Fire Safety

Candle Care & Safety.

Candle safety is no joke, in fact, it’s so important to us that we will revisit this topic several times on our blog to discuss ways to improve stay safe.  Today, we want to address some general usage and best practices you should keep in mind before you light your next candle. 

Trim the Wick. To get maximum burn time from any candle the first burn is the most important and should only start after the wick has been trimmed.  For our GYV Light Collection, we recommend trimming the wick as short as possible.  After 2 to 3 hours of burn time, the candle will become an even pool of melted wax.  Too long of a wick, especially over time, will create smoke and a black ring of soot around the container.  If you don’t have wick trimmers we suggest visiting www.Amazon.com to find the right pair for you.

Location.  Keep your candle on an even, heat resistant surface.  I always use my barro holders but whatever you use to keep it in a safe place away from children and pets.  You should also avoid putting a candle near a draft, the air turbulence will make the candle smoke. 

Don’t Move Hot Wax.  It seems a little obvious, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that beautiful glow is HOT.  Moving the candle when the flame is on or there is melted wax is extremely dangerous and could make a mess, or worse, burn your skin.  If you want to move the candle blow out the flame and let the candle cool.  Better safe than covered in wax.      

Watch Your Candle.  This last one should go without saying but according to the National Candle Association, “[n]early 10,000 residential fires are caused each year by the careless or inappropriate use of candles.” More than half of these fires were due to combustible material left too close to the candle.  Please watch your candles and keep it away from flammable and/or combustible material.

For more information on candle care and safety, you can visit the National Candle Association at www.candles.org

Below is a summary of the National Candle Association

www.candles.org

Always keep a burning candle within sight.  Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or before going to sleep.  Be sure the wick ember is no longer glowing

• 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 burning candles out of the reach of children and pets.
• Trim candlewicks to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning and drip. 
• Be sure the candleholder is placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface. This can help prevent heat damage to underlying surfaces and prevent glass containers from breaking.
• Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.
• Always read and follow the manufacturer's use and safety instructions carefully. Don't burn a candle longer than the manufacturer recommends.
• Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, ceiling fans and air currents. This will help prevent rapid, uneven burning, and avoid flame flare-ups and sooting.  Drafts can also blow nearby lightweight items into the flame where they could catch fire. 
• Always burn candles in a well-ventilated room. Don't burn too many candles in a small room or in a "tight" home where air exchange is limited.
• Don't burn a candle all the way down. Extinguish the flame if it comes too close to the holder or container.  For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 2 inches of wax remains or ½ inch if in a container. 
• Never touch or move a burning candle or container candle when the wax is liquid.
• Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder. It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break upon subsequent use. 
• Place burning candles at least three inches apart from one another. This helps ensure they don't melt one another, or create their own drafts to cause improper burning.
• Use a snuffer to extinguish a candle. It's the safest way to prevent hot wax splatters.
• Never extinguish candles with water. The water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might cause a glass container to break. 
• Be very careful if using candles during a power outage. Flashlights and other battery-powered lights are safer sources of light during a power failure. 
• Extinguish a candle if it repeatedly smokes, flickers or the flame becomes too high. The candle isn't burning properly. Cool, trim the wick, then check for drafts before relighting.
• Never use a candle as a night light.