Candle Burning, Storing & Maintaining Tips!

Candles and Humidity

Burning candles in your basement will help reduce moisture in the air and remove that musty odor. I find candles to be much more effective than a dehumidifier and much easier on the electric bill.

Keep your candle wick trimmed

One of the easiest things you can do is to keep the wick's of your candles trimmed to about a quater of an inch. Candle wick's that are larger will burn faster, and can give off smoke and soot. Using nail clippers is a great tool for keeping candle wick's short.

Avoid burning candles in a draft

Burning candles in a drafty area can cause uneven burning and excessive smoking. Not to mention that your candle will burn faster. If you notice the flame of the candle flickering in any direction other than straight up; there is a draft. Prevent drafts by keeping burning candles away from heating and cooling vents and open windows.

Refrigerate your candles

Candles that are cold will burn slower. Wrap your candle in plastic wrap or foil to prevent the wick from absorbing moisture. Put the candle in the fridge for about an hour. Take out of the fridge unwrap carefully and light. Be careful not to put your candles in the freezer because they will break.
 

Burn your candles long enough

Have you ever seen a three-week candle that looked like a mound of wax? Pillar candles should be burned for at least an hour for every inch in diameter. If you don't you'll end up burning a tunnel through your candle.

Extinguishing your candle flame

To put out a candle, a candle snuffer works best. If you don't have a candle snuffer, you can blow out the candle by placing your index finger in front of the flame and blowing gently. This causes the air to surround the flame and minimize hot wax from splattering. Careful not to burn your finger.

Safety first

Keep all lit candles out of the reach of children and pets. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and always burn candles in a well-ventilated room. Make sure the candle flame is away from walls, curtains and anything else that may catch fire.
 

Cleanup

If wax has spilled on the carpet the best way to remove it is with paper and an iron. Place a paper towel, or better yet a brown paper bag, over the spill. Place a heated iron on top of the paper. The heat will melt the wax and the paper will absorb the melted wax.

Burn candles in a safe place

Keep candles in places away from children and pets. Besides a fire hazard, small children and animals may accidentally disturb a candle, causing it to smoke and release soot.

Don't move burning candles

Do not shake or tip candles that are burning, because the candle can smoke and send soot into the air and settle on walls, carpets, and furniture.