Candles have been used since time immemorial for illuminating dark environments. In the olden days, candles were lit around the room to keep the place warm and to provide light during the darkness.
However, with the passage of time, more sophisticated methods of illumination were introduced, ranging from lanterns to gas lamps.
The ordinary candle is usually made of wax, and is either kept in a glass jar, or a container made of clay. The pillar candle, which is the most stripped down version, is usually made of wax, and can be placed on any surface and lit up.
The pillar candle doesn’t come in a container, so the melted wax usually falls to the bottom.
That is one of the main reasons why it’s recommended that you place a pillar candle on a tray or any covered surface that won’t sustain damage. Burning a candle is quite easy. You just need to light the wick, and let it burn.
However, you should know that it’s not as simple as that. There are some other things that you should keep in mind when it comes to burning a candle. If you want to prolong the life of your candle and make sure that it lasts to the fullest extent.
A common mistake that many people make when it comes to burning a candle is that they leave it burning for way too long. Before you open the packet, you should take a look at the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
The manufacturer usually specifies the length of the candle that you should burn, and when you should stop and chuck it in the bin.
What Happens If You Don’t Stop?
Burning a candle for too long is a dangerous thing to do. It can lead to a fire hazard as well, especially if you kept the candle on a wooden surface or tray. It’s going to cause carbon to collect on the wick of the candle, which will ultimately cause the candle to mushroom.
Then, the wick will become unstable as it continues to burn, and eventually produce a flame that is difficult to control. These dangerously large flames could cause a serious problem, especially if there is a flammable gas in the air.
Not only that, but if the candle is placed near a set of drapes, they could catch on fire as well.
On top of that, the candle might start to smoke, and it will eventually release soot into the air. This is going to gather in a closed environment, leaving black marks on the ceiling which will be difficult to get rid of.
If you don’t want all of these issues, it’s best to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid burning a candle for longer than four hours. You should always wait at least a couple of hours for the melted wax to harden up before you relight the candle.
The length of the burn usually depends on the size of the candle, the kind of wax that is used, and the kind of wick in the candle. More importantly, if a candle has burnt all the way to the bottom, you should stop it altogether.
Leave at least an inch at the bottom and then cut off the wick, because otherwise, there is a chance that it could light fire on the surface.
If you want to make sure that your candle burns in the best possible manner, there are some safe practices that you can adopt. Here are some of the best tips to follow when it comes to lighting a candle.
Trim the Wick
Before you light a candle, it’s always recommended that you trim the wick and look for debris that might be left in the pool of wax. Trimmings from the matches or the wick itself might be left in and around the candle, so you need to remove those.
If there’s debris, it’s just going to add more fuel to the candle than it is capable of handling, and you might be looking at an unexpected flare. Cut the wick to at least a quarter of an inch before you light it up.
Move the Flame Away From Drafts or Moving Air
When you burn a candle, you need to make sure that you keep it away from sources of moving air, such as windows, ceiling fans, air conditioners, or areas that are heavily crowded with people.
Moving air disturbs the flame, and it could leave black marks on the glass.
Proper Storage
Candles need to be stored in the right way. You need to store candles in a dry, dark, and cool place. Also, if you have a candle in a jar, you should put the lid on it.
Keep the lid on as it’s going to prevent debris and dust from building up. It’s also going to protect the fragrance and the wax inside.
Fragrant candles usually have a useful life of around 12 months, so it’s going to lose the scent much quicker if you do not keep the lid on. If you prefer using scented candles around the house, you need to use them as quickly as possible and replace them to keep the scent as fresh as possible.
Also, a simple thing that you should keep in mind is that you must never leave the candle burning without supervision. It’s imperative that you remain in the same room and keep a check on the candle.
These are just a few things that you should keep in mind when it comes to lighting a candle.
To avoid any major problems with lighting candles, it’s best to buy ones that come in jars. Even if the flame flickers out and the candle burns to the bottom, you won’t have to worry about it damaging any other surface.
Avoid using pillar candles unless you can keep something strong and sturdy underneath it to prevent damage from the dripping wax.
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.