and functional as the day they arrived.
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Why Proper Care Matters for Hand-Blown Glass
Hand-blown glass behaves differently than machine-made alternatives. Each piece carries slight variations in wall thickness, surface texture, and form — the natural result of being shaped one at a time by a glassblower rather than poured into a mold. These variations are part of what makes each piece authentic and visually alive. They are also what makes informed care essential.
The Ascutney Crackle Hurricane, for example, features an intentional crackle texture worked into the glass surface during the glassblowing process. That texture creates depth and dimension when candlelight passes through it — but it also means that cleaning requires a more considered approach than a smooth-sided vessel would.
Neglect the care routine, and even the most timeless piece will lose its clarity over time. Wax residue clouds the interior. Hard water deposits dull the surface. Improper storage leads to chips along the rim. Each of these outcomes is preventable.
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Cleaning Your Hurricane Candle Holder
Removing Wax Residue
Wax buildup inside a hurricane holder is the most common maintenance challenge, and the solution is straightforward. Place the hurricane in the freezer for 30 to 60 minutes. As the glass cools, the wax contracts and pulls away from the interior walls. Once removed from the freezer, the wax can typically be lifted out in large pieces with a soft, flexible spatula or by gently flexing the glass.
Avoid using metal tools or sharp objects to scrape wax. The interior surface of hand-blown glass can scratch, and scratches catch light in ways that diminish the piece's clarity.
After the bulk of the wax is removed, wipe the interior with a soft cloth dampened with a small amount of rubbing alcohol or white vinegar. Both dissolve wax residue without leaving behind a film.
Washing the Glass
Simon Pearce glass hurricane holders should be washed by hand. While some machine-made glassware is dishwasher-safe, the thermal shock and abrasive detergents used in dishwasher cycles can stress hand-blown glass over time, dulling its surface and weakening areas of natural variation in wall thickness.
Use warm — not hot — water and a small amount of mild dish soap. A soft bottle brush works well for reaching the interior of taller hurricane forms. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap, which can leave a film that clouds the glass when dry.
Dry with a lint-free cloth rather than air-drying. Water left to evaporate on glass deposits minerals that accumulate into a hazy film over time, particularly in areas with hard tap water.
Addressing Hard Water Deposits
A mixture of equal parts white vinegar and warm water, applied with a soft cloth and left to sit for five to ten minutes, dissolves most hard water deposits. For more stubborn buildup, a paste made from baking soda and water can be applied gently with a soft cloth — but rinse thoroughly, as baking soda residue is itself a mineral deposit.
Never use abrasive scrubbing pads, steel wool, or commercial bathroom cleaners on Simon Pearce glass. These products are designed for surfaces far harder than glass and will permanently scratch the surface.
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Handling and Use
Candle Selection
The type of candle placed inside a hurricane holder directly affects how the piece ages. Taper candles and pillar candles made from natural wax — beeswax or soy — burn cleaner than paraffin alternatives and produce less soot. Soot deposits on the interior of a hurricane can be difficult to remove and, over time, create a permanent discoloration.
Candles should fit the interior of the hurricane with enough clearance that the flame does not come into direct contact with the glass walls. A flame pressed against the glass creates localized heat stress, which can, over repeated use, contribute to cracking.
Temperature and Thermal Shock
Hand-blown glass is sensitive to rapid temperature changes. Moving a hurricane holder from a cold environment — a garage, a storage room, an outdoor table in winter — directly into a warm interior and immediately lighting a candle inside it creates thermal stress. Allow the piece to acclimate to room temperature before use.
The same principle applies to washing. Never pour boiling water into a cold hurricane or run cold water over a piece that has just had a candle burning inside it. The temperature differential can cause the glass to crack.
Outdoor Use
Simon Pearce hurricane holders are designed to be functional as well as beautiful, and many owners use them outdoors for entertaining. Outdoor use introduces additional considerations. Wind can cause a candle flame to burn hotter and more erratically, increasing soot production and heat stress on the glass. A candle trimmed to a quarter-inch wick burns more steadily and produces less soot in windy conditions.
