Candle Care & Safety
It is important to take the necessary precautions while burning candles in your home. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests three basic safety rules to avoid issues.
- Never burn a candle unattended.
- Never burn a candle on or near anything that might catch fire.
- Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
Along with these simple safety measures, the National Candle Association discusses additional ways to safely burn your candle. Before lighting, always trim the wick to 1/4". If this step is not done, you run the risk of long, curled wicks that could cause uneven burning, dripping or flaring. Because these are highly-fragranced candles, build-up can occur on the top of the wick. This must be trimmed before each burn to avoid issues.
Keep the wax pool clear of trimmings and debris at all times. Use only candle holders or warmers specifically designed for candle use. These holders or warmers should be heat-resistant, sturdy, and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.
Burn your candle in a well-ventilated room. Avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, sooting, and excessive dripping. Do not burn your candle longer than four hours, making sure to cool for at least two hours before relighting. When lighting your candle, be sure to use long matches or a long-reach lighter. Keep hair and loose clothing away from flame.
While burning, never leave a candle unattended. Never burn your candle on or near anything that could catch fire such as; furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, plants, etc.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not place lighted candles where they can be knocked over by children, pets, or anyone else.
Never touch or move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is liquefied. Do not burn the candle all the way down. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 1/2" remains in the jar. Place burning candles at least 3" apart from one another. This is to make sure they do not melt one another, or create their own drafts that will cause candles to burn improperly.
Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or starts flickering. Allow the candle to cool, trim the wick and check for unwanted drafts before relighting.
Never use a candle as a night light, or while you are sleeping. Use caution if using candles during a power failure. Never use a candle during a power outage to look for things in a closet, or when fueling equipment-such as a lantern or kerosene heater.
When extinguishing a candle, use a candle snuffer to prevent hot wax from splattering. Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might break a glass container. Be sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room. Do not touch or move the candle until it has completely cooled. Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder. It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break upon subsequent use.
*HOMES Great Lakes, LLC is not responsible for misuse or failure to comply with the candle usage instructions listed above.
Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Candles.Org, National Candle Association