{"id":3329,"date":"2021-04-25T20:55:58","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T03:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/?p=3329"},"modified":"2021-04-25T20:56:02","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T03:56:02","slug":"candle-fire-safety-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/housefragrance.com\/candle-fire-safety-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"23 Candle Fire Safety Rules You Must Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lighting a candle in your home can be a great way to make your home smell nice and add a little bit of ambiance to your room. Candles are very pleasant and enjoyable, but there are a few fire safety rules that you must know to stay safe and avoid any unnecessary risks while burning a candle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is a list of 23 of the most critical candle fire safety rules that you must know and follow when burning a candle to keep yourself, your home, and others safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Candle
Candle Safety Sticker. Labeling for wax candles. European candle safety standards. Fire-safety label<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1. Never Leave a Burning Candle Unattended<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you could only know one candle fire safety rule, it would be this one: never leave a burning candle unattended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When burning a candle, there are innumerable things that could go wrong and lead to catastrophe. The chances of an accident happening are very slim if you take the necessary safety precautions, but being present and attentive when you\u2019re burning a candle is essential. In the case of an emergency or problem with your candle, you\u2019ll be nearby and able to act quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Don\u2019t Burn a Candle Near Anything That May Catch Fire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may seem surface level, but ensuring your candle is not near any flammable materials or things is essential before lighting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take special care to look for things directly near your candle that could catch fire<\/a>, such as a vase of low-hanging flowers or a stack of papers nearby. You should also consider things that could move into the danger zone of your candle, such as light drapes being blow by the wind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the National Fire Protection Association<\/a>, an average of 21 candle-related house fires are reported every day. It only takes a few extra seconds to assess the area around your candle and move things that could potentially catch fire, and the consequences of not doing this simple check could be catastrophic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Trim Your Candle\u2019s Wick Before Burning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Trimming your candle\u2019s wick is essential for the longevity of your candle, but it can also help prevent your flame from flaring up or producing excessive soot. According to the National Candle Association<\/a>, you should trim your candle wick to about \u00bc inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to trimming your candle\u2019s wick before every use, you can also trim it every few hours while burning your candle to increase your candle\u2019s expected burn time by up to 25%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Use a Sturdy Candle Holder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No matter what type of candle you have, you must ensure that your candle is sturdy and not able to fall over or move before lighting it. Some candles are inherently extremely sturdy, but other types need a candle holder to stay upright. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tea lights, votive candles, pillar candles, and other types of large-based candles often don\u2019t need a holder. However, cartridge candles, taper candles, and other tall candles often require a solid base or candle holder. When choosing a candle holder, make sure it has a relatively broad base for stability and is extremely sturdy so that your candle doesn\u2019t unexpectedly fall over and cause a fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Don\u2019t Burn a Candle All the Way Down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it may seem like you\u2019re \u201cwasting\u201d a part of your candle by not burning it to the bottom, it can be a serious fire safety issue if you burn your candle all the way down. You should stop burning freestanding candles when there are 2 inches of wax left and contained candles when there is \u00bd inch of wax left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may seem like you\u2019re being wasteful or not getting your money\u2019s worth, but letting a candle burn down can be a severe safety issue, so it\u2019s best to take the safe option and don\u2019t burn a candle until there is no wax left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Use a Candle Snuffer to Extinguish a Candle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many methods for putting out a candle, but most of them are actually quite dangerous and could cause serious problems if done incorrectly. One way that is super effective, safe, and simple is to use a candle snuffer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candle snuffers come in many shapes and sizes, but generally, they are constructed of metal and look like a small upside-down cone with a handle. To extinguish a candle using a candle snuffer, simply hold the end of the handle and place the cone over the flame for a few seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Keep Multiple Burning Candles Away From Each Other<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Candles are rather complex systems that require a bunch of elements to work together and in harmony to burn and melt properly. If you\u2019re burning more than one candle, make sure you keep them at least three inches apart from one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you burn candles too close to each other, they can interact and mess up the delicate balance required for a candle to burn correctly and safely. Candles that are too close may melt each other or create small air drafts that can cause them to burn unevenly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many things could go wrong if you burn candles too close to each other, so for your safety and your candle\u2019s well being it\u2019s just best to make sure they\u2019re 3 inches apart at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Don\u2019t Use a Candle As a Night Light<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Harkening back to Tip #1 in this article, \u201cNever Leave a Burning Candle Unattended,\u201d you should never go to bed while a candle is still lit or use a candle as a night light. It\u2019s just a really unsafe and bad idea that could cause a fire without you even realizing it until it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Falling asleep was a factor in 10% of candle-related house fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association<\/a>. Even using a candle as a night light when you\u2019re going to the bathroom during the night can be dangerous because you could trip or set it down and forget about it. It\u2019s best to avoid lighting candles anywhere near your bedtime because you\u2019re sleepy, not paying as much attention, and could forget about your lit candle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Don\u2019t Touch a Candle After Extinguishing It Until It Has Cooled<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With temperatures reaching up to 2552\u00b0 F (1400\u00b0 C)<\/a> in some parts of a candle flame, it is pretty apparent that you don\u2019t want to touch your candle while it\u2019s burning or for a little while after you\u2019ve extinguished it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on various factors, it can take several minutes for a candle to return to room temperature or a toleratable temperature that you can touch after you have extinguished the flame. The longer you wait before touching a newly extinguished candle, the better. Before even attempting to touch or move a candle, make sure to wait at least 15 minutes for it to cool completely down, so you don\u2019t burn yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Place Your Burning Candle on a Stable and Heat-Resistant Surface<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to making sure your candle won\u2019t catch any drapes or nearby items on fire, it is equally essential to ensure it won\u2019t set fire to the surface that it\u2019s sitting on. Before lighting a candle, make sure it is on a stable and heat-resistant surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure, if you\u2019re placing a candle on a bench or table, that all the legs are stable and won\u2019t wobble. It\u2019s also preferable if the surface you place your candle on is metal, rock, or some other non-flammable material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Keep Your Candle\u2019s Wax Pool Clear of Debris<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another potential fire safety hazard is if your candle\u2019s wax pool gets debris or pieces of wick stuck in it and you don\u2019t remove them. It is important to remove all debris from your candle\u2019s wax pool because the pieces of debris can catch fire and get out of control or make your candle burn unevenly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use a pair of tweezers, a popsicle stick, or the end of an old spoon to fish out any debris from your candle\u2019s wax pool. Some people try to do this while the candle is still burning, but personally, I prefer to extinguish the candle and remove the debris after the candle has cooled but before the wax has hardened all the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. Never Remove Old Wax From a Candle Holder with a Sharp Object<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Old, hardened wax on a candle holder can be super annoying and unpleasant to look at, but you should never try to remove it using a knife or other sharp object. There are many viable and safe options for removing old wax from a candle holder, but make sure to use something that does not have a sharp edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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