Oh, the joys of a scented candle! No matter your “flavor,” there is something for just about everyone. If you love floral scented candles, candles that smell like cookies, or tree scented candles…there’s a candle out there for you! Yet as lovely as candles can be, they can also be very dangerous. Candles have an open flame, so we should never take them lightly when using them in our homes. According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles cause nearly 10,000 residential fires each year. Experts suggest that 85% of those fires could have been prevented! We list below some important candle fire safety tips to keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way.
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Trim Your Wick
Candle fire safety starts before you even light your candle. Many candle fires start because the flame on the wick has become too large. Always remember to trim your wicks to about 1/4″ prior to lighting, each and every time. This is true even before lighting your candle the first time!
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Watch That Match
After you have lit your candle, be cautious when throwing away your extinguished match. Even though the match may no longer be lit, it is still incredibly hot and can start a fire if thrown onto something flammable. Hold onto the match for a few seconds to let it cool on down, or place it on a fire-resistant surface.
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Keep Your Candles Close
Burn your candles in rooms where you will be present. This is one of the biggest things you can do for candle fire safety. You don’t have to sit right on top of the candle, but be sure to keep them within your line of eyesight. You’ll be able to respond to a problem quicker and, hopefully, minimize any potential damage.
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Position Your Candle Perfectly
When choosing a spot to light your candle, be mindful of several things. Candles should be out of reach of any pets or children in the home. Don’t set the candle near any flowing fabric (such as candle drapes) or under anything that may fall into your open flame. Avoid drafts, as this will cause the flame to jump unpredictably. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, 40% of candle fires start when flammable materials are too close to the flame.
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Avoid The Bedroom
We love burning candles in the bedroom, as we find it relaxing and romantic. Statistically, however, most candle fires start in bedrooms or in rooms where people sleep. If you do choose to light a candle in a bedroom, set an alarm just in case you should fall asleep.
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Limit The Burn
If you’re burning multiple candles, you do increase the risk for a candle catastrophe. Try to limit how many candles you burn at one time, so that you can safely keep your eyes on them. Keep candles at least 3″ apart to keep them from overheating by being in close proximity. This can cause the candle vessels to burst. You shouldn’t burn a candle for more than 4 hours at a time. If you want to continue burning your candle, blow it out, trim the wick, and then relight.
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Know When To Stop
Container candles should not be burned all the way down. Stop burning these candles when there is about 1/2″ of wax left in the bottom of the jar. Otherwise, the bottom can become overheated and the candle jar can burst. Our rule of thumb is that we stop burning a candle once we can clearly see the metal of the wick tabs through the melted wax pool. If it is a free-standing candle, stop burning it when it gets down to about 2″ of wax. If you still want to enjoy that remaining wax, place the (cooled) candle on a candle warmer or break the pieces up to make wax melts.
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Snuff It Out
You should still be thinking about candle fire safety even when you’re ready to snuff out your candle. We don’t recommend blowing on your candle as hot wax can splatter and burn you or get on surrounding objects. You can snuff out your flame with a candle lid or – our preference – use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame.
Candle Fire Safety Tip
Consider Flameless
Although candles are our first loves, we know the potential danger they bring. Flameless candles have come a long way and many of them look very realistic, down to the flickering flame! You can also opt for using things such as reed diffusers or scented wax melts. Wax melts are bits of fragranced wax that you place into a warmer to slowly release fragrance into the air. If choosing one of these options, be sure to check out our picks for the best reed diffusers and our picks for the top rated wax melts.
These are some of our most important candle safety tips to reduce your chances of a house fire. Be safe out there, our candle-loving friends!
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