People love to blow out candles, right? Everyone has photos or videos from their childhood of a big attempt to put out birthday candles! However, there are tons of reasons not to blow them out.
After all, many of those birthday parties have mishaps related to blowing out the candles, including causing accidents, burns, and fires.
So how do you put out a candle without blowing it out?
Why You Don’t Want to Blow Out That Candle
There are always people who are surprised to hear that some people don’t like to blow out candles. They have to be educated about why it is an issue that anyone worries about. Consider the following reasons why:
- You are spreading germs on a birthday cake. Whether you are talking about COVID-19 or just the common cold, no one likes their cake served with a side of spittle. If you are determined to continue this tradition, consider having your child blow out one candle on a cupcake and spare the spew of germs on the rest of the cake.
- No matter what type of candle you blow out, there is a danger of injury either by getting too close to the candle’s flame or hot wax splattering. Neither sound like fun options! They can be downright dangerous.
- The smoke is too much for some people. People don’t want their home to smell of smoke. Plus, smoke does cause an overwhelming experience for some people.
- Smoke pollutes the air. People have a harmful reaction to inhaling the smoke at times. Do you happen to remember the season of the TV show Survivor when breathing the smoke from the tribe’s fire made one contestant pass out into the fire? He immediately left the game and had to give up his shot for the million-dollar prize. Smoke advances indoor air pollutants. Lighting a candle now and then is unlikely to provoke any allergies but putting out a candle without smoke will foster cleaner air.
- Your apartment may have a restriction on burning candles as a safety regulation because of the fire hazard. Don’t forget that the number-one reason not to have candles is because of the fire hazards that are produced.
Why Is There a Concern About Candle Safety?
On average, there are 25 candle-caused fires every day. That is approximately 900 fires every year. Unfortunately, these fires lead to property damage, injuries, and even death.
Never leave a candle unattended for any reason. Most of the time, candles are okay but you never know when a pet will knock over a candle or another accident might occur.
There are reports of some flames getting so close to the edge of glass candle containers that the glass shatters. You don’t want a freak accident to cost you your home.
It is vital to extinguish a candle properly for all of these above reasons.
Other Ways to Extinguish a Candle
So you probably are asking what your options are. Which option is the safest? This article has the answers to help you. And be certain that at least one of these options will surprise you!
1 – Use a Candle Snuffer
When you use a candle snuffer, there won’t be any smoke. Snuffers come in all different shapes and sizes. Some of you may remember growing up in a religious tradition that lit candles before service and then snuffed them out at the end with a rather large snuffer.
You can purchase a snuffer such as that but most come in sizes reminiscent of small gifts similar to letter openers or pens. They can be engraved and given as gifts as well.
Candle snuffers are not all the same either. There are just as many sizes and shapes as there are different tastes. Some look closer to tweezers than the standard bell-shaped snuffer. Silver or brass snuffers can be gorgeous and fancy.
One suggestion that some people make is to place them in a refrigerator or freezer to help speed the snuffing.
But snuffers work no matter what the temperature is. A lack of oxygen while the snuffer covers the flame is what puts out the flame.
You will want to remind your children that snuffers are not toys and this act of snuffing flames is not a party trick to be repeated again and again. Proper respect for fire is necessary for children.
2 – Use a Candle Wick Dipper
A candle wick dipper will allow you to put out a candle without producing any smoke. You take the dipper, bend back the wick into the hot wax, and it will extinguish the flame without producing any smoke.
What a fantastic idea! A candle wick dipper is a great idea and one you will be glad you tried.
Pick from a wide variety of candle dippers or use household items such as a screwdriver, pair of tweezers, pencil, or pair of scissors to accomplish the same result. So this method means that you don’t have to buy a snuffer to achieve results that work better than blowing out the candle.
By the way, it is also a good idea to immediately remove the wick back out of the hot wax before it cools as well. If you also straighten the wick, it will provide a neater look to the candle as it burns.
Another added benefit to dipping the candle in wax is that the extra dip into the wax will coat the wick and let it last longer. Then you are ready to light your candle the next time.
Many people also trim the end of the wick at this point. Trimming allows the wick to appear more beautiful in between uses. To round out your look, carefully pick up any of the wick that has fallen or other debris that falls into the wax before it hardens.
For many, the beauty of candles approaches the aroma of the burning candle.
3 – Put the Flame Out with Your Fingers
Okay, this is a serious option but one that has to be taken with care. This step is a little more personal because you have to moisten your fingers. So dip your fingers in water or run them over your tongue enough to moisten them.
Most people use their thumb and forefinger but any two fingers will work just fine. Wet your fingers just enough to extinguish the flame from the candle with a light touch.
- Wet fingers protect your skin from the heat of the flame if it is done correctly.
- If there’s a source of water nearby (a sink or glass of water), then you won’t need to make another trip to a water source or lick your fingers.
How does it work? When you make a pinching motion quickly (pinch and release), the moisture should cause the flame to extinguish as you make contact. Release quickly just in case to avoid a burn.
- You may feel a momentary warm sensation. Once you put the flame out, however, the heat will lessen.
- The sizzling sound you hear is a result of the moisture on your fingertips evaporating. There is nothing to worry about with this sound.
Don’t try it more than once if the flame does not go out the first time. Safety is your primary concern.
Consider the following extra precautionary steps that you can take.
- Practice on an unlit candle to get the motion down.
- If you can’t get the hang of putting out the candle that way, find another option!
- Don’t make this your primary way to extinguish fires.
Honorable Mention: Use a Mixture of Baking Soda and Vinegar
If you have ever combined these two items into a powerful cleaning solution, you know that there is a bubbly reaction between the chemical combination of vinegar and baking soda. The carbon dioxide from the mixing of these two items will snuff out a candle.
That sounds like a neat party trick. It also might be your child’s science project for the school year!
Other Alternatives
Most peopleuse candles for the beautiful smell that results from a burning candle or they love the beauty of the flame. Try these alternative options for a beautiful scent or the light similar to that of a flame.
- Soy-based and beeswax candles are healthier options because they promote cleaner air.
- Battery-operated candles bring festive lights similar to the warm glow of a candle.
- If you have the candle primarily for its scent, you might be surprised that an air purifier will help a lot. The clean scent will be better than the fragrance of your wax candle.
- Oil mists are available in many scents and promote fresh-smelling air in your home.
- Boiling fruit, potpourri, and spices in a pot of water is a great way to bring a lovely scent to your home. Try citrus scents such as lemon and orange slices. A potpourri is also an excellent option for the same approach of using hot water. Some people enjoy adding fresh spices such as cinnamon sticks, mint, or parsley.
I have two Associate’s degrees, one in Medical Assisting and the other in Computer Technician, and I am roughly five classes from a bachelor’s degree. Though I never ended up working in the medical field, I have five and a half years of experience in IT. I recently became a stay-at-home mom to my two young boys, and I’m so excited to start this adventure with them! In my spare time, I love to bake and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.