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Everybody loves a bit of candlelight, whether you’re trying to make things romantic or you just want to feel cosy while getting on with some work. Candles, like everything else, do benefit from a little bit of care, so don’t shy away from putting in a bit of effort for them. Getting the most of your money with candles is easier than you might think. Here are 5 care tips that will keep your candles happy.
Don’t Get Tunnel Vision
The very first time you light up and burn that candle, it can be easy to sample the scents and then blow it out until next time. This is actually a really bad idea. If you burn your candle for just a little while, allowing only some of the top layer of wax to melt, then it can lead to tunnelling. This is where, the next time you light the candle, it only melts the previously-melted section, and it will continue to do that all the way down. This tunnelling effect not only means that the candle struggles to provide much light, but also that the unburned wax was wasted. Avoid this by allowing your candle to burn for 3-4 hours on the first burn, at least long enough to let the entire top layer melt. This will ensure that you get your money’s worth out of that luxury scent!
Trim Those Wicks
Wick trimmers still exist today, although not always in the highly decorated and old-fashioned style that was found in the Victorian era. As it was then, it is every bit as important today to trim the wicks of your candles. If you don’t trim the wicks, you run the risk of the wick becoming sloped in one direction. This can lead to wax dripping and uneven burns, not only another way to waste the money you spent on the candle in the first place, but also very dangerous. Trim your wicks before you light your candles and you’ll notice a much cleaner burn, which is both safer and more aesthetically pleasing. If you want to feel like the boujiest person alive, you can use a wick trimmer and keep your candles in silver candlesticks, oozing style and class. Candle safety comes first, however, so make sure you remember to keep the trimmer close at hand.
Burn, Baby, Burn
For the best burn, you should keep your candle lit for at least 2 hours per burn. Whack on a good movie or cook up a nice meal and enjoy the candle light whilst doing so and the time will fly. Not only does having your candle lit for a good few hours allow the aromas to properly disperse throughout the space, but it means the candle is able to burn evenly, leading to a healthier candle overall. It sounds crazy to think of a healthy candle, but taking care of candles is a matter of safety just as much as aesthetics. The wax has to melt and pool right to the edge of the candle in order to prevent any tunnelling. Make sure that you check on the wick after the candle has been put out and allowed to cool and reset. If it’s crooked, now’s the time to straighten it out.
Don’t Be Breezy
One of the biggest dangers about burning candles is the impact that airflow can have on them. If they are in the path of a draught, it’s all too easy for the flame to be stoked into more of a small fire. They can catch on anything that’s hanging too close and before you know it, you have a full-blown disaster on your hands. To prevent this, ensure your candles are in a space with no air-flow passing through. Another thing that can help is to keep your candles fairly isolated. One candle in the middle of a table is the safest set-up. If you plan on burning multiple candles at once, make sure they are spaced apart. They don’t have to be on opposite ends of the room, but if they are right beside one another then the draughts generated by them can become dangerous.
Know When to Stop
We love the smell of a candle, when it’s burning and right when it’s been blown out, but we have to know when it’s time to stop. Once your candle has only around ½ an inch of wax left in the bottom, you should cease the burning. If you allow a candle to burn and melt all the way down, often this can lead to cracking in the container. As you can imagine, hot wax leaking out of broken glass is a disaster that will ruin your furniture and has every chance to leave you seriously injured. Avoid this all together by knowing when your candle has reached its burning limit. If you’re wondering what to do with the remaining wax, there are actually a few options. You can store it up until you have several empty candles, and then gently warm the wax by placing the containers in a pot filled with warm water on the stovetop. Once the wax is liquid again, pour it into whatever container you want – flexible ice cube trays are best, and you can create tea lights of your own!
These tips are essential for ensuring that your candles are well taken care of, remember that it’s not just about making sure you get the most out of the money you spend on them, it’s also a safety issue. Enjoy the burn!
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