Please take a moment to read the following safety & burning tips. Some of these tips are not common knowledge and can help prevent disasters. 

General Safety for any candle

  • Never leave a burning candle unattended! 

  • Keep burning candles away from children and pets. 

  • Do not place near flammable objects such as curtains, walls, etc. 

  • Place on a protected, heat resistant, level surface.

  • Keep candle free of wick trimmings, matches, or other foreign matter that could be a fire hazard.

  • Avoid burning in drafts. 

  • Avoid walking with lit candles.

  • Keep wick trimmed to 1/4 inch at all times to avoid carbon build up on the wick (mushrooming), dark smoking, and soot in the air and on walls or furniture.

  • Allow candle to cool before trimming wick or relighting

 

 Candle & Wax Clean Up Tips 

  • Take precautions to prevent melted wax from getting on clothes, furniture and kitchen counters.  Cover your work surface with old newspapers and wear an apron, and have plenty of paper towel nearby.

  • Candle wax can be removed from garments and furniture.  All wax spills are best removed after the wax has hardened.  Wax spilled on wool, for example, can be refrigerated, then brushed out when the wax is cold and brittle.

  • Many liquid household cleaners will dissolve wax.  Read directions before using.

  • Chill, then scrape off pieces of wax left on pots, pans and tools.  Then submerge in boiling water and follow with regular dish-washing.

  • Clean your moulds every three or four times of use.

  • To remove wax from carpet, set your iron on low heat and get an old towel.  Place the towel on the spilled wax and press down with the iron.  The towel will absorb the wax.  Keep repeating this using different spots on the towel until all the wax substance is out of the carpet.  If a little wax remains and the iron method has gotten all it can, let remaining wax harden and brush carpet and vacuum.  Then try using a liquid carpet cleaner to remove any colouring that may have remained.

     

Container/Jar Candles

  • To avoid glass containers shattering: Do not burn a candle in a container that is chipped or cracked.  Do not allow candle to burn completely down to the bottom of container, stop about 1/2 inch short.  Do not allow flame to touch sides of container.

  • Containers may become very hot, handle with care!

  • Allow candle to cool before replacing lid on jar.

  • Container candles & votive containers should be set in a wire holder or on a trivet to protect surfaces from heat.  Hot candle jars can damage furniture. 

  • All candles, especially highly scented ones, will produce some smoke and soot, but proper burning (keeping wick trimmed and avoiding drafts, etc.) will help eliminate this problem.

Helpful Tips

  • 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 & 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 canter, use a butter knife to gently push it back to centre.  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.  

    This page by THE CANDLE CAULDRON TM Copyright © 2000.

 

 
Make a Free Website with Yola.