Candle Safety 101

General Candle Safety 101

Candle safety is crucial due to the inherent risks associated with open flames. While candles create ambiance and warmth, mishandling them can lead to fires, injuries, and property damage. For best practices, please reference these tips provided by Candle Fire Safety - U.S. Fire Administration. For more guidance, please visit their website.

If you use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked down easily.
Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns.
Blow out candles when you leave a room or home, or when you go to bed.
Don't use lit candles in bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas.
Use flashlights, not candles, if you have a power outage.
Keep candles out of reach of children and pets.

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Blaihr Essentials and Blaihrs Candles do not assume liability for fires resulting from improper candle care and use.

Blaihrs Candles Safety 101

As an organization, we prioritize candle safety as a fundamental aspect of our operations. We adhere to the guidelines provided by the National Candle Association and the U.S. Fire Administration, both a respected authority in promoting safe candle usage. These guidelines are integral to our commitment to ensuring the well-being of our customers and communities. All of these guidelines were directly taken from the website of the National Candle Association.

Before Lighting:

Before burning, always trim the wick to ¼ inch. You can use a wick trimmer, nail clippers, or scissors. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping or flaring.
Keep the wax pool clear of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times.
Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. It should be heat resistant, sturdy, and large enough to contain any drips or melted wax.

Burn candles in a well-ventilated room:

Avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, sooting, and excessive dripping.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on burn time and proper use. In general, it is recommended that candles do not burn for longer than four hours and cool for at least two hours before relighting.
When lighting a candle, use long matches or a long-reach lighter. Keep your hair and loose clothing away from the flame.

While Burning:

Never leave a candle unattended.
Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire. Keep burning candles away from furniture, drapes, bedding, carpets, books, paper, flammable decorations, etc.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Do not place lighted candles where they can be knocked over by children, pets or anyone else.
Never touch or move a candle while it is burning or while the wax is liquefied.
Don’t burn a candle all the way down. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when 1/2 inch remains in the container or 2 inches if using a pillar candle.
Place burning candles at least three inches apart from one another. This is to make sure they don’t melt one another, or create their own drafts that will cause the candles to burn improperly.
Extinguish a candle if the flame becomes too high or flickers repeatedly. Let the candle cool, trim the wick, and check for unwanted drafts before re-lighting.
Never use a candle as a night light or while you may fall asleep.
Be very careful if using candles during a power outage. Flashlights and other battery-powered lights are safer sources of light during a power failure. Never use a candle during a power outage to look for things in a closet, or when fueling equipment – such as a lantern or kerosene heater.

When Extinguishing a Candle:

Use a candle snuffer to extinguish a candle. It’s the safest way to prevent hot wax from splattering.
Never use water to extinguish a candle. Water can cause the hot wax to splatter and might break a glass container.
Make sure the candle is completely out and the wick ember is no longer glowing before leaving the room.
Don’t touch or move the candle until it has completely cooled.
Never use a knife or sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass holder. It might scratch, weaken, or cause the glass to break upon subsequent use.