Candle Safety
Candles are safe products, but may become hazardous when
used improperly
or in an unsafe manner. National fire safety agencies report that the bulk
of candle fire incidents in the United States are due to consumer
inattention to basic fire safety or to the misuse of candles.
It is recommended that you follow the following safety tips when burning
candles:
Always keep a burning candle within sight.
Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or before going to sleep.
Never burn a candle on or near anything
that can catch fire.
Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets,
books, paper, flammable decorations, 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.
Read and carefully follow all manufacturer
instructions.
Trim candlewicks to 1/4" each time before
burning. Long or crooked wicks cause uneven burning and dripping.
Always use a candleholder specifically
designed for candle use. The holder should be heat resistant, sturdy
and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax. Be sure the
candleholder is placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
Keep burning candles away from drafts,
vents and air currents. This will help prevent rapid, uneven
burning, smoking and excessive dripping. Drafts can also blow
lightweight curtains or papers into the flame where they could catch fire.
Ceiling fans can also cause drafts.
Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings,
matches and debris at all times
Do not burn a candle for longer than the
manufacturer recommends.
Always burn candles in a well-ventilated
room.
Extinguish the flame if it comes too
close to the holder or container.
For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches
of wax remains (1/2inch if in a container).
This will also help prevent possible heat damage to the counter/surface
and prevent glass containers from cracking or breaking.
Never touch or move a votive or container
candle when the wax is liquid.
Extinguish pillar candles if the wax pool
approaches the outer edge.
Always use a candleholder specifically
designed for candle use.
The holder should be heat resistant, sturdy and large enough
to contain any drips or melted wax.
Be sure the candleholder is placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
Candles should be placed at least three
inches apart from one another.
This is to be sure they don’t melt one another,
or create their own drafts that will cause the candles to burn improperly.
One of the safest ways to extinguish a
candle is to use a candle snuffer or wick dipper,
which helps prevent hot wax from spattering.
Do NOT extinguish candles with water.
The water can cause the hot wax to spatter and can cause glass containers
to break.
Flashlights and other battery-powered
lights are much safer light sources than candles during a power failure.
Never use a candle as light when you go
into a closet to look for things.
Never use a candle for light when fueling
equipment such as a lantern or kerosene heater.
(courtesy of The National Candle
Association)
Helpful Tips for Candle Burners
-
Burn candles 1 hour for each inch of it's diameter. This allows the flame time to melt the wax to the outer edge. Burning less time will cause the candle to core burn down the middle and shorten burn time.
Example: a 3" wide candle should be burned for 3 hours at a time. -
Use toenail clippers to trim wicks in jars in which scissors won't fit.
-
Candles will fade if left in direct sunlight or spotlights for extended periods of time.
-
Before a party, light and extinguish candles. They will light more quickly and easily later.
-
Candles (generally tapers or pillars) refrigerated before using will burn more slowly and evenly. Wrap in foil or plastic before refrigeration to prevent wicks from absorbing moisture.
-
To extinguish a candle, use a candle snuffer, or hold fingers in front of the flame and blow. This will prevent hot wax from splattering on furniture.
Problem Solving
-
If a wick becomes too short to light, carve away enough wax
to expose the fresh wick, then trim 1/4 inch off the top of the candle
and burn the candle to reform it's appearance. -
Crooked burning: If wick moves off center, use a butter knife to gently push it back to center. If there is a draft, rotating the candle can help.
-
If soot builds up inside container, clean with a paper towel & lighter fluid or Windex. Wipe over the cleaned area with water dampened paper towel afterward. Allow the container to dry thoroughly before relighting. Baby wipes work as well!
-
Clean soiled or scratched candles with old nylons
or use a touch of salad oil on a soft cloth. -
Remove wax from holders by running very hot water over them.
-
To remove wax from washable fabrics, scrape off excess way and run boiling water through material.