Outdoor surfaces — stone, wood, wrought iron — can be uneven. Always ensure the hurricane sits on a stable, level surface. A piece that tips and falls is unlikely to survive the contact.
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Storage
Protecting the Rim
The rim of a hand-blown glass hurricane is its most vulnerable point. Chips along the rim most often occur during storage, when pieces are stacked or placed too close together. Store hurricane holders upright, never inverted, and with enough space between pieces that they cannot make contact if jostled.
Soft cloth bags or individual boxes — the original packaging Simon Pearce ships in — offer the best protection. If original packaging is no longer available, wrapping the rim in a layer of soft cloth before storing provides meaningful protection.
Seasonal Storage
Owners who use hurricane holders seasonally should store them in a stable environment — away from extremes of heat or cold, and away from humidity. Prolonged exposure to humidity does not damage the glass itself, but it can affect any metal candle cups or accessories used alongside the piece.
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Maintaining Clarity Over Time
Hand-blown glass has a quality of light transmission that machine-made glass rarely matches. The slight variations in thickness that come from being shaped one at a time create a depth and movement in the glass that catches candlelight in ways that feel alive rather than flat. Maintaining that clarity requires consistency.
A monthly cleaning routine — even for pieces used infrequently — prevents the gradual accumulation of dust, wax film, and mineral deposits that, left unaddressed, become increasingly difficult to remove. A clean piece is also far easier to inspect for any chips or surface changes that warrant attention.
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When to Seek Repair or Replacement
Minor chips along the base of a hurricane holder can sometimes be carefully smoothed by a professional glass finisher, reducing the risk of further breakage. Chips along the rim, however, present a safety concern when the piece is in use with a candle, and a piece with rim damage should be retired from active use.
Cracks — even hairline cracks — indicate structural compromise. A cracked hurricane holder should not be used with a candle inside it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my Simon Pearce glass hurricane candle holder? After every use is ideal — removing wax residue and wiping the interior prevents buildup from hardening. A thorough wash with warm water and mild soap should follow every three to four uses, or any time the interior shows visible soot or film.
Can I use a Simon Pearce hurricane holder outdoors year-round? Simon Pearce hurricane holders are functional pieces designed for real use, including outdoor entertaining. However, extended exposure to freezing temperatures followed by rapid warming creates thermal stress over time. Bringing pieces indoors during winter months extends their life significantly.
Is Simon Pearce glass dishwasher-safe? Simon Pearce recommends hand-washing all glass pieces. Dishwasher cycles expose glass to thermal stress and abrasive detergents that can dull the surface of hand-blown glass over time. Hand-washing with warm water and mild soap preserves the clarity and character of each piece.
What type of candle works best inside a glass hurricane holder? Pillar or taper candles made from beeswax or soy wax are the best choice. They burn cleaner than paraffin, produce less soot, and create less interior discoloration over time. Trim the wick to a quarter inch before each use for the steadiest, cleanest flame.
How does caring for Simon Pearce glass compare to caring for other glass brands? Simon Pearce glass requires the same attentive hand-care that any quality hand-blown glass deserves — but the reason that care is worth giving is specific to Simon Pearce. Each hurricane holder is made in America, shaped one at a time by a glassblower whose hands are present in every curve and variation of the piece. That is not something that can be replicated by a machine or replaced with a generic substitute. The care you give a Simon Pearce piece is care given to something genuinely irreplaceable.
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A well-maintained Simon Pearce hurricane holder will hold its clarity, character, and presence for decades. The hand-blown glass that catches candlelight so distinctively on your table tonight is the same glass that will do so for years to come — provided it receives the considered care it was made to last through. That is the quiet promise of something made one at a time, by hand, in America: it is built to endure, and it rewards the attention you give it.
