Soy Candle Blog » candle safety

10 Rules For Candle Safety

Louise — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Candles are a way of life for many Americans as well as people across the world. Until the mid-1800s, candles provided the only reliable light after the sun went down each evening. Candles were an essential part of life.

Candles continue to be an important part of life for their esthetic qualities. However, candle safety remains as important today as it was in ancient times. Candles require an open flame that must be treated with respect. Follow these ten candle safety rules to ensure that your candle experience is always a positive one.

1. Always keep candles within sight.

2. Keep candles away from anything combustible such as curtains and
hanging plants. Take care to place candles where open flames will not be able to touch anything. Plants, wall hangings and window curtains can catch fire.

3. Keep candles away from drafts, fans or heating vents. Drafts can blow flames and sparks or might blow a curtain into the path of the candle. Use care to make sure candles are placed away from drafts.

4. Make sure candles are kept away from children and pets. Children and pets share an innocent curiosity about all things. Good candle safety is very important in regard to children and pets. Open flames can be very attractive to both until they are burned. Hot wax can burn as well, so be sure that candles are placed away from children and pets.

5. Never leave candles unattended. When leaving the house or going to another room, be sure to extinguish candles. Candles are safe when used properly, but should not be left unattended when burning

6. Never use a candle as a nightlight. Good candle safety requires you always extinguish candles when sleeping.

7. Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch. Wicks longer than one-quarter inch create taller flames and emit more soot. Check wicks each time the candle is lit.

8. Stop using any jar candles when less than a half inch of wax left in the jar.

9. Always use a candleholder designed for the candle being burned. Make sure the candleholder used is stable and designed for the type of candle being burned.

10. Always follow manufacturer directions for burning candles. Read the candle safety instructions that come with candles.

Candles remain very popular and enhance your home, especially during the holidays. Keep candle safety in mind at all times and you can safely enjoy having candles in your home.

Candle Safety And Children

Louise — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:21:25 +0000

Candles continue to grow in popularity and each year brings new fragrances and ways to display them. One thing that has not changed is that candles burn an open flame and this requires a bit of care and attention to candle safety. There is no reason that a candle cannot be a safe and enjoyable addition to your home or office. Just remember the tips in this article and make candle safety a priority.

Perhaps the first and most important decision to make about a candle is where to place it in your home or office. Use good sense to find a place away from anything that might hang over the candle and burn. If the candle is in a jar, place it on a steady surface away from hanging plants, curtains or walling hangings. Keep the wick trimmed to one-quarter inch. This will keep the flame low and also limit the amount of soot that might burn off the candle.

Pillar candles should be treated with care, placed in sturdy candleholders and positioned on a table or counter. Although some people prefer jar candles because they are more self contained, pillar candles can be used safely. However, they are more likely to drip wax and therefore need to be treated with extra attention. Make sure the candle is secure and do not leave pillar candles burning in an area where pets or children might be attracted to them.

Children are fascinated by candles and may show an interest in the flame and the melted wax. Take a few minutes to explain candle safety to any children and review why a candle is not a plaything. Explain that the flame is hot and can burn skin quickly. Children sometimes want to play with the melted wax. Remind them never to poke or dig at the wax with any stick or tool. There is no room for negotiation on this point. Candle safety is easy when a candle is used properly, but fire and hot wax are not toys.

Candles may still tempt younger children even after a warning, so be sure to keep candles out of the reach of children. A candle on a coffee table might be fine in an older couple’s home, but the same candle would be safer on a kitchen counter or a high shelf.

Some people may opt for an electric candle warmer and wick-less wax melts. This may be a great idea in a home with curious small children, but remember that the wax is still very hot in the warmer. Hot wax can burn and curious small children do not always understand the dangers. Keep any electric warmers away from little hands. A wall shelf or windowsill is an excellent place for a candle melt warmer. Follow these easy tips and you will be able to safely enjoy the fragrance and soft light of your favorite candles

Are Natural Soy Candles Safer?

Louise — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:19:32 +0000

Many people love candles. During the holiday season, the look and scent of a burning candle evokes memories of past holidays. In addition, a flickering candle flame provides a calming and relaxing atmosphere during what can a busy and overactive season.

When shopping for candles, consumers consider various important factors including color, design and scent. Candle safety should be one of the important factors to be thinking about while purchasing a candle. All candles burn a wick that supplies fuel to the flame. Whether the candle is a natural soy candle or some other type, basic care must be taken to ensure safety. Several candle safety tips are listed below.

Candles have traditionally been made from materials like beeswax, whale oil and more recently paraffin wax. These materials are adequate for making a candle but can give off a black soot that contains various chemicals, can discolor your walls and ceilings and bother some people with respiratory issues. Natural soy candles on the other hand are manufactured from soy wax that is derived directly from hydrogenated soybean oil. This soy wax is not petroleum based and is entirely natural. Some manufacturers blend soy wax and paraffin. Check the label when purchasing a candle to make sure you are buying a 100% natural soy candle.

Natural soy candles have safety advantages over other types of candles. Most candles that do not state that they are made of soy wax are usually made from Paraffin wax. Paraffin is a petroleum-based product commonly used in candlemaking. In tests, natural soy candles have been shown to give off less soot than petroleum based paraffin. This soot from paraffin can be bothersome to the breathing of some people with respiratory problems. Many of those with breathing concerns prefer natural soy candles because they seem to have little or no effect on breathing.

Soot given off during the burning of a paraffin candle will collect over time in your home. A natural soy candle will give off far less soot and is a natural and safe way to enjoy candles. Enjoy candles more by making sure any candles purchased are 100% natural soy candles.

Follow these tips for safe candle burning.

Place candles in a location away from drapes, curtains or anything that might catch fire.
Keep candles out the reach of children and pets.
Do not move a candle while it is burning. Candles and melted wax is very hot.
Keep wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch to avoid excessive flame height. A flame that is too long will result in higher levels of soot from any candle.
Stop using a candle when a half-inch or less of wax remains.