Candle Safety

How to burn a candle safely

Before lighting

  • Before burning, always trim the wick to ¼ inch. You can use a wick trimmer. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping or flaring.
  • Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all  times. 

    Burn candles in a well-ventilated room

    • Avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, sooting, and excessive dripping.
    • It is recommended that candles do not burn for longer than four hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.
    • When lighting a candle, use long matches or a long-reach lighter. Keep your hair and loose clothing away from the flame. 

      While burning

      • Never leave a candle unattended.
      • 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.
      • Never touch or move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is liquefied.
      • Don’t burn a candle all the way down. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 1/2 inch remains in the container.
      • Place burning candles at least three inches apart from
        one another        . This is to make sure they don’t melt one another,
        or create their own drafts that will cause the candles to burn improperly.
      • Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for
        unwanted drafts before re-lighting.
      • Never use a candle as a night light or while you may fall asleep.

      When extinguishing a candle

      • Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause the hot
        wax to splatter and might break a glass container.
      • Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
      • Don’t touch or move the candle until it has completely cooled.