Candle Safety

It's important to use good judgment when
burning candles and all necessary safety
precautions should always be taken.

PLEASE READ THIS PAGE
if you plan to burn candles!
Although some of the safety tips may
be obvious, there could be some things
you haven't thought of ...
and you cannot be too careful with fire.




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.


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!


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 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.


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.


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.





Other Candle Tips:


Trim candle wicks to 1/4" prior to each use.


Discontinue use of container, votive, and gel candles
when 1/2" of wax or gel remains.   For pillars and tapers,
discontinue use when candle reaches approx. 2"
from its holder.   During burning, some scented
oils can sink and accumulate, depending on the wax
and the scent.   In these cases, if a candle is
allowed to burn down too far, it can become too hot.


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


If a candle is smoking, flickers repeatedly, or
if the flame becomes greater than approx. 1",
your candle isn't burning correctly ... snuff out
the candle and trim the wick ... this should
correct the problem. Make sure the candle is
not in the path of a draft.


If burning multiple candles, 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.


When lighting a candle for the first time,
allow the candle to burn for about four
hours in order to create a maximum melt pool.
The size of the melt pool of a candle is determined
during its first burn session ... if you only
light the candle for an hour, it will not have
time to create a nice sized melt pool and your
candle will most likely "tunnel" during
subsequent burn sessions.
If you want your candles to "throw" their
scent nicely and melt the wax to the outer rim
(less wasted wax), just pay attention to the
amount of time given the first time you light them.


For better indoor air quality, snuff your
candles out rather than blowing them out.

Here's how you can snuff out a candle so
it doesn't smoke ... you can use an old fork
if you don't have a smokeless snuffer ...
place fork or snuffer at the base of the wick
and move it upward against the wick until
the flame is out.




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


Store your candles in a cool place.





For more information, you may visit ...

The National Candle Association -

Candle Safety

Candle Tips