Most folks know to extinguish candles when leaving a room or before falling asleep; to keep lit ones away from kids, pets and flammable objects; and to always burn them on protected, heat-resistant surfaces.
But there are some finer points to safe candle-burning. We bring them to you care of the National Candle Association, based in Washington, D.C.
– Keep candles out of drafts to prevent rapid, uneven burning and excessive dripping.
– Clean and trim wicks to 1/8 to 1/4 inch before lighting to prevent uneven burning and dripping.
– Discontinue use of a container or votive candle when 1/2 inch of unmelted wax remains. Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they burn to within 2 inches of their holders or decorations.
– To extinguish, use a candle snuffer. Or, hold your finger in front of the flame and blow at your finger. The air will flow around the finger and extinguish the flame without spattering.
– Refrigerate tapers before use; it helps them burn more slowly and evenly. Wrap them in foil or plastic to keep wicks from absorbing moisture.
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– Before an event, light and extinguish candles once. They will light more quickly and easily when needed.
– Clean and shine solid candles with a piece of nylon cloth.
– Store taper candles flat in a cool, dark, dry place.
– For easy cleaning, add a little water to the glass before inserting a votive candle.