Candle Burning Tips and Safety Guidelines


Some candle tips for pleasant burning of your candles ...



When lighting a candle for the first time, allow the candle to burn long enough to create a maximum melt pool where the wax has melted close to the edge. The first burn session melt pool size is important, especially with pillar candles as subsequent burns may only reach out as far as the initial melt pool causing the candle to tunnel. On larger diameter container candles, if you burn for four hours on the first session and it has not fully melted to the edge, do not be alarmed, it should catch up on subsequent burns. Container candles are a bit different in that the walls of the container heat up and assist in melting the wax. Smaller candles may only require a couple of hours to achieve a full melt pool.

Trim wicks to about a quarter of an inch between burns.

Wicks can occasionally become clogged with residue from burning. This will cause the candle to not burn properly. One way to solve this is to trim the wick or use a metal pick, such as a poultry lacer, running it up alongside the wick a few times, loosening any debris.

Occasionally, a "mushroom" can form at the tip of the wick. A fork can also be used to remove any "mushrooming" or carbon debris by quickly moving the fork in an upward direction over the wick so the tines catch the debris without putting out the candle. It's important to not allow wick trimmings to accumulate within the candle.




Mushroom on wick


For better indoor air quality, snuff your candles out rather than blowing them out, either by using a candle snuffer or you can also use a fork that you are no longer using as dinnerware. To use a fork, place the base of the wick between two tines until the candle goes out.

Another option for extinguishing your candle is to dip the wick. Even with using a candle snuffer, a wick can sometimes continue to smolder, which causes it to smoke. You can use a wick dipping tool to do this, or you can use a metal poultry lacer. It is simply a matter of using the tool to momentarily turn the wick downward into the melted wax and doing so will extinguish the wick with very little smoke.

Avoid placing candles in the way of drafts to prevent rapid and uneven burning. This also will prevent the wick from smoking.

Do not place candles on or under anything that puts out heat, such as an oven or hot lights.

When clipping wicks, always use wick clippers or sharp scissors to trim to one-quarter inch or so. Do not break off the wick with your fingers, as if too much breaks away, then your wick will be too short and your candle will not be able to burn properly.

If burning multiple pillar candles, be sure to place them a few inches apart from one another to keep them from melting one another, which can cause uneven burning or melt the sides of the candles.



Candle Safety


Safe practices when burning candles aren't an option ... they're a must!



It's important to use good judgment when burning candles and all necessary safety precautions should always be taken. Although some of the safety tips may be obvious, there could be some things you haven't thought of ... and you can never be too careful!

Here are just a few of the many precautions that should be taken whenever maintaining a lit candle.




Never leave a burning candle unattended for any reason.





Keep lit candles out of reach from children.

Keep lit candles out of reach from pets ... this includes areas where your pet may accidentally tip a candle over (either with tail, paw, toys, etc.)





Always keep lit candles at least a foot and a half away from any curtains, fabric, tie-backs, or any fabric that could catch fire.

Be careful not to place a lit candle near anything that is flammable or combustible. This includes placing a lit candle on a bookshelf or end-table where there may be a wooden shelf above the candle. Also be cautious of hanging baskets, dried floral decorations, etc.

If placing a candle on a tablecloth, make sure that it is on a fire-resistant plate and place the candle near the center of the table so there is no chance of a long, draping tablecloth being blown or tossed up into the candle. Use extreme caution with paper party tablecloths! Also, for this reason, avoid using candles at outdoor parties where a breeze may blow paper decorations or table covers into a candle.

Keep burning candles on a heat-resistant surface that is stable ... fold-out tables which can easily be kicked or knocked over are not safe options. If your surface is made of wood, place your candle on a glass, ceramic, or metal plate or candle holder.

Do not use cloth or paper doilies directly under a lit candle ... place the candle on a glass or ceramic plate, then you may place the plate on a doily.

When using tall candle holders for tapers, place in a secluded area where they will not be toppled over.

Select placement of your candles during gatherings carefully. Be especially aware of placement where guest activity is most abundant. Avoid placing candles in entry ways or near coat rooms where frequent drafts or heavy foot traffic are most likely. Also, avoid placing candles on low end-tables or in places where flowing garments of passers-by may come in contact with a burning candle.

Never walk with a burning candle, just in case you should trip or fall.

After extinguishing a candle, stay to make sure it is completely out and that the wick ember is no long glowing before leaving the room.

Do not use a candle to check for natural gas leaks or to look into a clothes closet for any reason.

Keep all ribbons, decorative toppers, and other fabrics away from a burning candle.

Never extinguish a candle with water, as it will cause the wax to splatter.

Although some candles are made with longer wick tabs, which self-extinguish when the candle has burned down near the bottom, it's a safe practice to consider the candle expired when there is about a half inch of wax left in the bottom. The reason for this is because some fragrance oils tend to sink a little throughout the life of the candle, so the amount of fragrance oil can accumulate toward the bottom of the container ... if the small amount of wax that's left gets too hot, this can become a hazard.



It's important to always use common sense when burning candles!






Source of safety symbols: https://candles.org/fire-safety-candles/read-the-label/



E-mail: Kathy@homefragrancecandles.com



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